Durban -
Small towns in KwaZulu-Natal have been allocated R85 million for rehabilitation projects which will lead to job creation and prevent migration to big cities.
Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube said the money would be used to stimulate the rural economy and to create infrastructure and more job opportunities.
Most of the MPLs at the legislature in Pietermaritzburg this week voted in favour of the provincial Treasury’s Adjustment Bill 2014.
However, DA MPLs voted against it because they were concerned that the money would not be used for what it was meant.
Dube-Ncube’s spokesman Lennox Mabaso said the money would be used to rehabilitate ageing roads and electricity infrastructure.
He said 15 rural towns would benefit.
“You take for instance Mooi River, where people have been complaining about potholes and ageing sewer system. The money will be used to deal with those things and make small towns attractive to investors,” he said.
He said developing the economy and creating job opportunities in rural towns would stop people from emigrating to big cities.
Dube-Ncube lashed out at the DA for opposing the allocation.
“On the one hand, the DA is a staunch critic of our government, claiming that we do not do enough to develop small towns or provide basic services such as water and electricity. On the other hand, it frustrates our effort in doing so by voting against increasing the budget for this purpose,” said Dube-Ncube.
DA MPL Sizwe Mchunu said instead of spending the R85m on “non-existing infrastructure”, the government should lobby for funds for brand new infrastructure projects.
“We were saying they should rather lobby for more infrastructure development in the municipalities.
“We oppose the rehabilitation programme on the basis that they should get the basics right,” he said.
The Mercury