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Thousands of people of Sekhukhune District Municipality in Limpopo braved today's hot weather to raise their service delivery problems to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP).

Issues of water, houses, roads, schools, clinics and electricity came out strongly in today's opening of the week long (23 - 26 March) programme of Taking Parliament to the People at Sekhukhune FET College in Burgersfort.

Chairperson of the NCOP, Mr Mninwa Mahlangu told the people of Limpopo that the purpose of the visit is to give them an opportunity to make their voices heard and to have government committing itself to the delivery of quality services in these often neglected areas. "We expect the Ministers and MECs to use this opportunity to tell the people how they will address their challenges, because they know the problems better," Mahlangu said.

The Executive Mayor of Sekhukhune District Municipality, Mogobo David Magabe welcomed the NCOP in the province and acknowledged the problems facing the district municipality, which is 98% rural. "Our backlog on water is at 42%, we need to take water from Olifants River to Moutse area which requires about R300 million to start with bulk pipe line and the construction of water treatment works.

"Electricity backlog is still very high particularly here at Greater Tubatse, with over 24 000 households without electricity with Eskom having insufficient resources and capacity. Sanitation backlog is at 80.1%," he said.

Today's opening was attended by Members of the NCOP, Limpopo Premier Mr Cassel Mathale, Speaker of Limpopo Legislature Mr Rudolph Phala, Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Mr Sicelo Shiceka, MEC for Local Government and Housing Mr Soviet Lekganyane, MEC for Roads and Transport Ms Pinkie Kekana, and Chairperson of Provincial House of Traditional Leaders Kgosi Sefogole Makgeru.