AFTER months of reported animosity, Wards 23 meetings in uMhlathuze are still not functional and there seems to be no immediate indications of a resolution.
According to Ward Councillor Andre de Lange, a meeting to discuss the ill will has still not been finalised after months of requesting intervention from the municipality.
The matter first came to light on Sunday, 18th August when a public meeting at Ward 23 took place at uMhlathuze Village.
This meeting was cut drastically short.
‘The drama unfolded as soon as the meeting was opened when a member of the public stood up and objected to the quality of interpretations by the frequently used translator. He claimed that the translator was incorrectly interpreting what was said and that he had done so in previous meetings,’ said a ward committee member.
When other committee members were asked to translate, all requests were refused and consequently an official neutral translator from the municipality had been requested.
‘Matters got worse when Cllr De Lange was publicly accused of not fulfilling his role as Councillor and that he had lied about the allocation of 15 RDP houses and that he did not trust his committee,’ said another member.
Responding to these allegations, De Lange told the Zululand Observer that while the allocation of RDP houses had been completed, not all of the houses had been built.
‘This is due to lack of funds and community members must bear in mind that the construction of RDP houses is not in the Ward Committee’s manifesto.
‘The claim of mistrust stems from the fact that certain procedures have to be followed when proof of residence documentation is filled out and completed. A Commissioner of Oaths has to stamp and sign the documentation as it is an official legal document.’
De Lange said he was the only member of the committee who had the authority to issue the proof of residence documentation.
‘Certain committee members were not happy about this and claimed that they were informed that they could issue proof of residence and I was not allowing them to do so. I have notified the Municipal Manager about the problems experienced in my ward and we are still awaiting a response.
‘I am still available Mondays to Fridays between 7 and 8am outside the Civic Centre in Empangeni for issuing proof of residence documentation,’ said De Lange.
