Project manager refuses to comment on state of Van Riebeeck Park pool
Project Manager Prince Ribombo refused to comment on any of the alleged irregularities concerning the swimming pool.
NELSPRUIT – The project manager in charge of the upgrading of the Van Riebeeck Park Swimming Pool, Mr Prince Ribombo, has refused to comment on the current situation at the site.
In a telephonic conversation with Lowvelder, Ribombo claimed that allegations made in a previous article were false and that the journalist failed to contact him to set the record straight.
“I’m not office bound and I received no phone call from you on my cellphone,” he said. This despite the fact that he refused to divulge his contact details to Lowvelder and referred the matter to the communications department. “I don’t have to give you my numbers as it is not in my mandate to speak to the media, so direct your questions to Bessie Pienaar at our communications department.”
When asked for clarity on the progress of the Van Riebeeck project, he stated that he did not answer to the community.
“I don’t have to explain what is going on to the public or anyone else for that matter, I answer only to council and only through the communications department.”
When asked about the proposed R27 million swimming-pool complex rumoured to be in the pipeline for the Hazyview area, Ribombo referred it to the communications department too. “You journalists are qualified to write, and I am a qualified civil engineer. My qualifications do not include communications – that is what Bessie Pienaar is there for.”
Currently the renovations at Van Riebeeck Park have been completed according to schedule by the contractor. The new entrance and office building is a marked improvement on the old structure which had to be demolished.
“From the outside it looks fantastic, but the real problems have not even been dealt with, namely the rotten roof trusses over the change-room areas,” said DA councillor, Jo Koster, “This is what the whole project was supposed to be centered around and it has now just been left untouched”.
“We do not believe that a national championship can be hosted at the swimming pool at this stage, despite promises made to the Mpumalanga Swimming Association. It is definitely a matter that we as the
DA have taken a serious interest in.”
Nobody from Mbombela’s communication’s division has answered Lowvelder’s questions as yet.
These had been forwarded two weeks ago.
