Mayor’s bold move on rundown buildings

in a dramatic development last night, mayor zanoxolo wayile appointed a multiparty task team to investigate deteriorating buildings in nelson mandela bay.

emphasising the urgency, the task team has been instructed to present recommendations within two weeks.

the first multiparty task team appointed in the history of the city has four members from the anc, two from the da and one from each of the udm and the pac.

the team, which is to be chaired by deputy mayor nancy sihlwayi, includes the da’s terry herbst, who has been at the forefront of the drive to preserve the city’s heritage.

he has also demanded that action be taken specifically against irish property baron ken denton who owns many of the buildings that are in a parlous state of repair.

herbst said last night he had “the greatest respect for mayor wayile for moving very quickly to find a solution on this project”.

“he has done a lot in two months to get this project moving. i’m delighted to be a member of the task team and i look forward to working with my colleagues on this extremely important project, which will benefit the city immensely.”

it is understood that the task team will start its work by looking at the “denton report” compiled by advocate glen goosen, which recommended legal remedies to force owners of dilapidated properties to repair them.

speaking at the appointment of the team, wayile said that in addition to inspecting buildings throughout mandela bay, the team would consider the “denton report” and the legal opinion “to determine an appropriate course of action”.

“we do not want any further delays in addressing this matter.

“we have to act decisively now, and await the recommendations of the team, so that we fulfil our objectives in this regard.”

the appointment of the heritage task team meets one of the undertakings given by the mayor for his first 100 days in office.

wayile said the team’s mandate was to look at all areas of the bay. “the team has to look at deteriorating buildings, not just in the port elizabeth city centre, but throughout the entire nelson mandela bay, including uitenhage, despatch, our townships and the northern areas, in order to ensure the heritage – and therefore the dignity, pride and history of our city – is preserved.”

he stressed the urgency of the matter, saying he had told the task team he expected a report “with concrete recommendations within two weeks”.

wayile has also engaged the chief executive of the national heritage council and former eastern cape mec for sports, arts and culture, sonwabile mangcotywa, to discuss preliminary arrangements for speedy intervention in restoring heritage buildings.

the task team, which will report directly to the mayor, consists of: deputy mayor sihlwayi, who is the convener, mayoral committee members melvin manentsa (infrastructure, engineering, electricity and energy), anne-marie van jaarsveld (economic development, tourism and agriculture) and arnold scholtz (budget and treasury).

other members are da councillors herbst and jeremy davis, mongameli bobani of the udm and pule lonake of the pac.

administrative support will be provided by the office of the municipal manager and the legal services office.

patrick cull