DA leader defiant over sports club dispute

DURBAN 28.10.2014. BEREA ROVERS CLUB IN JAKO JACKSON ROAD.

DURBAN 28.10.2014. BEREA ROVERS CLUB IN JAKO JACKSON ROAD.

Published Oct 30, 2014

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Durban - “Charge me”. That was the call on Wednesday from eThekwini DA caucus leader, Zwakele Mncwango, to threats by deputy city mayor, Nomvuso Shabalala, to charge him for allegedly breaching the city’s code of conduct after he met representatives of Berea Rovers sports club over the city’s decision to move it from its premises near King’s Park stadium.

Shabalala had accused Mncwango of “giving outside people” information about council business after he admitted to meeting with Rovers.

But by on Wednesday, the city had yet to charge Mncwango. And the Speaker, Logie Naidoo, confirmed he had not yet received an official complaint.

“In fact, I still believe that what I did in that meeting was in the best interest of the ratepayers and the city… That is the problem with ANC councillors, they do not understand the role of councillors.

“It is our responsibility as councillors to go and hear what the concerns are from the public. To say I have an interest in the Rovers is true, because I do have an interest. I have an interest to solve the matter,” he said.

On Tuesday, the municipality’s executive committee gave the city manager, S’bu Sithole, permission to sign a 30-year lease agreement with Hoy Park Management, a partner of British Premier League club Liverpool, to develop the 14.334ha King’s Park northern precinct, which Rovers shares.

The decision was approved by all members except the DA.

Naidoo said that if Berea Rovers wanted to secure premises, they needed to talk to the city, and not the DA.

“If they don’t want to talk to us because we are ANC, that is fine, but they need to go to the city manager or to the head of Parks and Recreation,” he said.

“We do not want to kick anyone out of where they are, but we also don’t want anyone to stand in the way of development.”

Dave Henry, president of Berea Rovers, did not want to comment until he had met the municipality.

Daily News

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