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Ahead of the presentation of the Department Public Works’ Budget Speech - Vote 14 next week, I will undertake a visit aimed at assessing the renovations of Dundee Junior Secondary School under eNdumeni Local Municipality.

Government has set aside R41million for the upgrades and additions - a project that has created much needed employement for local communities.

As Public Works, we have been mandated by the Premier of the Province of KwaZulu-Natal, Sihle Zikalala and the entire executive council to ensure that we speed up the rollout of socio-economic infrastructure.

In my interaction with different categories of staff, since my deployment to this department 61 days ago, we have agreed on the need to ensure that Public Works becomes a centre of the delivery of infrastructure on behalf of all government departments.

We are alive to the fact that government has identified government infrastructure as one of the most important sectors in economic recovery and job creation.

Accordingly, we commit to continue to work with members of the executive council as leaders of their respective line function departments, as our clients, to ensure speed and quality in the execution of projects.

With regards to the provision of quality education, we undertake to support MEC for Education Kwazi Mshengu, educators, all stakeholders in the education sector and municipalities by injecting speed and energy during the roll-out of an education infrastructure.

Unnecessary red tape and prolonged construction of government infrastructure which at times lasts between 5 to 6 years will be the thing of the past.

We have no doubt that the provision of quality education infrastructure will ensure that our education system provides local children with a firm base for the acquisition of knowledge, skills and positive attitudes for personal growth.

Therefore, our visit to Dundee, must be viewed with the context of assisting stakeholders in the education sector and responding to a call made by the ANC-led government to ensure efficiency and speed in service delivery.

*Human Settlement matters*

We will also pay a special focus on matters of human settlement in Dundee.

Our Bill of Rights enjoins us to ensure that the citizens of KwaZulu-Natal have access to decent housing and live in areas where there are amenities.

This is the only effective way of responding to the brutal apartheid system of residential segregation and the forced removals of people from prime land which was reserved for the minority. In particular, the Groups Areas Act effectively prevented non-whites from owning properties.

During this term of office our focus will be on the creation of comprehensive human settlements for the benefit of all the people of this province. In this regard, I will be joined by ENdumeni Municipality Mayor, Cllr Sduduzo Mdluli, council members and the local leadership representing different sectors of society during the handover of tittle deeds to the residents of Sbongile, Sithembole and Craigside townships in Dundee.

We affirm our commitment towards the acceleration of the title-deeds rollout programme throughout the corners of the province. We are guided by the Freedom Charter which proclaims: ““All people shall have the right to live where they choose, be decently housed, and to bring up their families in comfort and security.”

Inspired by the Freedom Charter, we will accelerate title-deeds rollout programme to ensure that ordinary members of communities own their own homes.

We are strengthening our partnership with all spheres of government as part of adding meaning to radical economic transformation. Owning assets and homes is part of socio-radical economic transformation.

In handing over title deeds to communities we are improving not only their lives but we are ensuring prosperity for future generations. Families that are more secure contribute towards social stability.

The inspection under Operation Siyahlola is scheduled as follows:-

Date:    15 May 2021 – Saturday

Time:    09h00

Venue:   Dundee Junior 

               Secondary School – 36 

               Old Acres Street, 

               Endumeni Local 

               Municipality

The Ndumeni Title-Deeds Hand Over is scheduled as follows:

Date:   15th May 2021 Saturday

Time:   11H00

Venue: Sibongile Township   

             Extension 18    

             Sportsground, Ward 2, 

             Ndumeni Municipality

Issued by The KZN MEC for Public Works and Human Settlement, Ntuthuko Jomo Sibiya