Mayor hits out at developers

Executive Mayor Japhet Ndabeni-Ncube has called on private developers to take their contracts seriously, saying the council spent a lot of time vetting them before awarding them contracts only to see them renege on these contracts.

He was responding to complaints by Nketa councillor Alderman Charles Mpofu, who expressed disappointment at the work being done in Emganwini by AP Glendinning, a private developer.

The company was subcontracted to construct roads and water drainage systems to service the Glen Kara homes in Emganwini 2.

According to the latest council minutes, the company started work on August 27 but only worked for two days before running out of diesel. The company said it would resume operations when fuel became available.

The councillor for Emganwini, Angilacala Ndlovu, had expressed concern about the delay in the repairing of roads and the drainage in the suburb. He said because of the onset of the rains, filling up of potholes could be done with gravel to temporarily alleviate the problem.

Alderman Mpofu said it was now high time the council revisited its contracts with private developers because they were letting the council down terribly, especially in view of the pending rainy season.

Mpofu was supported by the mayor, who he has often clashed with. “I do agree with Alderman Mpofu to express our great concern,” the mayor said.

“Contractors go through rigorous selection only to let us down later. Let’s revisit the way we award our contracts.”

Several developers have let the council down especially those involved in housing development in Cowdray Park and Pumula South.

Scores of desperate home-seekers have lost millions of dollars to these developers who have in some cases sold stands to several people.

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