Community hall in eMbalenhle is in a state of collapse
When the newspaper asked the district municipality about such a budget, we were told it was redirected to electricity projects in the Govan Mbeki Municipality.
The Sijongile Ndamase Community Hall in eMbalenhle is in a state of collapse.
The community is worried about the hall, which is the only remaining infrastructure among those first built in the township.
The decay has continued despite the efforts from a group of young people known as the Govan Mbeki Municipality Art and Culture Forum and community members who joined hands last year to clean up the vandalised hall.
They also removed supposed addicts who were squatting there.
The group at that time invited Mayor Nhlakanipho Zuma to observe their work and to convince him to allow them to use the facility for free.
Zuma said the municipality was still trying to source money to renovate the hall.
He said a problem will be created if only a single organisation is allowed to use the hall. The mayor wanted the entire community to have access to the facility.
During the 2019/2020 Gert Sibande District Municipality IDP meeting that was held at Lillian Ngoyi Centre, the district municipality presented a budget to renovate the hall.
When the newspaper asked the district municipality about such a budget, Ridge Times was told it was redirected to electricity projects in Govan Mbeki Municipality.
The state of the hall has worsened over time with vandalism rife.
When addressing councillors and the municipal administration at an annual two-day strategic planning session held in Trichardt on January 17 and 18, Zuma said the municipality should prioritise the Lilian Ngoyi Centre and the stadium in Secunda to develop local talent.
Zuma also said the stadiums in eMzinoni and Leandra also need urgent attention.
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