Dear Editor
The Democratic Alliance (DA) urges the Eastern Cape Provincial Government to take immediate action to address the escalating crisis of abandoned buildings in Nxuba (formerly Cradock), which is creating crime hotspots in the town and destroying sporting opportunities for the youth.
During an oversight inspection on Monday, we observed numerous abandoned buildings and met with the South African Police Service (SAPS), who highlighted their challenges in dealing with criminal elements exploiting these spaces.
The dilapidated state of the Michausdal Sports Grounds is one of the most pressing crime concerns for the community. What was once a pristine facility, opened in 1990, has been reduced to rubble. The complex in the past boasted a rugby field, netball and tennis courts, and an Olympic-sized swimming pool, but is now a picture of neglect and decay.
What was meant to be a beacon of hope and a positive hub for the community has been overrun by criminals. Tragically, the situation has escalated to the point where a dead body was recently discovered on the premises.
One of our oversight inspections was at the site of a former caravan park, that is crumbling and has devolved into a haven for drug users. Despite private sector interest in revitalising the site for sport and creating jobs, the Inxuba Yethemba Local Municipality (IYLM) is blocking efforts to develop it.
Our public representatives will be submitting motions and asking questions in Council to force the IYLM to urgently assess these and other problem sites and determine whether the remaining structures can be salvaged or should be demolished. With private individuals expressing interest in utilising sites for sports activities, the municipality, which clearly lacks the funds and capacity to revitalise facilities, should put projects out to tender.
I have also written to the Eastern Cape MECs for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) and Public Works and Infrastructure, and invited them and their departments to join the DA in oversight inspections at all the identified problem sites.
The DA will continue to pressure the Provincial Government and IYLM to address the crisis of problem buildings, ensuring the safety of Nxuba’s residents and providing young people with the opportunity and dignity to pursue their sporting dreams.
Regards
Heinrich Müller MPL
DA EC Midlands Constituency Leader
