Tempers fray over road upgrade
ANC, PA councillors want R10m for Circular Drive project diverted to improve township streets
Tempers flared and sparks flew at a Nelson Mandela Bay municipality roads and transport portfolio committee meeting on Friday over the upgrade of Circular Drive.
The debate, over whether or not the city should proceed with phase two, was prompted by ANC councillor Mvuzo Mbelekane, who suggested the R10m set aside for the project be used to maintain gravel roads in townships instead.
Though committee chairperson Marlon Daniels said he agreed with Mbelekane, DA councillors said the road was an economic enabler.
The plan by the metro is to widen a section of Circular Drive in Lorraine to ease traffic congestion following housing developments in the area.
Construction is under way and several connecting roads have been temporarily closed.
The Herald’s sister paper the Weekend Post reported in July that Daniels – who is a Patriotic Alliance councillor in the metro’s DA-led governing coalition – said construction on the road should be stopped.
Mbelekane said: “It worries me how we allocate budget in this committee – R10m just to upgrade a road to increase capacity.
“But when you go to our areas in Motherwell, Colchester, Wells Estate, Kamvelihle, the roads are bad, all the gravel roads are not even maintained.
“The officials will tell you that they don’t have a budget to maintain the roads, there is no budget to build new roads, yet we are spending R10m just to upgrade the road just to increase the capacity.”
Mbelekane said the municipality should instead address the R7.7bn backlog relating to gravel roads – of which there are more than 700km in the metro.
“In my understanding, if we want to deal with the backlog of gravel roads we should be focusing on the townships, so we can keep our roads functioning well – but most of the budget goes towards this side [affluent areas] of the town,” Mbelekane said.
DA councillor Kabelo Mogatosi argued that the upgrade of Circular Drive was not new and that councillors were rejecting the report based on newspaper reports.
“This has come to this committee before. This is now closing out of the first phase and we are to commence on the second phase,” Mogatosi said.
“There was never a complaint until the front page in the newspaper.
“If you look at geographical location and which race lives there, you will find very inaccurate conclusions.
“Roads are economic enablers, they are not merely there to transport locals.
“Simply looking at the geographical location of the road and then saying we cannot spend on it is inaccurate.”
Mogatosi urged councillors to revisit the minutes as they had supported the project at the time.
Human settlements political head Nqaba Bhanga said Mbelekane’s argument did not hold water as black people were living in Fairview and surrounds and used the roads.
“We reject anyone who says the money must be redirected elsewhere – that would be unlawful as it should be done through budget adjustments,” Bhanga said.
Bhanga’s comments angered Daniels, who later threatened to have Bhanga removed from the chamber.
Daniels also threatened to have EFF councillor Zilindile Vena – who was demanding that Daniels allow him to speak – removed.
“I agree with councillor Mbelekane,” Daniels said.
“We need to address imbalances of the past.
“If you are wanting to fix a pothole or burst pipe, go ahead, but if you say you want to broaden Circular Drive I will ask you to take a walk with me into the townships.”
Daniels said he would have rejected the project had he been chair at the time the item was passed.
“Our priorities are wrong. The sad part is that phase two has already started,” he said.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
FREE TO READ | Just register if you’re new, or sign in.
Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@heraldlive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.