Nelson Mandela Bay senior management is unclear on whether a R53.9m grant funding rollover application has been submitted to the National Treasury — or not.
Giving contradictory responses, acting city manager Ted Pillay told The Herald on Monday that the city had not yet submitted a rollover application.
But later in the evening, municipal spokesperson Sithembiso Soyaya said an application had been made, with the city awaiting feedback from the National Treasury.
Pillay said there was nothing untoward about proceeding with the projects while they waited for the Treasury to approve the rollover.
“Yes, we have not applied for the rollover yet but we have until August 30 to apply and the National Treasury will respond probably in October.
“However, we wait with the anticipation that the Treasury will approve; we can’t stop the projects now.
“This is not new to Nelson Mandela Bay, it’s done in other municipalities as well. It’s the same process.”
Soyaya said an amendment to the 2025/2026 budget had been made to include unspent portions from the previous financial year, ensuring the continuation of disaster-related projects beyond the June 30 deadline.
“This includes essential infrastructure such as two bridges in Kariega, aimed at mitigating community risk and restoring access.
“Delegated authority was lawfully granted to the mayor to facilitate urgent decisions, a practice consistent with precedent set twice in 2024.
“This approach is within the bounds of our municipal delegations framework and is essential for agile disaster response.
“We reject any allegations that the mayor or council were misled,” Soyaya said.
“All actions taken were lawful, transparent and in the best interest of service delivery under emergency conditions.
“The national and provincial disaster management centres have already indicated that project implementation timelines may extend to September 2025 and February 2026, reinforcing the urgency.
“The city remains committed to responsible governance, public accountability and the effective use of grant funding to restore communities and protect lives.”
Asked about the allegations that he had pressurised officials to process the rollover, Pillay said: “I don’t think that’s the language Mr Scott intended to use, because no-one was being pressured to do anything untoward.”
Soyaya said at no stage were officials in the budget and treasury directorate pressured to act outside the law.
“Internal discussions must be understood within the broader context of robust deliberations, especially under the urgency of disaster response.
“The municipality has operated in full compliance with the MFMA, Dora and Treasury regulations.
“Given the nature of the disaster, where lives were lost and critical infrastructure damaged, it is imperative that decisions are made swiftly and responsibly,” he said.
The Herald
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