Africa-Press – South-Africa. The Ward 34 Sports Forum is questioning the conduct of the local councillor accusing him of “dictatorship”.
The forum accuses councillor Melikhaya Gadeni of forcing them to take the sports equipment against their will and describes his actions as disrespectful and undermining.
Speaking on behalf of the forum, Xolela Ndincede said the forum made a proposal during a public meeting held at Philippi Hall, in November last year, to be assisted with sports equipment.
He said the councillor vowed to table the proposal in the subcouncil meeting.
“He later came with an approval letter that showed the forum was allocated R250 000 to buy sports equipment for all the sporting codes in the ward. He told us to identify all the teams from the different sporting codes in the ward,” he claimed, adding that they compiled a list and handed it over to him.
Ndincede blamed Gadeni for making a U-turn from his promise, saying: “According to the City’s policy they are not allowed to buy kits”.
Ndincede said they requested Gadeni to invite the City officials to a meeting to explain the reasons for not buying the equipment, something he did not do.
Instead, he claimed Gadeni told the forum that they would organise a sports festival.
Ndincede said in the last meeting, which was on Thursday 18 May, Gadeni brought a quotation amounting to R250 000.
“The funny thing about the quotation was that it was from Ward 80. He took a quotation that was made by councillor Lindikhaya Payiya (Ward 80) and brought it to us citing that it was our budget,” explained Ndincede.
He said the councillor told them that he bought some equipment and they could have it or he would hand it over to the local schools.
“He never informed us that he was going to buy the equipment. We were surprised when he told us he bought it and we didn’t go,” he said.
When the City Vision asked Payiya if he was aware of Ward 80 documents with his full details (name and surname) that were presented in Ward 34 he stated that he was not.
When City Vision showed him the copy, he suspected an “administration error”.
“I think the City made a mistake because my quotation for my sports equipment was about R150 000 not R250 000. And I cannot assume how councillor Gadeni got it,” said Payiya.
Approached for comment, Gadeni lambasted those who shared information with City Vision.
He stated that according to the City policies, councillors were not allowed to buy sports equipment.
Gadeni said they agreed with the forum to organise a sports festival, which was scheduled for Monday 1 May.
However, he said the majority of clubs pulled out at the last minute, prompting organisers to cancel the event.
“Our plan for having a sports festival was to give the winners medals and trophies. But other teams felt it was not going to benefit them because they wanted sports equipment (kit, boots, shin guards etc). On Tuesday 25 April, the majority of the teams came, citing that they don’t want to be part of the festival and the festival had to be cancelled,” said Gadeni.
Defending himself for presenting Ward 80 documents, Gadeni reiterated Payiya’s sentiments citing that it was the City’s administration error.
“I explained to them prior to the meeting that there was an administration error in the documents. It was not even a legal document. It was just something to present,” he said.
Pressed for more questions, Gadeni stated that he was busy and cut the call.
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