LOUIS TRICHARDT - Public Works MEC Collins Chabane and Local Government and Housing MEC, Joe Maswanganyi, have been in Louis Trichardt to monitor the Makhado Municipality's success in service delivery for the past year.

An information session was held at the Louis Trichardt Showgrounds on Sunday. Community stakeholders, traditional leaders and directors directly accountable to the Municipal Manager attended the event.

On behalf of the Mayor, Cllr Mavhungu Luruli gave a report and highlighted the role of directorates within the municipality. The finance directorate is responsible for dealing with the budget and the collection of revenue, while the directorate technical services is responsible for the provision of electricity, water, roads, and sanitation, she said.

The Municipality has electrified the Mukhoro Village where 297 units have already been electrified, while electrification of Riverplaats, Hanani and Khunda Matshavhawe is still in progress. Vuwani Extension 1 has also been completed.

The former Nzhelele TLC has been provided with feeder lines. "In a nutshell, our Municipality has electrified 4 564 pre-paid connections in the 2001/2002 financial year," she added.

In terms of water, the Makhado Municipality is assisting even in areas where the Department of Water Affairs has jurisdiction. She stressed that due to limited resources, the municipality has sometimes failed to stick to the programme, but mechanisms will be put in place to fast-trek the whole process and put the correct tune of operation.

The street upgrading is continuing according to the programme.

The MEC for Local Government and Housing, Mr Maswanganyi gave an address on the necessity of a Disaster Management Committee to be established within the municipalities. He also urged the ward committees, traditional leaders and ward councillors to strengthen their good relations and co-operation. As a result, communities will benefit in getting better services as required by the law, Maswanganyi said.

MEC Chabane indicated that the people should govern principle need to be put in place and also promote ward committees to be the eyes and ears of the government. He also indicated that the Madombidzha Air Force base road's concern has been submitted long before the formation of ward committees. The improvement of the Bandelierkop to Elim road is also high on the agenda, he said.