DURBAN - THE DA has accused uMngeni Local Municipality of squandering R2.7 million on a R450 000 project.
DA leader John Steenhuisen, accompanied by provincial leader Francois Rogers and other party officials, visited the municipality where they inspected the Curry’s Post cemetery, which was built by the municipality apparently for R2.7m, but the DA said it had received information which calculated the cost at just over R400 000.
DA ward 5 councillor Hazel Lake said when the cemetery was constructed, its price was highly inflated, because the party had discovered that it was worth just over R400 000. She said with the money the municipality could have also fixed the road leading to the cemetery, which had a lot of potholes.
“We have raised the issue before, but nothing was done. We are campaigning strongly now so that we take over and institute our own investigation. A lot of money has been wasted by the current leadership of the municipality. People are excited with our mayoral candidate Chris Pappas, and we are confident that we are going to win this municipality,” said Lake.
Behind me is a security guard hut at the Currys Post road that was built to guard the cemetery
— DA KZN (@DA_KZN) October 14, 2021
It cost R2,7 million and was built by a contractor in Msunduzi
According to our calculations it shouldn’t have cost anything more than R450 000 #VoteDA on 1 November pic.twitter.com/pA6q425XbS
Municipality spokesperson Thando Mgaga dismissed the DA’s allegations, adding it was politicking.
He said the R2.7m was for the entire project, which included fencing, installation of electrical gate, two jojo tanks, boreholes, sliding gate as well as a guard house with two toilets.
“We understand that it’s election time so the DA is politicking. What they are saying is not true. The 2.7m was not only for the guard house, but for the entire project,” said Mgaga.
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