Emadlangeni Mayor Cllr ML Buthelezi, together with the Deputy Mayor Cllr PF Chongo and Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) Chairperson Cllr NM Dekker, conducted an oversight visit on Kerk and Loop Street road upgrade projects to monitor their progress.
These projects are funded by the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) and work commenced early this year. The construction of these projects will cost the Municipality over R7 million and forms part of its aim of ensuring that Utrecht has proper road infrastructure to ensure a conducive environment that can be attractive to potential investors.
The Mayor was pleased with the progress of the projects. “I am quite happy to see our streets taking shape and looking like this. Our aim is to improve all streets that need to be repaired, and put tar on all the streets in town. Once we are done in town, our aim is to move out and tackle road infrastructure in all our other Wards.”
The Mayor is adamant that funds allocated for these projects will be used specifically for what they are intended. “It is critical that these funds are utilized accordingly and we must ensure that we get value for money.
“One of the Municipality’s primary focus is to deliver proper and acceptable services to all residents of Emadlangeni. And for us to do that, we must constantly monitor the work that is being done by contractors so as to avoid wasteful expenditure.
“As we are a small Municipality with limited financial resources, we need to ensure that funds allocated for specific projects are utilized accordingly and that we derive full and satisfactory benefits from funds spent.”
Cllr Buthelezi also pointed out that infrastructure development for all Wards under Emadlangeni Municipality was at the top of their priority list. “We have a plan that has been developed to address all current infrastructure challenges and it will be implemented over the coming months. Ultimately, we want our roads infrastructure, paving and drainage systems to be world-class and befitting of a developing tourist town such as Emadlangeni.”