Department intensifies district development model approach

The KZN Department of Transport has embarked on an initiative to ensure alignment of its services to the districts development model, a presidential flagship programme which was launched in the province late last year.

President Cyril Ramaphosa launched the districts developmental model delivery across the country last year to ensure proper planning and spending across the three spheres of government. Transport, Community Safety and Liaison MEC Bheki Ntuli, accompanied by Head of Department Sibusiso Gumbi met with stakeholders from King Cetshwayo District to outline the services and programmes for the Department of Transport in the District. The stakeholders included Amakhosi, Business Sector and Municipalities’ representatives, among others.

As accounting officer, Gumbi said that the Department is well aware that 45 per cent of the provincial road network is not in a good state and announced that 60 per cent of this year’s financial budget allocated to infrastructure will cater for the maintenance of roads and the remaining 40 per cent will go to the construction of the new infrastructure.

“It’s a great privilege to meet with the district’s Amakhosi in such an event where we are trying to address issues relating service delivery within the King Cetshwayo District,” MEC Ntuli said.

Amakhosi were given a platform to make inputs on the condition of roads in their traditional authorities. Most of them were complaining about the poor state of the roads within their tribal authorities and pleaded with the department to speed up the process of rehabilitating them.

“Although I am aware that most of our tribal areas are faced with the bad road infrastructure predicament, however, we cannot shy away from the truth that the Department does not have enough budget to cover all the affected places at once. We will intervene where possible,” Ntuli said.

He applauded the interference of Amakhosi to calm down the situation from the communities when they are dissatisfied with the level of service delivery in their areas.