“We cannot afford returning any cent to National Treasury when our people need roads”- MEC Rakgoale

MEC for LDPWRI, Mme Nkakareng Rakgoale calls for collaboration between the RAL Board and her department to avoid returning unspent funds to the National Treasury.

“WE CANNOT AFFORD

RETURNING ANY CENT TO NATIONAL TREASURY WHEN OUR PEOPLE NEED THE ROADS”

uring the 2022 Strategic Planning Session for the Roads Agency Limpopo (RAL), the Honourable MEC of the Limpopo Department of Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure (LDPWRI), Mme Nkakareng Rakgoale urged the Board of Directors to strengthen its operations and controls with the

Dview to build and maintain more roads with the available allocated budget. “It is important that all the funds allocated to RAL are fully and properly spent to change the lives of the people of Limpopo,” said the Honourable MEC of LDPWRI, and Shareholder Representative responsible for RAL, Mme

Nkakareng Rakgoale.

In her keynote address, the Honourable MEC strongly urged the Board and Management of RAL to ensure that no funds allocated to build roads are returned to National Treasury as a result of non-capacity to spend.

“We cannot afford returning any cent to National Treasury when our people need the roads. We have the responsibility

to provide services. One of the areas that concerns me is the slow implementation of projects. Failure to spend all the allocated budget deprives the people of Limpopo much needed service delivery. Let us therefore continue to do what we are put in office to do,” she said.

The MEC further commended the Agency for continuing in its work to empower local SMMEs and labourers through the road infrastructure in Limpopo.

RAL is responsible for over 20 000km of Limpopo provincial road network, most of which still require upgrading from gravel to tar.

In sharing the Honourable MEC’s views, the Chairperson of RAL’s Board, Mr Matome Ralebipi, undertook to resolve all the concerns raised by the MEC. “One of the things that

needs to be addressed urgently is to strengthen strategic and operational areas where there are visible weaknesses. It is important to capacitate the organisation in order to enhance the value chain. I want all the vacant positions filled as soon as possible,” he commented.

Following the presentation of the year 2021/22 performance by RAL’s Chief Executive, Mr Gabriel Maluleke, several members of the Board expressed their gratitude to RAL Management for doing their best in ensuring that the Agency improves in some areas which were raised by the Auditor General in the previous financial year. The Chairperson of the Board’s Social and Ethics Committee, Mr Motlhanke Phukuntsi commended the quality of the strategic planning session in dealing with real issues affecting RAL. “The meeting was fruitful because RAL Management came up with improved strategies to enhance the operations of the Agency and ensure effective spending of allocated funds to enable the province to move forward.”

LEFT: Chairperson of the Board, Mr Matome Ralebipi, urges RAL Management to fill vacant strategic positions urgently, to ensure the Agency’s optimal use of allocated resources. RIGHT: RAL CEO, Mr Gabriel Maluleke, giving an overview of the previous year’s performance.

“WE CANNOT AFFORD RETURNING ANY CENT TO NATIONAL TREASURY WHEN OUR PEOPLE NEED THE ROADS. WE HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE SERVICE. ONE OF THE AREAS THAT

CONCERNS ME IS THE SLOW IMPLEMENTATION OF PROJECTS. FAILURE TO SPEND ALL THE ALLOCATED BUDGET DEPRIVES THE PEOPLE OF LIMPOPO MUCH NEEDED SERVICE DELIVERY.”