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GJ Crookes Hospital Scottburgh: I wish to extend my appreciation to the chair of the Portfolio Committee on Public Works Mbali Fraser and all other members of the committee for their strong oversight role they are playing in ensuring service delivery.

Yesterday, I joined committee members during their oversight visit to GJ Crookes Hospital in Scottburgh in UGU District Municipality. They monitored the refurbishments of this important public health institution.

As the Department of Public Works we wish to assure the committee, leaders of society and community members in various corners of the province that I am personally taking up the matter of localisation.

We want to ensure that during the construction and refurbishment of public health institutions, emerging SMMEs in the construction sector at local levels, benefit from projects implemented by the Department of Public Works on behalf of government departments.

We are pleased with speed and efficiency in delivering this social infrastructure project that will ensure the provision of quality healthcare. The work at GJ Crookes Hospital is a clear demonstration of the ability to deliver on time, within budget, all infrastructure projects.

Admittedly, we noted weaknesses around our contractor development programme due to regulations under COVID-19 Alert Levels. The sourcing of building material and equipments from local suppliers, especially for mechanical and electrical works was also challenging. This is the matter which we have offered to focus on working with Mdoni Local Municipality as we move forward. The inclusion of local contractors in the database under Eyesizwe Development Programme will ensure the development, nurturing of local talent and ultimately job creation at local level.

We have taken a firm position as the department to be an integral part of enhancement of industrial development through the stimulation of construction and manufacturing sectors. This is fundamental towards the creation of employment, economic growth in the province as guided by the Economic Recovery and Transformation Plan announced by the Premier Sihle Zikalala.

We are encouraged by the fact that Public Works Regional office, working with the local municipality, has ensured the creation of 54 jobs with a special focus on the following categories :

1-Site Agent

1-Contract Manager

1-Quantity Controller

1-Quantity Surveyor

5-Plumber

5-Brick layers

13-Carpeters

17-General labours 17,

3-drivers

1-General Formen

3-Electrician

2-Plasters

1-Forman

1-Health and safety office

We remain determined to ensure to build local economies in order to defeat poverty and underdevelopment. We will achieve this by improving the social infrastructure such as construction of schools, public health facilities and other social infrastructure.

Issued by KZN MEC for Human Settlements, Public Works Jomo Sibiya