Opposition parties in KSD are up in arms over a R20-million contract to tar three streets awarded without going to tender or getting council approval.
Stedone Development is the same construction company that was awarded the R85-million project to build 6600 RDP houses in Mandela Park, Slovo Park, Chris Hani, Phola Park and Ngangelizwe in May 2012.
It was also meant to build the Mthatha Stadium ahead of the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
Neither materialised.
After refusing on previous occasions to comment about the 6600 houses, Stedone yesterday denied it was ever tasked with the massive project.
Director Geoff Nightingale said the company was roped in only for planning and providing interim basic services like roads and that they had done all the work they were supposed to do.
Stedone has consistently refused to answer questions on its relationship with KSD, with director Rory Shirley referring the Daily Dispatch each time to the municipality. He would only say the company had been appointed as an implementing agent.
On Monday, KSD mayor Nonkoliso Ngqongwa officially handed over the roads project to the company.
But yesterday opposition parties said they were shocked to see the company had been tasked with the rehabilitation of Khobo, Tukete and Madikane streets in Ngangelizwe.
UDM councillor Mabandla Gogo called on cooperative governance and traditional affairs MEC Fikile Xasa to probe the relationship between the company and Ngqongwa.
“We are disturbed by the fact that the mayor and her executive have decided to appoint Stedone for a third time after embarrassing KSD.
“We call on the MEC to investigate this relationship.
“The mayor must be taken to task for this,” he said.
Gogo said the UDM would march to the municipality demanding the council break all ties with Stedone.
DA councillor Raymond Knock said while they were in favour of tarring all roads in Mthatha, the DA wanted correct processes followed.
“When was the tender advertised? This is not the way things are supposed to be done.”
COPE’s Zanele Pantshwa-Maqabuka said there was “nothing surprising” with Stedone’s appointment as the governing ANC “does as it likes”.
“Mthatha is not even a shadow of Matanzima’s time,” she said.
Civic Alliance of SA’s Pasika Nontshiza said the road project was a mere electioneering ploy.
Nightingale said they would complete the three streets on schedule.
“The contract is about R20-million for road rehabilitation and stormwater clearing and without a doubt we will deliver the project on time.”
He would not be drawn into commenting on the failure to deliver the stadium on time.
“I was not part of that project so I would not like to comment on that,” he said.
On the 6600 houses, Nightingale said it was not their project.
“Our scope of work in terms of construction of houses is in Mayden Farm.
“Our scope of work was to do planning and to provide interim basic services like roads, which we have undertaken and complied with,” he said.
Nightingale said it was damaging to his company to report that they were meant to build the 6600 houses.
Ngqongwa said in 2012 at the official handover of the housing project that Stedone was the appointed builder.
Xasa said he could not follow up on the matter until he has been officially asked to do so in writing. “Let them formalise the complaint then once we receive the letter, we will be able to do our checks,” he said.
KSD spokesman Sonwabo Mampoza had not responded to e-mailed questions by deadline and could not be reached on his cellphone. — ndamasem@dispatch.co.za
R20m contract skips past tender process
Stedone Development is the same construction company that was awarded the R85-million project to build 6600 RDP houses in Mandela Park, Slovo Park, Chris Hani, Phola Park and Ngangelizwe in May 2012.
It was also meant to build the Mthatha Stadium ahead of the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
Neither materialised.
After refusing on previous occasions to comment about the 6600 houses, Stedone yesterday denied it was ever tasked with the massive project.
Director Geoff Nightingale said the company was roped in only for planning and providing interim basic services like roads and that they had done all the work they were supposed to do.
Stedone has consistently refused to answer questions on its relationship with KSD, with director Rory Shirley referring the Daily Dispatch each time to the municipality. He would only say the company had been appointed as an implementing agent.
On Monday, KSD mayor Nonkoliso Ngqongwa officially handed over the roads project to the company.
But yesterday opposition parties said they were shocked to see the company had been tasked with the rehabilitation of Khobo, Tukete and Madikane streets in Ngangelizwe.
UDM councillor Mabandla Gogo called on cooperative governance and traditional affairs MEC Fikile Xasa to probe the relationship between the company and Ngqongwa.
“We are disturbed by the fact that the mayor and her executive have decided to appoint Stedone for a third time after embarrassing KSD.
“We call on the MEC to investigate this relationship.
“The mayor must be taken to task for this,” he said.
Gogo said the UDM would march to the municipality demanding the council break all ties with Stedone.
DA councillor Raymond Knock said while they were in favour of tarring all roads in Mthatha, the DA wanted correct processes followed.
“When was the tender advertised? This is not the way things are supposed to be done.”
COPE’s Zanele Pantshwa-Maqabuka said there was “nothing surprising” with Stedone’s appointment as the governing ANC “does as it likes”.
“Mthatha is not even a shadow of Matanzima’s time,” she said.
Civic Alliance of SA’s Pasika Nontshiza said the road project was a mere electioneering ploy.
Nightingale said they would complete the three streets on schedule.
“The contract is about R20-million for road rehabilitation and stormwater clearing and without a doubt we will deliver the project on time.”
He would not be drawn into commenting on the failure to deliver the stadium on time.
“I was not part of that project so I would not like to comment on that,” he said.
On the 6600 houses, Nightingale said it was not their project.
“Our scope of work in terms of construction of houses is in Mayden Farm.
“Our scope of work was to do planning and to provide interim basic services like roads, which we have undertaken and complied with,” he said.
Nightingale said it was damaging to his company to report that they were meant to build the 6600 houses.
Ngqongwa said in 2012 at the official handover of the housing project that Stedone was the appointed builder.
Xasa said he could not follow up on the matter until he has been officially asked to do so in writing. “Let them formalise the complaint then once we receive the letter, we will be able to do our checks,” he said.
KSD spokesman Sonwabo Mampoza had not responded to e-mailed questions by deadline and could not be reached on his cellphone. — ndamasem@dispatch.co.za
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