Golf course deal was not transparent

Mr Puckree’s letter (“Good Men Are Scarce,” Courier, February 5) was rather intriguing and captured my imagination. Having had the privilege of serving in my public life with honesty and integrity, I don’t intend to character assassinate any individual.
Having a Council that prides itself on an annual budget of over R1bn annually, skills centres should have been prioritized by our Council in line with the National Economic Development and Empowerment Framework Plan, including sourcing money from agencies such as the SETAs to train young future entrepreneurs.
I support the point that local big business and organizations must also fund educative projects within a community, especially the big banks that have enjoyed making vast amounts of money over half a century from the citizens of KwaDukuza, but which have contributed almost nothing back.
Citizens, NGOs, business organisations, sports organisations and ratepayers’ associations were not privy to any public scoping exercise by Council in the selling of the town’s family silver, the sporting grounds and golf course, covertly to a development company. The disposal of public land by Council was not done in a fair and transparent manner. The point is not who owns the right to develop except to ensure fairness in the bidding process, equitability, transparency, cost effectiveness, competitiveness and participation in the process.
Since about 2010 KwaDukuza municipality’s vision is moving towards Metro status, coupled with its historical heritage. Business models and developments are always evolving. Neither an individual nor a community can challenge progress, it’s part of our DNA.
If given the opportunity we need to participate in a proactive and positive manner to embrace change. A mixed-use development will inevitably be built on the site, not forgetting the new municipal civic centre. The developer, being an astute businessman, currently presides as chair of the KZN Gambling Board and is very well politically connected.
Which brings me to my next point, that the intended entertainment complex and mall will have a casino. Casinos have some benefit to the local economy by virtue of entertainment, employment, rates and tax. However the danger and socials ills far outweigh the benefits to the greater society. It has the potential of unleashing an avalanche of socials ills like gambling addiction, increase in domestic violence and bankruptcy of the poor. Spiraling debts will contribute to alcohol and drug abuse, non-payment of maintenance and school fees, and even individuals contemplating suicide when they lose everything by gambling.
The per capita income, with the majority being poor, does not warrant a casino in our town. The effects of gambling does not choose race, colour, ethnicity or creed in its destructive element. Moral decadence among our youth will even further perpetuate. A simple acid test: do a survey among all the different religious organisations and community NGOs and one will discover that the verdict will be no to a casino.
With regard to the forthcoming local government elections, the electorate has now come of age to vote with their minds and not their hearts. I encourage one and all enjoying a democratic right that was won by blood, toil and sweat, to act responsibly and vote. Having in your hands the power of the pen on election day is mightier than the sword. You can make a positive difference for the future in your local municipality. KwaDukuza has plenty of good men and women who can rise up to the challenge and contribute to change.
I personally am currently relocating for educational, business, family and lifestyle reasons to Cape Town, the tourist destination, city and province of choice.
SA DAWOOD
KwaDukuza