THE Make a Difference (MAD) service delivery campaign was launched with a sod-turning for the tarring of a road by Executive Mayor Zukisa Faku in Mdantsane.

First mooted in her first State of the City address in June 2009, the campaign will work towards accelerating service delivery as a process of healing and of regaining the confidence of the City's electorate, and to turn things around for the better.

Speaking to a group of journalists at Mdantsane Hotel on Tuesday, 30 March, Faku said: "This groundbreaking ceremony taking place today where we will be introducing the service provider on site is our endeavour to promote safety on our roads. This is but one example of a series of projects that will be launched around Buffalo City Municipality during the period of the MAD service delivery campaign."

Underscoring her words, the acting municipal manager, Lulama Zitha, said: "This campaign is about changing lives of the people of Buffalo City, including those in rural areas of the city."

The road tarring is part of the Mdantsane Road Construction Project, which is aimed at tarring all roads in Mdantsane by 2012. In all, R400-million will be spent on the upgrading of roads in the township over the next five years.

Projects that are earmarked to be part of the MAD campaign include the R4-million upgrade of Mdantsane Highway; the R1-million project for safety and security facilities on all roads; the electrifying of Qumza Highway in Mdantsane; the housing project in Manyano/Thembelihle; and the R3-million waste management programme across Buffalo City.

The consistent cutting of grass is also part of the campaign; CCTV cameras will also be installed in crime-prone areas and a licence testing station will be built in Mdantsane. "The latter will [give] Mdantsane residents a much more cost-effective way of testing for their learner's and driving licences."

In the first phase of the tarring of roads, 50 kilometres will be tarred before the end of the next financial year.

"Today marks the beginning of our commitment to pledge our efforts to put our people first, regardless of the obstacles. We want to bring back the confidence that our constituencies showed us by putting us where we are," said Faku.

In her State of the City address, she also said that something must be done for despondent youth and children, who require positive exposure and safety for their growth and development.