Huge new hall for KSD rural community

VILLAGERS of both Old and New Payne locality will have something to smile about with a huge new fencedin community hall.

King Sabata Dalindyebo (KSD) spokesman Sonwabo Mampoza said the community would be able to hold meetings and have direct access to their councillor, who would be based at the hall. No longer would people have to catch a taxi to town.

Mampoza said construction of the hall was almost complete. Only minor finishing details were outstanding such as the installation of windows and electrification of the building.

“As we speak 50% of the floor tiles have been put in as well as the doors and paving. The contractor should be able to hand over the building by the end of this month,” said Mampoza.

In February last year the Daily Dispatch reported that the R2.5-million community hall for the rural village was among the infrastructure projects launched by Eastern Cape premier Phumulo Masualle.

Mampoza said the hall would serve residents in and around the Payne locality. “The residents have long been asking for this facility, which would allow them to hold meetings and conduct other ward related business,” said Mampoza.

The hall takes up 356m² including ablution facilities and can seat 350 people. “This is one of our service delivery projects to our communities, but we are not done. It is just the beginning as we are continuing with other community development projects including road infrastructure and electrification,” Mampoza said.

Ward councillor Bongani Bikani said he was impressed with how quickly the contractor had worked on finishing the project. Bikani said he would work with the community to ensure that the infrastructure was utilised and kept in good condition. This was everyone’s collective responsibility, he added.