Cessation letter a spanner in NOFTA’s works

The Newcastle Organisation For The Aged (Nofta) was issued a letter to stop hosting so-called ‘illegal’ functions at its service centre.

For many, Nofta may be regarded as rendering assistance to the community, but the Newcastle Municipality has ordered organisation to refrain from renting out the service centre.

A resident living on Nightingale Street, where the service the centre is situated, brought forward concerns.

“I have no issue with the organisation, but when people host events there, they disturb the peace,” said the resident.

One of the issues was that many users of the service centre do not stick to the curfew time set for places of public gatherings.

The resident added that the street itself was not designed to handle the influx of traffic when events were hosted.

Due to these complaints, the municipality has been forced to take action.

The site on which the Nofta Service Centre was built, was donated to the organisation on agreement it would be used only for the organisation.

By renting out the hall, Nofta has not adhered to this condition.

Speaking on behalf of the organisation, the chairman of the association, Rajesh Ramdaw, said the organisation was in the right in allowing the community to make use of the service centre.

“We are a non-profit organisation, and we still have monthly expenses which we need to meet. If we rely solely on donations of the community and the Department of Social Services, we will not be able to survive.”

Mr Ramdaw added the committee believed the community should be allowed to make use of the facilities.

In his words, the centre was not rented out, but community members were allowed to use it for a nominal donation.

Documents were produced to show that Nofta did have a monthly expenditure of more than R20 000.

“As an NPO, we have to provide for ourselves! It is part of our rights!” insisted Mr Ramdaw.

Recently elected as chairman of the Amajuba District’s Chamber of NPOs, Mr Ramdaw explained that if he had to, he would take the matter directly to the MEC’s office to ensure Nofta was able to continue its activities to subsidise its own growth.

It is believed that with the backing of Newcastle Mayor, Afzul Rehman, the issues surrounding the organisation would be addressed and resolved.

According to Mr Ramdaw, he had been told it was just a formality before the land was resoned.

However, Cllr Rehman explained it was not in his power to make such decisions on his own, but rather one to be debated on in council, but said he supported the organisation entirely.

“I understand why the Department of Human Settlements has issued NOFTA with this letter, but I believe that the organisation is one of the few organisations committed to helping Newcastle, and I will support them as I can,” said Cllr Rehman.

Nofta’s executive committee alleged that Portfolio Councillor of Human Settlements, Matthew Shunmugam was determined to see the organisation fail.

It was alleged the councillor was constantly trying to ‘throw a spanner in the works’ of the organisation.

Cllr Shunmugam was accused of trying to stop Nofta because Mr Ramdaw ran against him during the last municipal bi-elections.

Cllr Shunmugam refuted these allegations.

“I won those elections fair and square, by nearly 1 000 votes. Why would I hold a grudge against Mr Ramdaw for that? I was one of the people that assisted Nofta from the start to become the organisation it now is; I do not want to see them fail.”

Cllr Shunmugam explained that as both the Ward Councillor and Portfolio Councillor, he had a duty to honour the position the people had elected him into, and thus could not abide and sit by while the organisation conducted ‘illegal activities’.

The decision surrounding Nofta’s resoning is now on the table – a letter opposing the resoning has been addressed to council, and is believed to hold a lot of weight in the ultimate decision.