The DA in Greater Kokstad is demanding an in-depth probe into the notorious Gym Payne Sports Complex debacle.
This project, the brainchild of ANC Provincial Secretary and former Kokstad Mayor, Bheki Mtolo, has stunted our town’s growth while accumulating a jaw-dropping cost of over R55 million for taxpayers. Despite these exorbitant costs, the project remains incomplete and appears doomed to fail, having been illegally constructed on a protected wetland.
We will be writing to the Municipal Manager, Sipho Zwane, and the Mayor, Councillor Lwanda Madikizela, asking for a forensic investigation into Mtolo’s project to date, which should be initiated and completed before the 2024 elections. This crucial step represents our determination to seek the truth and serve justice.
Designed and launched under Mtolo’s leadership, the Gym Payne Sports Complex project is an emblem of failure and administrative mismanagement. The project was forced onto the community with little regard for environmental laws and regulations, leading to its illegal establishment on protected wetlands.
This reckless decision not only highlights a blatant disregard for legal and ecological responsibilities but also the total absence of transparent and ethical governance.
This negligence has resulted in devastating consequences: the unfinished project leaves our community devoid of the promised benefits, similar to everything the ANC touches. It is no wonder the former mayor was promoted to running the ANC at the provincial level.
Moreover, the project timeline (view here) reveals a history of questionable decisions, poor oversight, and blatant disregard for regulations.
The ill-conceived project has had a negative impact on our community, depriving residents of essential advancements and resources. Although certain connected small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and contractors may have benefited, the local population is forced to endure substandard services and deteriorating living conditions.
The DA in Kokstad is firmly dedicated to dismantling these patronage networks that undermine our society. We will relentlessly pursue justice, holding those accountable for this failed project and exposing any wrongdoing through our ongoing investigation.
Our focus on the Gym Payne Sports Complex project intends to shed light on the circumstances of its implementation, exposing the truth behind Bheki Mtolo’s forced imposition of this poorly planned venture.