Lerato Mailoane
Permanent delegates to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) are visiting Gauteng for the report back session as part of the Provincial Week programme.
The high-impact oversight sessions held under the theme: "Assessing state capacity to respond to the needs of communities," will end on 01 April.
The 2022 Provincial Week is aimed at ensuring that the service delivery commitments made by the executive are monitored and implemented.
NCOP Chairperson, Amos Masondo said the provision of integrated housing infrastructure, including measures to address the housing backlog and create integrated and sustainable human settlements, will be a key feature of the week-long programme.
In addition, Masondo said the focus will be on provincial efforts to revive of the economy following the devastating impact of COVID-19.
"Economic development depends on infrastructure development and reliable and sustainable resources like water, electricity, roads and transport."
Welcoming the delegates, Premier David Makhura said he is delighted that NCOP returns to the province after taking a break due to COVID-19.
"We have not been able to hold the NCOP week for a while now. During the week we shall report to you in detail how COVID-19 has impacted the economy and the people of the province."
Makhura said the MEC for Human Settlements Lebogang Maile is ready to report on programmes to integrate housing infrastructure and efforts to address housing backlogs.
He said the executive will also use the sessions to highlight the province's plan to decentralise the health sector. 
"The CEO must have authority to conduct the operations of the hospitals. Dealing with major reforms in corruption, maintenance of institutions must be the responsibility of each department.
"Departments must handle their own infrastructure. This is a big reform we are implementing as we want to hold accounting officers responsible for their budgets," Makhura added.