trouble
Wonder Hlongwa
Department of Public Works Director General Sipho Shezi had to intervene this week to rescue a R5-million project halted by Richmond violence.
The Ndaleni school-building project came to a standstill after alleged warlord Sifiso Nkabinde’s expulsion from the African National Congress earlier this year. Nkabinde, who then joined the United Democratic Movement – which subsequently suspended him after his arrest on murder charges – was chair of the Ndaleni building committee. His righthand man, Siphiwe Gwamanda, was its recruiting officer. Both men had signing power for cheques to pay workers and purchase building materials.
When division erupted between the ANC and the UDM, workers began suffering. Gwamanda refused to pay ANC-aligned labourers, saying he did not recruit them. He also claimed they were intimidating UDM supporters and preventing them from going to work.
Construction on the Ndaleni project began late last year. It consists of 16 classrooms, a community hall, administration block, science laboratory and kitchen.
This week, about 80 angry men went to complain about Gwamanda at the Richmond police station. They demanded payment from construction manager, Kenny Naicker, who eventually drew R5 000 from his personal bank account to pay them.
However, he could only pay for two days’ work and the labourers claim they are owed money for four days. Naicker promised he would try to pay them next week.
On Wednesday Shezi met representatives of those involved to resolve the issue. But Gwamanda did not attend; instead, he went to a UDM meeting at Mpangeni in northern KwaZulu-Natal. He said he had been informed late of Shezi’s meeting.
The provincial auditor general has conducted an audit of the project, on Shezi’s instructions, but officials in his department refused to disclose its findings. Shezi did not respond to calls.
The project was expected to be ready by this month, but only the basic structure has been completed. So far, only R1,6- million of the R5-million allocated has been spent.
Richmond mayor Andrew Ragavaloo said his council would intervene only when the problems surrounding the project have been solved.
Richmond `suspects’ beaten by police, PAGE8