Lungile Mtshali is a former councillor who passed away in 2010. At the time she was a member of the mayoral committee and known to be a servant of the people. Evaluating poverty levels in the city shortly before her passing, Mtshali initiated a community development project known as the R1 million rand per ward. This project was later officially named as the Lungile Mtshali Developmental Project in her honour.
The project was said to be one of a kind and has over the past three years seen different wards in Ekurhuleni receiving around R1 million each for the community to spend in developmental projects of their choice.
“It is a ward-based project, aimed at creating jobs and fighting poverty in the region,” DA councillor Wollaston Labuschagne said and added that it has already created over 3 000 jobs in Ekurhuleni.
The projects are centered around energy efficiency, water and sanitation, wetlands rehabilitation, waste management and greening and landscaping (including renovation of parks).
The newly renovated Mabob Park in Gazelle Drive, Alrapark also forms part of the LMP and is now nearing completion. Before renovations started, the dilapidated park with its broken equipment no longer served any purpose and young children from the community were left without a functional playground.
“The total cost of renovations roughly amounts to R800 000 and several local people were employed for the project,” Labuschagne said.
Apart from the installation of brand new equipment such as slides, swings, see-saws and a jungle-gym, a paved pathway also makes the park wheelchair friendly and accessible for mothers with strollers. Several trees were planted to provide shade in the summer and the parameter of the park is enclosed with concrete boulders to prevent vehicles from entering the play grounds.
“This project allows for people to get directly involved in the upkeep of their parks. Although the park will be maintained by the CoE’s Parks Department, I would like the community to take ‘ownership’ of Mabob Park to prevent vandalism,” Labuschagne said.
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