A rumpus over accusations that the municipality is undertaking ‘private civil work’ for some businesses in town has seen the Courier inundated with calls from people asking that the issue be investigated.
However, it appears that the accusations are linked to the ongoing political feuding in the municipality and the suspension and firing of some officials accused of various misdemeanours.
A complex of new shops on Victoria Street, next to PJ Carwash, and owned by a relative of a municipal official have been at the centre of the calls.
The municipality recently created a parking area for customers, which was also tarred. Electrical cabling was also put in.

The municipality has done the same for bed and breakfasts in the town, car dealers and other businesses.

However, this is not entirely strange, say municipal officials. “It is the work of the municipality to provide businesses who pay rates with parking. As Victoria Street is a provincial road, there is no provision for parking hence the area was created. It is the same with the provision of electricity – it is the job of the municipality to provide electricity for businesses to allow them to operate and pay rates,” said Speaker Sdiduzo Mdluli.
The municipality has done the same for bed and breakfasts in the town, car dealers and other businesses.
The only time businesses have to pay is from the point the cabling enters their property as they are responsible to pay for their electrical points in their buildings.
Accusations that the Victoria Street project was done at the expense of a job to install speed bumps in Sithemilbe were also dismissed.
“That job was put on hold as the municipality was awaiting for the correct signage at the traffic bumps to be supplied by the traffic department. This has now been done.”