Construction of mall in Standerton botched

The mall in Standerton has not died an honourable death.

The latest development is that the developers and the Lekwa Municipality could not come to an agreement about the level of services.

A former DA councillor, Ms Sithi Silosini, said a technical team from Lekwa and the developers had already discussed everything to be discussed.

Lekwa’s mayoral committee issued a statement on 22 January in which the development of the mall was mentioned.

According to their statement, a resolution that was taken said that all concerned parties, including the Department of Planning and Economic Development, Department of Corporate Services: legal section and the developers of the Standerton Mall should come to a conclusion on the service level agreement that entails provision of bulk services and rates.

The Standerton Advertiser gave coverage to the construction of the mall in October 2019, when a notice board was put up at the construction site at the intersection of the R23 and Walter Susulu Drive.

According to information, council approved it on 28 August 2018.

“Committees from both the Gert Sibande District Municipality and Lekwa Municipality will iron out the logistics,” Ms Thobeka Mtshiselwa, communications manager of the municipality, then said.

Ms Mtshiselwa also said, in retrospect, that the date could not be confirmed, but indicated it would have been before the end of June that year.

The DA went on a peaceful march to the municipal offices on 1 February in solidarity with its construction.

The unemployment in town was mentioned by Ms Angel Khanyile, DA MP.

Neither the former executive mayor, Mr Linda Dhlamini, nor the municipal manager, Ms Gugu Mhlongo-Ntshangase, were present to receive the DA-memorandum.

Protesters were not satisfied with the delay, calling it another sign of corruption at the municipality.

Lack of employment also came to the forefront for the youth of Ext 8 on 6 June that year.