Parties clash over upgrades to Gelvandale pool

The DA and PA in Nelson Mandela Bay are at loggerheads over upgrades to the Gelvandale swimming pool, with allegations of party members being given jobs and counterclaims of extortion.

The DA has accused the PA of hijacking the project, saying jobs have been given primarily to PA members.

However, PA regional chair Bradley Murray has denied the allegations, claiming that the DA had extorted a contractor on-site.

This led to a heated confrontation, with DA northern areas chair Georgina Faldtman leading a group of councillors and a small contingent of Ward 13 SMMEs to the PA’s constituency office next to the pool.

During Thursday’s heated exchange, allegations were made that PA president and sport, arts and culture minister Gayton McKenzie had used his position to benefit his supporters.

On Friday, Faldtman said Ward 13 councillor Ingrid van Wyk, who was on sick leave, did not know about the contractor or upgrades.

Van Wyk confirmed she only heard about the project earlier last week.

“We received messages from SMMEs in the ward complaining about being excluded from the project,” Faldtman said.

“On arrival there, the contractor did not want to allow us in, and all of a sudden Murray arrived.”

Murray is a former PR councillor in the city but stepped down to be the party's mayoral candidate for the 2026 local government elections.

“We asked the principal contractor what the procedure was for the project to be awarded.”

She said they asked what the way forward was and when the work was presented to the council.

“The contractor did not consult with the ward councillor and the people working there are not from the ward.”

She said the party spoke to acting city manager Sizwe Mvunelwa, where it was revealed there was an alleged agreement between McKenzie and mayor Babalwa Lobishe.

“The principal contractor is from Johannesburg, meanwhile, we have credible people in the municipality who are capable of doing the job. 

“Gelvandale swimming pool is in the northern areas, a hotspot for crime, yet work is given to outside contractors,” Faldtman said.

Responding, Murray said there was no way the DA did not know about the project as there was a report included in the agenda for a municipal sports, recreation, arts and culture committee meeting that was meant to sit on Friday.

Murray said the PA had not been involved in the upgrades at the pool and their constituency office, previously used by former PA councillor Marlon Daniels, was next to it.

“We have been using that office for the past eight years. Because of proximity, we see everything.”

Murray accused Faldtman and other DA councillors of storming the PA offices on Thursday, accompanied by SMMEs.

“They came in fighting that these SMMEs must benefit or they will stop the work.

“Those councillors with the SMMEs [allegedly] extorted the contractor.

“They threatened to close the site, knowing full well the job must be done in five days.

“The contractor [allegedly] had to pay the SMMEs R40,000. We view that as extortion.”

Murray said the PA would submit a motion calling for an investigation into the conduct of the DA councillors.

Faldtman denied discussing any money being paid.

She said the DA councillors had left the SMMEs with the contractor.

“The DA would never do that because the DA is a principled party.

“We never discussed any money. All we said to the principal contractor was to consider the SMMEs from the ward, and we left them there. Anything else is a lie.”

Municipal spokesperson Sithembiso Soyaya said the refurbishment of the pool was funded by McKenzie’s department.

“The exact project value will be provided by [that department], which is also responsible for all procurement related to the project. 

“The project was approved after standard government procedures, ensuring compliance with all relevant policies.

“To our knowledge, there has been no political party involvement in this decision.

“The mayor, under delegated authority, signed a resolution to accept the project and facilitate its commencement.

“This is the only memorandum of understanding related to the pool upgrade,” Soyaya said.

According to a report for the municipal committee agenda, the pool refurbishment is a legacy project initiated by McKenzie to rehabilitate the St George’s and Gelvandale pools for the commemoration of Human Rights Day this week.

The project was funded by the department of sports, arts and culture (DSAC); however, the metro would monitor the implementation of the upgrades.

“Typically, contractors are introduced to the ward councillor’s office by the project manager,” Soyaya said.

“However, since this is a DSAC-managed project, the project manager appointed by DSAC will handle these introductions.”

At the time of publication, department spokesperson Solomon Maseko had not responded.

The Herald