Two spokes in Njoli development wheel

DEPUTY mayor Chippa Ngcolomba will lead a team of Nelson Mandela Bay politicians and municipal officials to New Brighton next week in a last-ditch attempt to convince two property owners to relocate so that the long-awaited R275-million Njoli Square redevelopment project can finally take off.

Because the two property owners refuse to sign any form of agreement, the municipality could lose a R121-million grant from the national Treasury as it is not able to spend a large chunk of the money until everyone has moved.

The construction of a civic facilities centre and public transport interchange has been on hold since 2010 due to the reluctance of some private property owners to sell their land to the municipality.

The municipality initiated the Njoli revamp in 2003 as part of its Vision 2020 projects. - Rochelle de Kock