The Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) chairperson Sakhumzi Caga has vowed that the committee will continue holding Buffalo City Metro (BCM) leadership accountable following the conclusion of the last round of MPAC public hearings held at the East London City Hall recently.
MPAC is the committee of a municipal council established in terms of Section 79 of Municipal Structures Act which exercise oversight role on behalf of the council.
The main purpose of the public hearings is to provide an opportunity for the Metro council to account and provide progress report on various BCM’s multimillion rand development projects that were started in the previous financial year.
Caga emphasised the need for the full completion of the projects adding that the committee will continue to provide oversight and accountability role.
BCM Mayor Princess Faku, council speaker Humphrey Maxegwana, BCM senior accounting officials and Buffalo City Metro Development Agency (BCMDA) appeared before the committee to account and give progress report on the full completion of the Metro’s multimillion rand projects.
Some of the major projects discussed during the public hearings included the stalled R121 million Waterworld Fun Park, the multimillion rand Leighandre ‘Baby Lee’ Jegels Recreation Park, Ebuhlanti/Marina Glenn and the R3 million Mdantsane NU2 swimming pool. All projects are undertaken by the BCMDA.
Acts of theft and vandalism has delayed the completion of these projects. “The last round of these public hearings provide an opportunity for the Metro council to account and deliver a report on progress made on these major projects,” said Caga.
In October the MPAC conducted an oversight visit at Waterworld and the committee expressed shock by the dilapidated and deteriorating condition of the project.
The BCM mayoral committee has noted a report on the progress made on Ebuhlanti/Marina Glenn project which indicated that 75% of roads’ upgrade is already done.
BCM spokesperson Samkelo Ngwenya said the Metro has so far spent R17 million in the project. “Initially, the R4 million indicated by the mayor at the start of the project was the budget allocated to commence with the project in that particular financial year,” added Ngwenya.
