The Patriotic Alliance Member of Parliament, Ashley Sauls told Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Minister Dean Macpherson that delays in completing infrastructure projects are not only caused by various challenges or the so called construction Mafias.
Sauls was responding to Macpherson ‘s statement in the National Assembly.
He says lack of public participation under provincial governments also causes delays.
Sauls used an example of a major road construction project at St Helena Bay in the Western Cape.
He says, “There is a construction of a main road – main road 33 in St Helena Bay. A major construction that is built through the houses or yard of people. It is also stopping people from going into their yards.â€
“They have got to park their cars at other places. This is because provincial government in the Western Cape has not done public participation. We have attempted to peacefully deal with this and tried to intervene to call for public participation.â€
Sauls adds, “It was agreed upon that they will do so, and they then cancelled on the eve of this meeting that had to take place. The big question that we are asking here today, seeing that we tried to intervene minister is what gives the Western Cape Government the confidence to deny the residence of St Helena Bay the right to consult with them. Why would they not consult with them. Is it because these are Coloured people.â€