FLTR: Cllr Gevan Juthe (Deputy Mayor) Mutondi Ravele (National Department of Public Works), Cllr Chris Macpherson (Executive Mayor), Lizelle Coetzee (National Department of Public Works), Lluwellyn Coetzee (Acting Director: Strategic Services)
Oudtshoorn, 25 May 2021 – Oudtshoorn Municipality is currently in a discussion with the National Department of Public Works to evaluate the possibility of developing a new government precinct within the Greater Oudtshoorn municipal area.
The government precinct will consist of a development or re-development of new and existing buildings into one central area, hosting different government departments and services from this facility, as part of the town’s Vision 2030 strategy. “This will include the providing of space for services such as SARS, Environment, rural development and others currently not functional in our town,” said Mayor Chris Macpherson.
“The National Spatial Development Framework defines Oudtshoorn as a regional anchor, and we are hard at work in making this a reality. Oudtshoorn needs to intensify its position as the heart of the Klein Karoo and continue to play the lead role for the region including the areas such as Uniondale, Kannaland, Prins Albert and the Greater Karoo area,” said Macpherson.
Deputy Mayor, Gevan Juthe said that the economic impact of the investment will bring different opportunities within the construction and operation phases of the development. “It’s our wish to facilitate a process in collaboration with government to bring services closer to our people”.
The Strategic Services Department of the Greater Oudtshoorn municipality facilitated the process as part of the National Small Town Generation Strategy. They will do a formal submission to the National Department of Public Works as the next step in the process. A feasibility study will be done by the Department of Public Works to determine different options available in making this project possible.
During the discussion on Wednesday, 12 May 2021, the National Department of Public Works delegation, was represented by officials, Lizelle Coetzee (position) and Mutondi Ravele (position) and the local delegation was represented by the mayor Macpherson, deputy mayor Juthe and Lluwellyn Coetzee, acting director for Strategic Services. The delegation visited different sites and expressed appreciation and excited about the possible development of the precinct.
“We are in the process of putting together a proposal with all the possible options to establish the Government precinct for consideration of the Department of Public Works, they will also conduct a feasibility study to ascertain the viability of the proposed Government precinct,” said Lluwellyn Coetzee, acting director for Strategic Services.