Furniture promise not kept

BCM councillors lack ‘adequate tools of trade’

BUFFALO City Metro acting city manager Nceba Ncunyana failed to provide offices and furniture for a number of ward councillors despite promising to do so by the end of 2016.

Angry ward councillors who complained of not having “adequate tools of trade” accused Ncunyana of presenting an “inaccurate” and “flawed” report recently when he submitted a progress report on the matter in council.

Some councillors currently work from home and this, they claim, puts them in harm’s way when communities embark on service delivery protests, as they burn or vandalise councillors’ properties.

In the report Ncunyana said only 15 of 50 wards did not have office space.

He said a recent survey revealed that “24 wards do have furniture whilst 26 wards do not have it”.

However, the councillors disputed the report at the last council meeting in December and said more councillors did not have furniture.

Ward 35 councillor Siyabonga Skolo said: “People work from their homes. That’s why when residents protest they want to burn our homes.

“It was agreed that a comprehensive and detailed report must be submitted in January.

“They must explain to us what do they mean when they say that ward councillors have furniture when they don’t have office space even. Where is the furniture kept?”

Another ward councillor, Phumla Yenana, who has been affected by service delivery protests, said the report was inaccurate and full of flaws, while another councillor, Xolani Witbooi, said another survey needed to be conducted as many wards that do not have office space or furniture were listed with wards that have offices and furniture in Ncunyana’s report.

In the report Ncunyana admitted that the nonavailability of office space for all affected wards had a negative impact on service delivery.

However, he said: “The current funding of R3-million is insufficient for the demand for park homes (offices) therefore more funding needs to be considered during the Integrated Development Plan and budget review.”

He said the lack of funding for furniture needed to be addressed during the budget adjustment process.

Disgruntled councillors, however, said the city failed to honour a council resolution passed more than three years ago to provide them with these “adequate tools of trade”.

Councillor Skolo accused the administration bosses of not taking the matter seriously “because it only affects politicians”.

Ncunyana, however, made another promise that land would be identified in January where the park homes would be erected for councillors who are forced to work from their homes or from the back of their vehicles.

He said a tender was expected to be awarded in June for the provision of park homes with a kitchen, reception and an office. — mamelag@dispatch.