Stale: Ekurhuleni Fresh Produce Market not so fresh
by Cllr Wollaston Labuschagne– DA Ward Councillor in Ekurhuleni
Date: 18 April 2024
Release: Immediate
Type: Media statement
Ekurhuleni Fresh Produce Market has been run into the ground by Ekurhuleni ANC governments over the years. After an oversight visit recently to the market questions were submitted to the former ANC Economic Development MMC, Cllr Nomandlozi Nkosi and the responses were truly shocking.
Between what was observed during our oversight visit and the answers provided it seems the market is almost on the brink of collapse and it is becoming clear that former ANC governments used the market as a cash cow.
Among crucial maintenance that were supposed to be completed during the 2021/22 & 2022/23 Financial Years and still not completed were: repairs to public and office toilets, general plumbing and roof leaks including the main hall roof causing the facility to become an occupational health risk.
Cold room shelves were erected before the inception of the Ekurhuleni Metro Municipality and never replaced. They have recently collapsed in two cold rooms. Even though an amount of R 1 329 065,44 was spent on repairs to cold rooms during the said financial years, critical maintenance is still required in 7 cold rooms leading one to assume work was not completed satisfactorily.
The market cleaning staff cannot perform their duties efficiently as most equipment used such as floor cleaning machines and cherry pickers are not functional, and even forklifts used to move pallets are broken because of a lack of maintenance.
Another concerning matter is that lease agreements are not in place with some of the tenants using market facilities, shops and buildings which begs the question if these tenants are paying market-related rentals.
During former disgraced ANC Executive Mayor Mzwandile Masina’s term 2016–2021, a 5000 square meter market facility expansion warehouse was constructed costing Ekurhuleni ratepayers a whopping R69 million! The purpose of this facility was supposed “to increase demand, increase market share, job creation and revenue enhancement through the expanded procurement and distribution of fresh produce from the market” However almost four years since completion the warehouse is standing vacant earning the municipality absolutely nothing.
An interesting observation about the R69 million expansion project is that all six project managers who worked on and were responsible for this project have subsequently either resigned or their contracts have lapsed including the project accounting officer.
One of our oversight members described the Ekurhuleni Fresh Produce Market as a crime scene, indeed as millions were spent at the market for many years but the conditions and state of the facility are still lacking in many regards.
A state-of-the-art CCTV system was installed not so long ago at the market covering mainly the inside but also outside areas at a cost of R826,375.90 however during a recent visit to the market it was disclosed that the system is currently not operational creating an immense security risk.
From the responses to questions submitted to recently removed ANC MMC Nkosi, it is evident that a lot of dubious activities and procurement irregularities have transpired at the Ekurhuleni Fresh Produce Market over the years however ratepayers should be assured that the DA oversight members will look into all transactions until we find the masterminds of the market crimes.
Cllr Wollaston Labuschagne
DA Ward Councillor in Ekurhuleni
082 413 4318
