Helenvale Resource Centre in the wars
Copper pipes have been stolen from the Helenvale Resource Centre, which has been closed for almost a month as battles play out between the Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA) and the municipality.
The MBDA wants to return the keys of the facility to the municipality after funds were withheld due to a stand-off over Anele Qaba’s appointment as the agency’s chief executive.
The centre’s closure has resulted in service delivery disruptions for residents as Ward 32 councillor Pieter Hermaans’ office is housed there.
The municipality has not paid all three quarterly tranches — totalling R98m — owed to the MBDA since the start of the 2023/2024 financial year.
This is a result of the municipality being in court over the appointment of Qaba after questions were raised regarding his qualifications and the extent that regulations were adhered to during the application process.
The court case follows several instructions by finance minister Enoch Godongwana that the city, among other things, try to recover a R3m golden handshake paid to Qaba to vacate his post as the metro’s economic development boss.
Qaba said the municipality owed the agency R98m.
“The service delivery agreement, the legal instrument that regulates the relationship between the entities, dictates that the city approves the budget of the MBDA which is R131m for the 2023/2024 financial year and pays grants per quarter in advance.
“Both quarter one and quarter two grants are due and, as of March 1, the quarter three grant is due, totalling R98m,” Qaba said.
In 2012, the MBDA was appointed as the implementing agent of the Helenvale Safety and Peace through Urban Upgrading (SPUU) programme.
This also incorporated the Helenvale Urban Renewal Programme (HURP), which was approved in 2006 by the Nelson
Mandela Bay council. Before the centre was redeveloped, it was run by the municipality.
Qaba said the agreement was that the metro would take back its operations as it had a budget for this.
“Instead, the operational budget was then made available to the MBDA and on that basis, the entity continued to run the facility as it was also integral to the SPUU programme,” he said.
“Several communications were sent to the city to request a long-term solution, with an escalation of the matter in November 2023 as the operational funds ceased to come through. Due to the withholding of grant funding, the continued operation of the centre on behalf of the municipality has become untenable because we simply have no funds to carry on doing the work.
“We have handed over the facility to the owners through the correct channels. We are always ready to work with the city to assist with handover procedures as we have asked numerous times.
“The non-availability of funds has accelerated this crisis. There are simply no funds to continue managing the facility on behalf of the municipality. The city is fully aware of this.”
A memo sent to corporate services executive director Nosipho Xhego on February 7 stated the centre was closed to the public on February 6.
“There is no staff at the centre except for security guards deployed by the MBDA,” the memo reads.
“It should be noted that the current security contract ends on Friday 9, and the security risk to the building in terms of theft and vandalism is of serious concern.”
A similar notice was put up at the facility.
“The MBDA does not want to see the destruction and damage of the facility and therefore implores for an urgent solution to the situation,” the memo says.
“We are in possession of the keys to the facility. Please indicate who we are to contact to arrange the handing over of the keys. This should preferably take place on-site to acknowledge and sign off on the inventory in the building.”
The MBDA manages the centre as well as the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
The stadium has a separate agreement that deals with reimbursement, meaning the MBDA incurs costs upfront and the city reimburses the entity.
The stadium is now open and operational.
Hermaans said the closure of the centre had disrupted services and caused safety issues as he had resorted to meeting residents in the street.
He said the centre was being pillaged and vandalised.
“This hampers service delivery and this is such an easy thing to fix but I’ve received no clear indication of what’s happening or when the centre will open despite having gone to different directorates in the municipality.
“Copper water pipes have already been stolen and tomorrow they will go and vandalise inside.”
Municipal spokesperson Mthubanzi Mniki did not respond to questions by the time of publication.