Park project stopped before it starts
" it is unfair that people from the surrounding areas of Montclair were not given an opportunity or a say in the project."
A TWO million rand community project at the Montclair park has come to a standstill since work has been forcibly stopped for over two weeks by a group calling themselves the Montclair Business Forum (MBF).
The disruption in the production has caused a stir among residents, who are keen to see their new park take shape. Gavin Hegter says the park facelift was supposed to be completed by June but it seems unlikely the deadline will be met.
Read about the proposed Park Project here
He alleges the MBF are threatening workers on the project, forcing them to stop production. “They told us if any work has been done, they will come overnight and destroy it. They are turning the community project which is supposed to benefit our youth into a political war. We have had meetings where the tender was explained to them, how a tender is awarded and so forth but they didn’t want to hear anything. They insist they want the contractor to sub-contract 60% of labour to them,” said Hegter.
The contractors were advised to open up a case of harassment with police. “It is unfortunate that this group won’t look further than their own interests or how this project will benefit and uplift the community,” added Hegter.
Spokesman for MBF, Chris Mhlongo, said the group who are made up of small businesses in the community, are demanding a share of the R2-milllion contract awarded to revamp the park. He believes it is unfair that people from the surrounding areas of Montclair were not given an opportunity or a say in the project. He emphasised that the issue has nothing to do with politics as some would like to believe, rather the rate of unemployment in the community.
“It was agreed that there will be another meeting between municipality and the contractors on Monday, 16 May, to work out the shares of 60% of labour to come from ward 64 and 5% from the contractor’s pick. Once this is resolved, only then will work will be allowed to resume,” said Mhlongo.
The contractor that was awarded the tender has taken the legal route and has opened a case at Montclair SAPS, and has also hired a security firm to guard the site to prevent any damages. Work is said to resume on Tuesday, 17 May, in spite of the alleged threats.
