Mall will disadvantage our sports people

The letter “Good Men are Scarce” by Nelson Puckree (Courier, February 5) has reference.
The Interim Committee of the KwaDukuza Ratepayers’ and Civic Association is well-aware of Mr Vivian Reddy’s contributions and philanthropy in the various sectors in KwaZulu-Natal and, therefore, has no qualms about his building a mall in KwaDukuza for the benefit of its residents. However, the association strongly objects to the location of the mall at its present site as it will drastically affect the present centrally-situated sporting facilities which are of historical significance and cater for the needs of all sports persons and the local schools. In addition, the present infra-structure will not be able to cope with the volume of traffic that will emerge from the CBD to the mall precinct.
The municipality has ample alternate property at its disposal in and around KwaDukuza which could be utilised for the development of a mall and the relocation of the municipal offices.
As for Mr Reddy’s credentials, he is first and foremost a developer who will go where the opportunity arises. He is not a “kind-hearted businessman” but rather a ruthless one who does not care two hoots if the sportsmen and women have to be accommodated at venues out of town. A donation of a million rand here and a few million rands there will cause no dent to his bank balance if this “goodwill” can secure a contract for R100 million.
Nelson Puckree is a naïve, floor-crossing, political maverick carried away by Reddy’s so-called benevolence that in his genuflection of him even goes to the extent of making such blasphemous statements as to desecrate the role of Mahatma Gandhi, who obtained the freedom of India from the might of the British Empire, and who fought the cause of the down-trodden Indians in South Africa at the beginning of the 20th century. His call for the re-naming of Mahatma Gandhi Street after Reddy and Gandhi’s statue to be moved to the bird sanctuary is idiotic. Perhaps a read on Gandhi will enlighten Puckree on the iconic status of the Mahatma.
Where will Reddy be in 20 years’ time? He will be a has-been whose memory will be buried six feet under while Gandhi will continue to be a revered man in the same mould as the venerable Chief Albert Luthuli and Nelson Mandela.
Mr Reddy’s undertaking of providing alternate sporting venues must be taken with a pinch of salt. Grounds for cricket in Gledhow and soccer in Stanger Manor are already in existence. Has he made his offer in writing to build stadia, change rooms and ablution facilities at these venues? When was public consultation undertaken with the sports people of the town? Taking a few officials from the various codes to the July Handicap does not translate to “consultation”.
Finally, the creation of 3000 jobs on a sustainable basis is a fallacy. It is only at the initial stages of construction of the mall that a large number will be employed and definitely not in the thousands. Thereafter, there will only be employment for plus-minus 500, at the most.
It must be reiterated that the association has no intention to sabotage any economic development in this town. It will welcome with open arms developers and entrepreneurs who will help provide the much-needed employment opportunities, especially for the youth of this region.

H R MOHAMMEDY
Chairperson ICKRCA
KwaDukuza