Cracks in the Lungile Mtshali Project

The project, outlined by Mayor Mondli Gungubele in his State of the City Address last year, was dedicated to a former MMC for Finance, and was intended to see that every ward in the metro allocated R1-million for spending on a legacy project.

According to metro spokesperson, Themba Gadebe, the project has so far employed 3 200 brigades that are actively visible in all the wards within the metro.

However, the DA has questioned the merits of the project.

“The DA wholeheartedly welcomed the concept in principle. However, the party was aghast that no firm plans were in place to monitor exactly what projects could be undertaken; how they would be implemented and managed; and, who would be tasked with managing the projects and what mechanisms were in place to ensure that the R1-m was not simply wasted,” says Shadow MMC for Economic Development in Ekurhuleni, Heather Hart.

“Poor planning would eventually result in numerous problems. This is sad as the project held so much promise.

“Despite the metro already employing staff to sweep streets and maintain parks, this is what the Lungile Mtshali Project has become – a clean-up crew.

“Not even one ward appears to have seen the benefit of a long-term or self-sustainable project – this is after the ANC loftily decreed that the Lungile Mtshali banner would produce ‘legacies’ in every community,” she says.

Hart adds that there have been instances of jobs allegedly being given to “ANC cadres only”, and says that it is bitterly disappointing that the project is something which could have been so successful for so many.

“If only it had been properly thought out and planned, and responsibilities placed upon metro officials to ensure that the teams were properly organised, equipped and usefully employed in a routine manner, but it has become a money-squandering failure.”

The DA has asked questions in Council, and also sent two letters to the mayor, with copies to the Speaker, Clr Patricia Khumalo and city manager, Khaya Ngema, asking that allegations of corruption in the selection of applicants be investigated.

“Furthermore, regular complaints have been forwarded to relevant officials, but to date not one single response has been received, once again demonstrating that the metro views ratepayers merely as cash cows to promote the ANC brand,” says Hart.

The DA intends to take the matter to the Provincial MEC for Local Government and ask for investigations into irregularities, mismanagement and wasteful expenditure. If no action is taken, a complaint to both the Public Protector and Auditor-General will be forwarded.

In April, the DA reported that they saw dozens of people gathering every working day at the civic centre and Jan Smuts Dam, dressed in the Lungile Mtshali green overalls, but doing absolutely nothing.

Upon making enquiries, Ward 97 Clr Veronica Dyson, said that she was told that they were “employed” on March 1, but have not been paid yet. They were informed that they will receive “double pay” at the end of April.

“If this is true, it is unacceptable in terms of labour law to make people wait for their salaries, even if they are being mismanaged,” she said.

“Time and time again I have noticed the workers sitting on the outside walls or lying on the grass in the mornings; the majority leave the premises between noon and 1pm. It seems that no-one is in charge or giving them any direction.”

“The Lungile Mtshali Project was launched to great fanfare by the metro Council. The purpose was to improve the lives of local communities – at the cost of R1-m per ward – on the projects that would ‘leave a legacy’. I can see evidence of this.”

The metro had been contacted in connection with the issues raised by the DA, however, no comment has been received by the time of going to print.