Contractor for Ngwelezane electrification delayed
Mayor delays introduction of project contractor for the electrification of 220 houses.
THE poor showing by the ‘A 1275’ residents in Ngwelezane’s Ward 27 has prompted the City Mayor of uMhlathuze, Cllr Mdu Mhlongo to delay the introduction of a contractor for the electrification project.
Addressing a group of about 20 residents who converged on Tuesday at Ngwelezane Community Hall, Mhlongo pleaded with the communities to allow him to delay the introduction of a contractor, who has been tasked with electrification of the 220 houses.
‘Most of you who are here are not residing at ‘A 1275,’ and as a result we will be doing injustice if we continue with the introduction of a contractor, while the majority of residents are not here.
‘Those who are here are not even a quarter of the total number of residents. It will be fair if we postpone the introduction of a contractor to next year.
‘However this postponement will not interfere with the commencement of the project. The project will still commence on 11 January 11.’
Mhlongo hinted that this was not a ‘big project,’ as it will create only about 15 temporary jobs for local residents.
‘We humbly request that you heed our request to postpone this announcement of a contractor, as you know that there is a background behind this project, and we don’t want to leave out some residents when we make the announcement.
‘Unlike other projects we have undertaken in the past, here at ‘A 1275’ it was the people first who built their houses, then the government followed with the provision of services.
‘Normally it is the other way round. It is imperative therefore that we explain all these things to a wide audience, to avoid incidences where contractors are being threatened by communities,’ added Mhlongo, who was accompanied by his Deputy Cllr Zethu Gumbi, Speaker Cllr Mfundo Mthenjana, local councillors and other senior officials.
The 220 houses are mostly new, as they emerged through the availability of sites from KwaMadlebe Traditional Authority.
According to Mhlongo this project is aimed at changing Ngwelezane people’s lives for the better.
