A small-scale economic empowerment piggery project at the Felloane Trust in Thaba Nchu, meant to give 21 beneficiaries a niche into the industry, remains a stark reminder of “fruitless expenditure”. Situated in ward 41 of the Mangaung Metro, the project is a subject of vandalism.
The ANC-led municipality reportedly paid the contractor about R1,2 million for this project, which has collapsed due to a failure to complete construction. Reasons are unknown as to why the contractor failed to complete the project, known as the Nametsegang Piggery. Beneficiaries, of which there are 21 in total, are 17 women and four men who were trained to become commercially viable.
They are still trading informally, due to the failed construction of fully-fledged infrastructure in 2017.
Zweli Thwala, DA councillor in ward 4, said visible decay servesd as a stark reminder of the neglect of the municipality in 2017 during the tenure of ousted mayor Olly Mlamleli.
Accompanied by other party members, Thwala conducted another inspection on 1 September.
“Such misuse of public funds and the subsequent absence of responsibility is deeply concerning,” said Thwala.
“According to their response to the municipality, the piggery project had been allocated R1 128 436,49, excluding VAT.
“This revelation underscored the urgency of investigating potential mismanagement of resources and corruption within the municipality.”
With the municipality bankrupt and failing to recover from junk status, Thwala said there was no hope ever for beneficiaries.
He said beneficiaries were dealt an additional blow when the Department of Rural Development also failed to rescue the project. Apparently, this was after a promise by Teboho Maine, former head of the department, that funds would be raised to complete the project in 2018.
It is understood the initiative was part of the city council’s rural development economic strategy to be funded through its Economic and Rural Development Directorate.
Responding to Express’ enquiry regarding the project in 2018, Mlamleli said the construction of the piggery was on hold due to a legal dispute and financial hiccups, and added the municipality planned to appoint an architect to design a new plan to complete the failed initiative.
The contractor abruptly stopped work in June 2017, allegedly due to dire financial constraints.
Building material is left to rot in the sun and the beneficiaries of the project have been left in despair.
