WHAT A WASTE
Community saw no benefit from R1. 2m poultry farm project at Kleinemonde
THE DA has shone the spotlight on Ndlambe’s failed poultry project near Kleinemonde, which squandered R1.2-million, with nothing to show for it.
In a statement released by DA MPL Jane Cowley this week, she said the dilapidated South Seas Poultry Farm is one of countless examples of local economic development (LED) projects in the province that have not benefited the community at all, despite the millions in public funds that were forked out to fund them.
“The Ndlambe Municipality invested more than R1.2-million in the South Seas Poultry farm in 2013-14 in the name of local economic development,” said Cowley, who is the DA’s shadow MEC for economic development, environmental affairs and tourism.
“The fund was initiated to support start-ups and small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in order to address the triple scourges of inequality, unemployment and poverty at local government level.”
“While this was an admirable cause, the man who was awarded the funding was employed in a permanent capacity at a local estate agency and owned not one, but two vehicles,” Cowley continued.
“He is neither a victim of poverty nor of unemployment. Furthermore, he was the chairperson of the regional structures of the ANC and stood for election in 2016.”
Cowley said there were some eggs for about six months – then all the chickens died, so more funding was allocated to re-seed the project, which collapsed again a few months later.
It is alleged that only two men were employed, who were paid R50 a day. They eventually left due to non-payment and the project has come to nothing.
“The inequality between the connected few and the unemployed, poor and unconnected masses is glaring,” Cowley said.
She has written to the MEC of Cooperative Governance, Fikile Xasa, to request a forensic audit into all monies spent by Ndlambe Municipality in the name of LED funding projects, dating back to the 2013 financial year.
“I have submitted legislature questions to the MEC for a breakdown of all the so-called LED-projects in other municipalities in the Eastern Cape, and to release the names of all beneficiaries so that those who should be benefitting from these public funds can see for themselves just how little regard the ANC has for them.”
Cowley said in municipalities where the DA governs, full records of all beneficiaries are kept and are available for all to see, and funds are distributed on merit and not on political affiliation.
“A DA-led provincial government will pride itself in bringing about change that will ensure that communities benefit from state funding to create sustainable jobs instead of lining the pockets of the connected,” she said.
TotT asked Ndlambe municipal spokesman Cecil Mbolekwa for comment on Monday.
On Wednesday he replied: “We have noted your questions. The internal audit team will take up the matter and investigate it further, and report back once the matter has been finalised.”