Authority forces delay for hawkers
PLANS to house hawkers from around Grahamstown are being delayed by a dysfunctional Eastern Cape Provincial Heritage Resource Authority (ECPHRA).
Pemmy Majodina, MEC for Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture (DSRAC), has admitted that the heritage authority has not been fully functional, resulting in backlogs in the approvals of developmental plans for old buildings around the province.
The heritage authority is responsible for the approval of renovations of heritage buildings as well as the purchase of communal land for heritage developments.
Majodina was responding to questions posed to her by the Democratic Alliance’s Ross Purdon last Wednesday.
Grahamstown developer, Chris van Aardt, who is frustrated by the lack of efficiency of the ECPHRA, told the Daily Dispatch yesterday he had tried all he could to get heritage authority to approve building plans for the old soldier quarters in the heart of Grahamstown.
“I bought the old soldiers’ quarters building in the beginning of the year. It was transferred in March and since then we have been struggling to get the building plans approved to enable lots of people to unleash their entrepreneurial skills and make a living.
“We had plans to house local businesspeople who struggle to find capital and spaces to operate their own business,” said Van Aardt.
An old building in Scotts Avenue, which he aimed to provide space for 10 businesses, had been put on hold because the committee set up by the heritage authority had failed to hold meetings.
DSRAC spokesman Andile Nduna said the department had since stopped transferring funds as a measure to enhancing accountability and efficiency.
“In 2015 we took a conscious decision not to transfer funds but instead require ECPHRA to utilise their annual allocation using DSRAC’s procurement systems.
“The housing authority has an annual allocation of R2-million to assist members of the committees with travelling and to perform other duties,” said Nduna.
Van Aardt said he had even offered to provide transport for a heritage association official from East London, who said she could not come to Grahamstown because there was no money in the budget.