Councillors not happy about plan to use offenders

A PROPOSALby the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality to use "soft" offenders, or criminals on probation, to help keep the city clean was not well received by councillors yesterday. Although a decision was taken to defer the proposal to the next public health portfolio committee meeting, UDM, COPE and ANC councillors said they felt uncomfortable with the idea. The public health department's acting director, Andile Tolom, suggested the municipality consider using the soft offenders, or criminals on probation, to clean cemeteries and parks as the municipality was battling with a staff shortage. Yesterday, UDM councillor Mongameli Bobani said: "We must create employment opportunities for our people and not employ people who do crime." - Rochelle de Kock