A R10-million donation meant for upgrading Dolphin Coast beaches has been ‘diverted’ to pay for the annual SA local government games.
The money is part of the IAF/Tongaat Hulett social commitment obligations for the planned Zimbali Lakes development and is due to be paid over to KDM in 2016. KDM has already received R4.5 million from IAF/Tongaat Hulett for the Salga Games but, needing more money, KDM decided to take the pledged money away from the beaches and add it to their Salga Games funding.
“KDM borrowed the money to pay for the Salga Games,” said Colin Marsh, Ballito ward councillor.
Marsh said KDM never budgeted for the Salga Games. While he had been led to believe it would be paid back into the portfolio, he did not know when that would happen.
“Because the money was promised for next year, it is already on KDM’s books although not in their bank account yet,” said Malcolm Hubner, Salt Rock ward councillor.
He said there were strict rules about diverting money but KDM used “devious methods” and the ANC’s majority vote to manipulate the system.
Hubner said KDM done the same with last year’s Blythedale Beach Festival that was not budgeted for either.
Over the past year, very little has been done to repair and maintain the Ballito promenade and beach facilities at popular beaches such as Tinley Manor, Blythedale and Zinkwazi.
Di Jones, Coastwatch chairman, said Tinley Manor Beach was in desperate need of upgrading, the Salt Rock beach toilets, although functioning, did not have building approval and Since being wiped out by the 2007 storm, the Shaka’s Cove toilets still haven’t been rebuilt.
“People take their children to the beach and have to “go” wherever they can,” she said.
Jones said money in question was to be used for the KDM Beach Nodes Development Plan in 2016.
Since the Courier highlighted the disgusting state of Ballito’s primary tourist area in January, not much has changed. Only the Willard Beach toilets have been repainted, covering up the vulgar graffiti that was there before.
The entire promenade is scarred by collapsed sections of posts and rails and paving, the latter a result of beach erosion. The toilets at Salmon Bay are still a no-go zone.
A visitor to La Montagne, Thomas Groenewald, reported to the Courier that several street lights along the promenade were not working, one was missing and the functioning lights remained on during the day.
Nick Hall, KwaDukuza municipality (KDM) technical services electrical engineer, said that he appreciated being made aware of the problem. Last week they were busy repairing power outages caused elsewhere in the municipality by lightning and that they would get around to the Ballito promenade before the end of the month.
But thankfully the Ballito UIP has jumped into action just in time to lend a hand before the holiday makers arrive.
Thierry Laclezio, UIP precinct manager, said the UIP has embarked on a special project, in agreement with KDM, to repair the posts and rails along the promenade and expect to be finished by mid-December.
The holiday madness kicks off on Thursday, November 26 with the Rage pre-party at Crush Night Club and time is running out to get the promenade and toilet facilities in tip-top shape for the town’s primary source of income.
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