Bridging the gap with silence
There were no warnings before last week, and concrete has recently been laid on the steel base. This is a definite step in the direction of service delivery by the municipality.
The Ncuba Bridge over Dorpspruit has neared completion.
Following a report in last week’s Advertiser, Emadlangeni Municipality’s aim to have the bridge completed by the end of March was expedited.
On Monday, municipal officials and contractors were on site to begin the final touches to the bridge.
Construction signs and warning tape to close off the area and to warn passers-by about the potential dangers of the bridge, were now put up.
There were no warnings before last week, and concrete has recently been laid on the steel base. This is a definite step in the direction of service delivery by the municipality.
Democratic Alliance (DA) Councillor, Pat Collins, said information given to the media, regarding the cost of the bridge had been inaccurate.
“The bridge cost the municipality R1.8-Million, R600 000 of which was sourced via VAT returns.
“This was money the municipality did not have at the time of the tender, but still committed to pay.”
Cllr Collins believed this promise to pay was unethical.
He questioned the municipality’s decision. “What guarantee did the municipality have that the money would come in? How can we commit to doing something with money we don’t have? It is the principle that is wrong.”
Municipal sources revealed an amount of R300 000 of the R1.8-million was paid into an account not registered to the company who was awarded the tender for the bridge.
Allegedly, the company had instructed one of the municipal payment officers to pay the amount.
This officer submitted a requisition form to the Chief Financial Officer and Municipal Manager of the municipality.
The two officials, without raising any red flags, subsequently approved this payment.
Later this issue was brought before the municipality, and the payment officer who had brought the requisition forms forward was fired.
“There is no accountability! The MM and CFO signed off on these forms. Why did they not take the flack for the incident?
“They are the ones who are supposed to double-check these things,” said a municipal source.
In a visit to the municipality on Monday, an interview with the MM, Mrs GPN Ntshangase, was requested, but she referred queries to the Mayor, Joe Zikhali, who also did not wish to be interviewed.
