Back-at-his-post Municipal Manager Thabani Biyela says the municipality is to ‘vigorously embark on service delivery’ despite on-going infighting among councillors, which late last year saw acting Municipal Manager Advocate R Brijraj assaulted by a group of workers.
The Courier has been contacted by business-people and members of the public, who are concerned that the seemingly never-ending chaos is impacting negatively on service delivery and the town’s ability to attract much-needed investments. However, Mr Biyela was upbeat about several projects to be implemented, including the R18 971 915,77 upgrading of Colley Street. It was this tender that last year was the cause of much anguish in municipal circles, with Mr Biyela alleging that ‘some ANC officials’ had urged him to award the tender to a certain company.’ This eventually led to his suspension, he told the Courier, and was later charged with other ‘misdemeanours’ and was suspended. His suspension was lifted in September, and the charges dropped in a council meeting, which the opposition says was an ‘unquorated meeting’. Despite this Mr Biyela confirmed that the tender has been awarded to Dreykon/Lekhisa in a joint venture after COGTA ruled that the tender had to be re-advertised.”
“The sod-turning will take place today (Wednesday).
“Percy Mabilisa, the acting Technical Manager, and I engaged the management of Dreykon, where it was agreed to subcontract local companies as part of job creation.”
Mark Donaldson, Endumeni Electrical Manager, revealed that R5-million would be spent to electrify the community of Stratford Farm (Kwa Nkosi Sithole). The Department of Energy is funding the project. According to Mr Donaldson, about 330 households will benefit during the first phase to start ‘as soon as possible, and ending in about June’. Mr Donaldson said the second phase will start in August and will cover those who were left out in Phase 1.
About 500 people will benefit through this project. Turning to the controversial issue of who exactly is the legal Municipal Manager of Endumeni, Mr Biyela said he had received a letter from Speaker Sduduzo Mdluli informing him of the decision taken by council in December. The December resolution reversed the decision taken by council earlier to re-instate Mr Biyela, and dropped all charges. “I last spoke to Mr Brijraj after he requested his payment for October. He again requested another payment for November. I asked him to furnish me with a copy of his contract to see whether are we are liable to pay him or not. “Mr Brijraj did not respond, and I only saw him arriving at the municipality on December 19 last year, accompanied by seven bodyguards.” Mr Biyela claimed that he had opened a case after Mr Brijraj allegedly forcibly opened the door of the municipal manager’s office and changed the locks. Later, Mr Brijraj and his bodyguards were assaulted and chased out of the building. Mr Biyela opened a case of assault, which police are investigating.