HON. MINISTER OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT HIGHLIGHTS FOUR CRITICAL ISSUES REQUIRING COUNCIL’S ATTENTION DURING HIS MAIDEN FAMILIARISATION TOUR

During his on-boarding visit to Pigg’s Peak town on Wednesday, 31st January 2024, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Honourable Appolo Maphalala commended Council for the investment made in road infrastructure. While making his remarks, the Honourable Minister advised Pigg’s Peak Town Council (PPTC) to prioritise the following prominent submissions made during Sibaya while carrying out her mandate:

• Improving on service delivery -

  The Minister said he was impressed that the Town Council was rolling out the Quality Management System (ISO 9001: 2015) which he referred to as a starting point for improving service delivery. He said the implementation of ISO 9001 meant that the Council was committed to improving its service delivery, through meeting and exceeding customers’ expectations. He, further, applauded Council for developing its Financial Viability Strategy, which its implementation was underway. Once in place, the strategy will enable the organisation to broaden its revenue base as opposed to relying on rates.

• Poverty alleviation -

  Addressing the issue of prevalent socio-economic challenges facing the country, especially youth unemployment, the Honourable Minister said the Town Council should be seen leading in the implementation of programs that fight poverty especially youth unemployment through promoting entrepreneurship.

• Fighting corruption –

  The Minister emphasized that as a public service entity, Council should ensure that procurement is carried out in line with the provisions of the Public Procurement Act (2011) in order to avoid corruption. He said having corrupt mind-sets was going to hold back the progress of the town.

Creating an enabling environment for economic development

Honourable Maphalala stressed that the development seen in Pigg’s Peak was a sign of economic growth, “let the town grow to reach its full potential because as you grow as a town you are taking the rightful space in the economic development of the country”, he said. While making his remarks, the Mayor, Sipho Shongwe congratulated the Honourable Minister on his appointment as Minister of Housing and Urban Development, which he referred to as perfectly in line with the Minister’s career path. The Mayor also presented the achievements of the organization and the challenges faced by the municipality which he pleaded with the Minister to address. The Minister was, then, taken to a tour of the three newly constructed roads and the Mall adjacent to the bus rank where he was accompanied by a technical team from the Ministry, Representative of Regional Administrator, Indvuna Yenkhundla, Councillors, the CEO and stakeholders.

The Honourable Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Appolo Maphalala sharing a light moment with officials upon his arrival in Pigg’s Peak