By: Sello Theletsane
Human Settlements minister Mmamoloko Kubayi has been accused of using housing projects in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro to fund her campaign to be elected ANC deputy president at the party’s elective conference in December.
At the centre of the controversy is a mega project initially allocated to Housing Development Agency (HDA), an entity of the Department of Human Settlements for the upgrading of informal settlements and acquisition of land for purposes of housing aimed at addressing the housing backlog in the area which is in excess of 86 000 houses.
A top official in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro with intimate knowledge of the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity said a council resolution taken on 28 June 2022 stated that the HDA and the municipality had to renew their agreement to work together on the project.
“Grant funding in line with the said resolution, was then allocated to HDA for upgrading of informal settlements, and acquisition of land for purposes of housing,” said the official.
He added that all necessary documents were prepared, as per council resolution. The official said the process was abruptly sabotaged by Kubayi who interfered and decided to go against council resolution and unilaterally decided to bring on board, Coega Development Corporation (CDC) as an implementing agent, as opposed to the HDA which falls under her department and which was endorsed by council.
“It is suspected that Minister Kubayi has a vested interest in Coega Development Corporation, which she plans to use as a cash cow for her campaign to become ANC deputy president in the upcoming elective conference of the party in December.”
The official accused Nelson Mandela Bay Metro executive mayor Eugine Johnson of conniving with Kubayi, adding that the two were sidelining Human Settlements member of the mayoral committee (MMC) Shuling Lindoor. Asked for a comment Lindoor said:” I can confirm that on 22 June 2022 council resolved that the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro should enter into an agreement with the Housing Development Agency to work together to address the backlog in the Municipality.”
“I can also confirm that funding was allocated to the HDA for the upgradaing of informal settlements and acquisition of land in the metro.”
Lindoor, whose party, the Patriotic Alliance (PA) is part of a coalition governing the metro, said in a council meeting held on 30 August, the PA raised a question to the city manager about the Coega Development Corporation rumors.
“The city manager responded by saying Human Settlements Development Grant and Urban Settlements Development Grant were approved by the minister but there was a delay in our business proposal for the Informal Settlement Upgrading Grant.”
Lindoor said upon approval of the business plan, the mayor received a letter from Kubayi, which was not communicated with her(Lindoor). She added that in her letter, Kubayi advised the city not to use HDA for additional capacity but to use the closest entity which is the Coega Development Corporation.”
“The city manager also said that with the next council meeting scheduled for 13 September 2022 an item would be brought to council to cancel the resolution endorsed by the majority of councillors on 22 June 2022.”
Lindoor said it was troubling that Kubayi would go against council resolution and choose Coega when council had endorsed the HDA.
“I have seen in the media and therefore hold the view that she has aspirations to become the deputy president of the ANC. Considering the timing and proximity of this event, I have enough reason to suspect that she wants to use Coega in the same way her comrades use other state entities as cash cows and because the ANC has the tendency, there have always been talks about bribes for votes at ANC conferences.”
Lindoor said she felt disrespected and disregarded by Kubayi, who ignores her in her dealings with the Metro on issues of housing. “We are in a coalition government in Nelson Mandela Bay, but it’s clear that the ANC does not realize that they need the PA to govern in this city. For such a fragile coalition, it is alarming that such arrogance and disdain, as demonstrated by Minister Kubayi, is still the order of conduct of ANC, ” said Lindoor.
Africa News Global sent questions to Kubayi. Her spokesperson Hlengiwe Nhlabathi-Mokota acknowledged receipt of the questions and promised to respond. However, she failed to respond to the questions despite numerous reminders.
Johnson also failed to respond to the questions sent to her by Africa News Global.
