Bakery project at a standstill

IN a reply to a parliamentary question, Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini revealed that her department’s planned construction of a bakery in Rietbron (near Willowmore) was under way. My recent visit to the site proved otherwise.

Funding for this project amounted to R500 000. The project began in 2005-06, but was never completed.

Top-up funding has been requested to complete the project. This project has been dormant for 10 years.

The minister must take responsibility for the money that has been wasted during this period. It is unfair that the money of hard-working members of this community who struggle to put their children through school is heavily misused.

Contrary to the minister’s reply, renovations are not underway. This was exposed during my visit to the site.

It is quite clear that the minister is not aware of the current state of the project.

The government cannot afford any more wasteful and unforeseen expenditure. In a fair society, the hard-earned money of taxpayers is utilised astutely and is not wasted as a result of negligence.

-Malcolm Figg, DA MP and Baviaans constituency leader