Dear Executive Mayor,

We, on behalf of the citizens of Limpopo and Polokwane in particular, request your indulgence with regards to the process to upgrade Polokwane to metropolitan status. What is the status of the project?

A 19 May 2023 article in the Polokwane Review titled: Sensitivity around report on corrupt Polokwane municipal officials raised serious concerns about municipal monies to the tune of more than R100m having gone missing. These related to contracts that include the Leeto la Polokwane bus services programme, of the key features towards the R5.1 billion elevation of Polokwane to metro status envisaged to be achieved in the 2022/23 Financial Year.

On 8 December 2020 Polokwane Municipality promised residents Rapid Transport System to procure 36 buses, but to date only 21 buses were delivered, what has happened to the 15 yet to be delivered? Furthermore, only 9 buses are said to be operational and 12 having broken down due to inadequate maintenance. What is being done about this?

Consequently, services do not reach communities that need bus services the most that include parts of Westernberg in Seshego, Flora Park and Nirvana.

Executive Mayor, the people of Polokwane deserve answers.

R5.1 billion rand is a considerable amount of taxpayers’ monies to be wasted due to reported nefarious dealings by senior municipal officials entrusted to carry out municipal projects for the betterment of citizens’ lives. Improper use of funds, wasteful expenditure and maladministration are jeopardising efforts to have our City become a metro as promised to the people of Polokwane.

We demand a detailed account of what is being done to resolve matters related to this project and what is being done to deal with those implicated in wrongdoing in this regard.

We hope that the Executive Mayor will be fastidious in response to this communication by no later than 31 July 2023.

Sincerely,

Sello Lediga, ActionSA Limpopo Provincial Chairperson

Copied to:

Speaker, City of Polokwane Council, Cllr. Wilhemina Modiba

Acting Municipal Manager, City of Polokwane, Mr Ramakuntwane Selepe

MEC of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements & Traditional Affairs (CoGHSTA), Limpopo Province, Mr. Basikopo Makamu

ActionSA Limpopo Limpopo Head of Governance, Snowy Kennedy