Response to Community Sports Stadium
11.03.2021
Thembelihle Local Municipality deems it prudent to reflect on the recent incidents relating to upgrades at the sport facility (Sonnyboy Jantjies Stadium) in Hopetown. The Municipality received a letter (dated 3 March 2021) from Thembelihle Community Committee, requesting an urgent meeting with the Council to discuss matters relating to the project that commenced in February 2021. This committee was established at a meeting convened in Slangpark (informal settlement) on 2 March 2021, with the objective to address issues that affect the community, especially the unemployed, poor, marginalized, and homeless.
The Council convened a meeting (5 March 2021) with the committee to provide them opportunity to reflect on the matters raised in the letter. After receiving the information, the Councilors present agreed to provided feedback to the Council and agree on responding to the communities at large.
The Council has deliberated on the matters raised by the committee on behalf of the community and agreed to provide feedback to the public. The Council has an important responsibility bestowed on them by the Constitution of the Republic, to ensure participatory democracy, and local government accountability. The law further imparts on to the Council the right to govern. The Council always encourage the involvement of communities.
The Council and administration always give effect to the requirements of different legislation in ensuring that the Municipality always follows the rules. In all procurement of services, the Municipality adhere to the requirements as laid down by legislation and regulations.
The sporting fraternity and community as stakeholders of the Municipality have at numerous occasions brought the dilapidated state of the Sonnyboy Jantjies Stadium to the attention of Council. This need was incorporated in the Integrated Development Plan of the Municipality, and the Council has now actioned the need of the community. Strydenburg Stadium poor condition was also reflected, and Council will continue to work towards sourcing funding for future upgrades.
Council provided management the responsibility to compile a business plan to source funding for the upgrading of stadiums within Thembelihle municipal area. The mentioned stadium was erected in 2011. Ten years beyond the state-of-the-art venue/stadium was vandalized and now needed serious intervention.
Regarding the upgrade of the sports stadium the municipality concluded the procurement
processes and appointed Melokuhle Management in accordance with paragraph 36(1) of the Municipal Supply Chain Management Policy, to consult and to do the construction(upgrades).
The Council took a unanimous decision to appoint the contractor. The value of the project
amounts to R10, 925 000. The funding national department, Department Sports Art, and Culture was involved and approved the business plan and provided the municipality with implementation
conditions.
The contractor responsible for the project would be required to implement the project within the contract conditions as laid down by the Municipality and will continue to work with the Municipality to ensure that the project is successfully delivered by June 2021. The Municipality has received the assurance from the contractor that the project will be delivered within the timelines and quality will not be compromised.
When a project is implemented in the municipality there will be requirement for sourcing workers at the project. In all projects Council takes keen interest in how many work opportunities will be created and opportunity must be created for local contractors.
The Municipality does keep official unemployment data of all wards and when required avail for use in projects. This has been done with all projects to date. Central to this is the role of the contractor and the role of the Municipality. Like in all projects it is the responsibility of the contractor to appoint a CLO and project workers to be used in the project.
Specific to the mentioned project the Municipality availed the unemployment data, and the
contractor selected for the CLO. The Municipality was informed that the contractor did conduct interviews and appointed the CLO.
The same municipal unemployment data was used to source project workers, the selected list was provided to the contractor and they concluded their processes. The Municipality always act in the best interest of the communities that the Council serve. The Council will not allow a higher number of external workers on any of the projects in jurisdiction of Thembelihle Municipality.
The Municipality already engage the service provider to ensure that we provide the public with information relating to progress, and to ensure involvement hoping that the project would accelerate. To allow for this the contractor was tasked with the municipality to consider establishment of project steering committee.
The Municipality subscribe to Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment and Local Economic Development principles. Considering this the municipality required the contractor to respond in line with the scope of work and equal opportunity must be provided where locally based contractors are required.
The contractor already indicated that sub-contractors will be engaged as matter of urgency, precisely because of time constraints. Adverts will be placed whereby local contractors would have the opportunity to submit proposal. The contractor would follow have to follow their internal procurement processes.
The Municipality will continue to be transparent about its affairs not because we do any person a favor, but it is a requirement of law. The Municipality wish to make it clear that Councilors are not involved in Supply Chain Management processes, as per the dictates of the policies, regulations, and legislation.
The Council in being committed to ensure planning is in place after the completion of works, will meet the affected stakeholders to brief and to plan how vandalism of public facilities can be avoided and to create a management system for the stadium. It must be conveyed that the Council will always ensure participation of communities in the affairs of the Municipality.
The current protest action that comes at the backdrop of where Council agreed to meet the community representatives although the committee was not yet known to Council, is not assisting the developmental agenda of the Council. The community has a right to public participation it should be within the framework of the law. The Council has the obligation to protect vulnerable groups and will continue to do so without favor.
The Municipality request anyone with information of corrupt activities to approach the law
enforcement agencies.
The Thembelihle Council can however not agree with stopping of development in our community.
Issued by:
Michael R Jack
Municipal Manager
Thembelihle Local Municipality
Private Bag X3
HOPETOWN
8750