AUDITOR GENERAL INSPECTS UMNGENI PROJECTS
Maluleke Tsakani, South Africa’s Auditor General (AG), was in Howick on Monday to inspect several projects undertaken by the uMngeni Municipality.
She was accompanied by
Vanuja Maharaj, the head of portfolio in KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga, and several other managers from the AG’s office.
Tsakani started her visit at the uMngeni municipal offices where she met Mayor Chris Pappas, Deputy Mayor Sandile Mnikathi, municipal manager, Mzi Hloba and other councillors and officials.
Pappas presented an overview of the municipality’s successes and challenges, before the group embarked on their site visits.
During a stop at the Howick Falls, the mayor spoke about the history of the area and shared plans to upgrade the popular tourism spot.
The group also inspected the work done to improve the Karkloof Road, as well as a roads project in Inguga and the ongoing Mpophomeni electricity upgrades.
“There are a lot of roads in township areas which are still dirt and should be tarred,” Pappas told the AG. “I made a comment about how to prioritise things, because we want to look good as politicians when it comes to elections versus the practicalities. So this is an example of a good road that we achieved, but there are roads on that side where they’re not so good.”
Vusumuzi Mboyana, general manager of technical services, said the municipality had identified two roads in Inguga that were in desperate need of upgrading.
Following feasibility studies, the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogtra) approved an amount of R4 million for the project.
“We started with construction last year in November and both roads were completed in May this year. Fortunately we did not have any challenges." Mboyana said.
Talking about the R1.6 million electrification project, he told the AG that it had been implemented with the aim of improving access to electricity for residents living in Mpophomeni.
Maluleke’s visit to Howick was the first in a two-part roadshow in KwaZulu-Natal. She and her team also visited the eThekwini Metro.
Pappas said: “It was great to engage with her and her team about a number of issues affecting local government.”