THE City of uMhlathuze has launched a scathing attack on local DA councillor Christo Botha, after he released information which the city deems as a ‘huge misrepresentation of facts’, on a municipal development in Meerensee.
According to Botha, the development currently underway on Hibberd Drive is to be a 920 square metre mansion, complete with guards quarters and a garden, valued at about R20-million for the city mayor, Mduduzi Mhlongo.
‘What is of concern is that the matter and its support resolutions were not brought to council for proper deliberation and engagement,’ he said.
‘The land has been zoned as high density residential 3 and has an estimated worth of R5- to R 6.5-million.
‘A further concern is that the development notice says the clearing is intended for municipal housing and no mention of the fact that the mayor’s mansion is to be erected.’
Botha said he has written to the city’s Municipal Manager, Dr Nhlanhla Sibeko, to seek clarity on where the funding for the ‘mayoral mansion project’ is sourced and why it has not been communicated to the council and the public in general.
Communications Manager Mdu Ncalane said the municipal housing project dates back to 2014 and was approved as per Government Gazette number 37281 of 29 January 2014, regulating councillors’ ‘tools of trade’, and subsequently approved by council in the 2014/15 financial year.
‘It was also included in the budget which was approved by council, on which Cllr Botha sits,’ he said.
‘The City of uMhlathuze is shocked by the thumb-sucked amount mentioned by Cllr Botha and views this as his way to score political points with outside parties, instead of consulting his official council documents containing all factual information about this project.
‘It only makes long-term business sense to host delegations in a municipal building as opposed to expensive hotel rooms, hence the strategic location of the municipal house in the city’s prime precinct.
‘The municipal house will remain a municipal house regardless of who the incumbent mayor is and whichever political party he or she may come from.’
Regarding the land value, Ncalane said it is municipal land for which there is no cost to the municipality to utilise.
‘The estimated cost of R5.5-million was set aside; we have not compromised on service delivery.’
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