THE Department of Rural Development and Land Reform is staying tight-lipped on the costs and completion of upgrades at Muyexe village near Giyani in Limpopo.
This week Sowetan highlighted how development at Muyexe was moving at a snail's pace compared to President Jacob Zuma's multi-million rand homestead at Nkandla in KwaZulu-Natal.
The article included a report by the National Council of Provinces' committee which revealed, among others, fraud, irregularities and poor management. During his first state of the nation address in 2009, Zuma announced his intention of developing Muyexe, which would be a model of rural development in the country.
On Tuesday, Rural Development Department media liaison manager Sehloho Mphati disputed the facts in the story, saying that much work had been done since the project started in 2009. "Muyexe falls under the umbrella of 23 'distressed' districts earmarked for special attention, as does Nkandla. It is in these districts that we find the poorest of the poor.
"But did your reporters actually visit Muyexe, and if so, how did they miss so much of the positive developments taking place there?"
He mentioned a computer laboratory, early childhood centres, post office, water purification plant, paving of the road and a 17km buffer zone fencing among new features.
When phoned yesterday to shed light on the cost and time-frame for the completion of the Muyexe project, Mphati refused to comment.
Sowetan has visited the village a few times, and noticed that the 11km stretch of road leading to the village is still not tarred, the community is still using a small clinic, which is short of medication and closes on weekends, construction of the new clinic started in February, residents still get water on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only, and that only one borehole is in use.
This article was first published in the printed newspaper on 28/11/2012
State says much work done at Muyexe
THE Department of Rural Development and Land Reform is staying tight-lipped on the costs and completion of upgrades at Muyexe village near Giyani in Limpopo.
This week Sowetan highlighted how development at Muyexe was moving at a snail's pace compared to President Jacob Zuma's multi-million rand homestead at Nkandla in KwaZulu-Natal.
The article included a report by the National Council of Provinces' committee which revealed, among others, fraud, irregularities and poor management. During his first state of the nation address in 2009, Zuma announced his intention of developing Muyexe, which would be a model of rural development in the country.
On Tuesday, Rural Development Department media liaison manager Sehloho Mphati disputed the facts in the story, saying that much work had been done since the project started in 2009. "Muyexe falls under the umbrella of 23 'distressed' districts earmarked for special attention, as does Nkandla. It is in these districts that we find the poorest of the poor.
"But did your reporters actually visit Muyexe, and if so, how did they miss so much of the positive developments taking place there?"
He mentioned a computer laboratory, early childhood centres, post office, water purification plant, paving of the road and a 17km buffer zone fencing among new features.
When phoned yesterday to shed light on the cost and time-frame for the completion of the Muyexe project, Mphati refused to comment.
Sowetan has visited the village a few times, and noticed that the 11km stretch of road leading to the village is still not tarred, the community is still using a small clinic, which is short of medication and closes on weekends, construction of the new clinic started in February, residents still get water on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only, and that only one borehole is in use.
This article was first published in the printed newspaper on 28/11/2012
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos