Councillor denies allegations of nepotism at Kanyamazane library

A Kanyamazane ward councillor has denied allegations of nepotism after unemployed youth took to the streets in protest of the expansion and renovation of the Kanyamazane Public Library who they fear won’t be employing locals.
Councillor Agnes Mokoena denied the allegations and said that the steering committee of the area had a meeting to discuss who will be the Community Liaison Officer (CLO) for the upcoming project will be. She says the process was transparent.

The Kanyamazane Public Library was brought to a complete standstill when the community protested outside the building for a Community Liaison Officer of their choice. PHOTO BY TWNA

“This is not true; I don’t have power to appoint people. We discussed the matter with the steering committee. The decision was taken during a joint meeting with the ward committees and stakeholders. I was not involved,” she said.
This follows the community wanting to appoint a CLO of their own choice and claim that Mokoena said she would present the candidate to the community for input but according to them, have failed to do so. A CLO has since been appointed which angered the community. They responded by protesting outside the library on Wednesday, 21 June, and brought the project to a halt for the day.
“We are tired of this councillor in ward 21; she does not take us serious. The development of the library is suppose to benefit the people of this ward especially those in section 6, yet she employs people who are only related to her,” said an angry community member, Nozipho Sandleni.
The community wishes to choose a CLO who hails from the section in Kanyamzane where the library will be built. They added that the councillor promised to call a meeting where they would be introduced to the people who will be working on this project so that they could give input.
“As a community, we have been waiting for her to come and address us on who will be working here since we submitted our names. However, she came back with her own CLO and as a community we don’t know how and when this person was appointed,” added Sandleni.
Meanwhile, the appointed CLO, Nizipho Manana denied the allegations; she said that she was appointed by the steering committee in ward 21 and that she is a full member of the organisation. She added that her appointment didn’t come from the councillor but rather from a ward committee.
“It is not true that I was appointed by the councillor and I am not related to her, my appointment came after various meetings with the ward committee and stakeholders in ward 21. I don’t understand why the concerned group is against it because I am also from the same ward and a full member of the ANC,” she added.
The Department of Public Works spokesperson, David Nkambule said that the project scope includes the demolition of the existing library and construction of a new library, guard house, fence, car park, electricity and associated external works.
“Construction amount is R12 750 601.50 including VAT. The site was handed to the contractor on 30 May 2017 and the project is planned to be completed by 6 April 2018,” he added.

*This article was written by Beatrice Shongwe, a TWNA journalist for Kasi Express