DA wants work on Richards Bay mayor’s ‘R20m mansion’ halted

A CASH-STRAPPED municipality on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast is spending an estimated R20-million on a mansion for its mayor‚ Mduduzi Gift Mhlongo.

That is according to the DA‚ which is now asking for municipal officials of uMhlathuze – which includes Richards Bay – to answer for the multimillion-rand spend on a housing project that according to plans turns out to be an elaborate home for its mayor.

DA councillor in uMhlathuze Christo Botha wrote to the municipality to seek clarity on where the funding for the mansion was sourced and why the project had not been communicated to the council and the public.

But the municipality has accused the DA of a huge misrepresentation of facts.

Spokesman Mdu Ncalane said an estimated amount of R5.5-million had been set aside, as opposed to Botha’s “exaggerated thumbsucked R20-million”.

Botha said construction of the mansion was already under way in the Meerensee suburb of Richards Bay.

He said the land had been zoned as high-density residential three and had an estimated worth of between R5-million and R6.5-million.

But Ncalane said the municipal project dated back to 2014 when Botha was still an IFP councillor.

“It was also included in the budget which was approved by the council Botha is a member of.

“The City of uMhlathuze views this as his way to score political points with outside parties instead of consulting his council official documents containing all factual information about this project.”

He said the land on which the property was located belonged to the municipality and there was no cost associated with using it.

Botha said an inspection of the building floor plans revealed the mansion was estimated to cover 912.65m²‚ with 3557.35m² being designated for guards’ quarters and a garden area.

“Consultation with building contractors has estimated that development for high-flying politicians can range at about R13 500/m²‚ bringing construction cost to R12.32-million.

“This excludes the erection of the boundary wall‚ landscaping and paving and security features which can raise the cost by an added R2-million.

“There is still the cost of furniture and interior decoration that could escalate from anything between R750 000 to R1.5-million.”

Ncalane said the house was not just for the incumbent mayor.

“It will remain a municipal house regardless who the incumbent is and/or whichever political party he or she may come from.”

Botha said: “The DA will fight tooth and nail to bring to a halt to this obvious waste of public funds.” – TimesLIVE

‘ Estimated development costs bring construction to R12.32-million