“What makes us angry is that the municipality issued a completion certificate for this nonsense of a field after their site inspector passed the horrible work of that contractor,” fumed Nkone.
While Nkone commended the peaceful nature of the march, he warned municipal bosses not to test the patience of the angry residents by ignoring them.
“The mayor must make sure the contractor pays back the money.”
The picketers, led by the #Sivukile Glenmore, Economic Freedom Fighters and few ANC members brought the small town to a standstill for three hours yesterday.
Chanting slogans and singing struggle songs, the protesters marched to the Ngqushwa Municipality offices where council speaker Nombuyiselo Magingxa accepted the petition on behalf of the municipality.
Magingxa promised to respond to the protesters petition within their 30-day deadline. Magingxa promised to hand over copies of the petition to ANC provincial chairman Oscar Mabuyane and Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture MEC, Pemmy Majodina.
Non-government organisation Afesis-Corplan, which conducted a social audit on behalf of the community, has threatened to write to the public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebana if the local government fails to account.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch yesterday, Afesis-Corplan researcher Lindokuhle Vellem said an indaba which was organised by the NGO on March 28, was snubbed by the contractor and the municipality.
“They got our invitation but failed to pitch,” said Vellem, adding, “Together with the residents we have given the municipality 30 days to respond to the petition, failure to do so we will take it up with the Public Protector.”
Ward 9 resident Fuya Mankeya said: “We joined the march because corruption is rife.”
He alleged the contractor who got the tender to build the soccer pitch was also involved in the renovations of a hall in the same area where R2.5-million was spent for “lacklustre” work.
The EFF has called for investigation into the tender and the arrest and conviction of guilty parties. EFF ward 8 chairman Bulelani Bentele said the municipal public accounts committee should be disbanded because they are “ineffective”. — malibongwed@dispatch.co.za
Anti-corruption march in Peddie
More than a thousand angry Glenmore and Peddie residents marched to the Ngqushwa local municipality offices in Peddie earlier today over what they claim are the misuse of R3-million of public funds to renovate their soccer stadium.
The marchers complained that the condition of the field, which was supposed to be improved up by the contractor, has worsened.
The field is used by 25 soccer teams during tournaments which have economic spin-offs for residents as street vendors and hawkers sell fruit and beverages to supporters and clubs, said #Sivukile Glenmore leader Mzimkhulu Nkone.
Nkone claimed the work had been so shoddy that the metal structures of the grandstand are braced with rocks and the soccer pitch turned into a lake after leaking water pipes lead to the field being flooded.
Nkone said metres of fencing had gaping holes and some parts of it had fallen down.
“What makes us angry is that the municipality issued a completion certificate for this nonsense of a field after their site inspector passed the horrible work of that contractor,” fumed Nkone.
While Nkone commended the peaceful nature of the march, he warned municipal bosses not to test the patience of the angry residents by ignoring them.
“The mayor must make sure the contractor pays back the money.”
The picketers, led by the #Sivukile Glenmore, Economic Freedom Fighters and few ANC members brought the small town to a standstill for three hours yesterday.
Chanting slogans and singing struggle songs, the protesters marched to the Ngqushwa Municipality offices where council speaker Nombuyiselo Magingxa accepted the petition on behalf of the municipality.
Magingxa promised to respond to the protesters petition within their 30-day deadline. Magingxa promised to hand over copies of the petition to ANC provincial chairman Oscar Mabuyane and Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture MEC, Pemmy Majodina.
Non-government organisation Afesis-Corplan, which conducted a social audit on behalf of the community, has threatened to write to the public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebana if the local government fails to account.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch yesterday, Afesis-Corplan researcher Lindokuhle Vellem said an indaba which was organised by the NGO on March 28, was snubbed by the contractor and the municipality.
“They got our invitation but failed to pitch,” said Vellem, adding, “Together with the residents we have given the municipality 30 days to respond to the petition, failure to do so we will take it up with the Public Protector.”
Ward 9 resident Fuya Mankeya said: “We joined the march because corruption is rife.”
He alleged the contractor who got the tender to build the soccer pitch was also involved in the renovations of a hall in the same area where R2.5-million was spent for “lacklustre” work.
The EFF has called for investigation into the tender and the arrest and conviction of guilty parties. EFF ward 8 chairman Bulelani Bentele said the municipal public accounts committee should be disbanded because they are “ineffective”. — malibongwed@dispatch.co.za
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