KaNyamazane residents protest against ‘corruption in City of Mbombela’
These community members accused the CoM of ‘hiring people at night’.
Members of the community, mostly the youth, from the KaNyamazane Township protested at the City of Mbombela (CoM) premises today, February 12, calling for end to nepotism and corruption in general.
They also called for the replacement of the project liaison committees (PLCs) in the Kiaora/KaNyamazane N4 and the KaNyamazane/Matsulu Interchange Projects.
The community accused the members of these two committees of being political affiliates with access to important information relating to appointments, which results in favouritism. “The projects were intended to be non-political community development initiatives. However, the current composition of the PLCs undermines this purpose and limits transparency around employment opportunities,” reads the group’s memorandum submitted to the CoM. “Many of the existing PLC members hold positions within local political structures. This affiliation has created an unfair playing field, as these individuals have exclusive access to information and the ability to hand-pick candidates for project-related jobs. We’ve received reports of after-hours hiring practices that further restrict community access.”
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The members of the Public Order Police and the CoM’s security personnel monitored the peaceful protest.
The CoM’s spokesperson, Joseph Ngala, dismissed the allegations, saying they were directed at the wrong entity. “Anything that has to do with projects that are about the N4 highway is not our baby. That is for Sanral,” he said.
@lowvelder KaNyamazane community members protest against corruption at the CoM today, February 21. > Video: Riot Hlatshwayo
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He added that when people directly accuse the CoM of nepotism and corruption, they must come forward. “Government urges anyone with information that may be helpful in the identification of corrupt individuals to come forward. We are strongly against any corruption and nepotism of any kind,” said Ngala.
Attempts to obtain comment from Sanral proved fruitless.
