COMMUNITY members in Jeffreys Bay are demanding answers about R100 000 worth of equipment for the development of this area, which was reportedly stolen from the ward councillor’s office.
According to Chris Mtyaleka, Secretary of UDM in Ward 14, the Kouga Local Municipality handed over a budget of R100 000 as part of a Development Fund for the area in April, last year.
The supplier appointed by the Speaker of Office, bought the equipment necessary for the development.
The equipment – to be used for the neighbourhood watch, traditional wear for dance school, boxing club and community soup kitchen – was stored at the ward councillor’s office.
Mtyaleka: Late last year, the office was broken into and all the equipment stolen, including stoves, pots and sewing machines.
“We have not received any communication from the ward councillor or the ward committee pertaining to the break-in or a subsequent police investigation,” says Mtyaleka.
“We just heard rumours about the incident and two cases were opened at the police station. Since the break-in, the councillor has neglected to call a public meeting and she has not communicated with us at all. This year, we decided to follow up on the situation, because we want answers.”
According to Mtyaleka, they contacted the Office of the Speaker who then indicated that they were not aware of the break-in at the ward councillor’s office.
The UDM proceeded to the police station where they were informed that the said cases were opened, but closed shortly afterwards, as there was not enough evidence for the court case.
In a bid to obtain more information, the UDM Ward 14 wrote a letter to the Office of the Speaker requesting police statements for both cases, a full report on the R100 000 for the development in the area and the invoices from the suppliers who purchased the equipment.
In answer, Councillor Hattingh Bornman indicated that the Development Fund was the responsibility of the ward councillor in consultation with the ward committee and the community.
“This was not the answer we hoped for from the Office of the Speaker, but someone must answer – we can’t leave it like that,” complained Mtyaleka. “I feel very bad, because our community deserves better than this.”
No comment could be obtained from the said office at the time of going to print on Wednesday, June 3, despite a previous promise to do so.
Municipal spokesperson, Laura-Leigh Randall, says no break-ins were reported to the Office of the Speaker and a report from the Ward Councillor has been requested.
Police spokesperson, Gerda Swart, confirms that two cases were opened at Jeffreys Bay Police Station.
A case of housebreaking and theft at a business premises was opened on June 1, last year.
“Two items worth R8000 were reported stolen. No arrests were made, and the case was closed as unsolved,” says Swart.
A second case of housebreaking and theft (unknown to the Senior Public Prosecutor) was opened on July 2, last year.
Swart says in this case nothing had been stolen, no arrests were made and the case was also closed as unsolved.
