eThekwini bought 2 farms to create jobs, now they're standing empty

eThekwini bought 2 farms to create jobs, now they're standing empty

- Two farms purchased by eThekwini Municipality are reportedly now standing unused and neglected

- The DA has called for an investigation into the purchasing of the farms

- The city, however, says it has plans to make them operational again

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Two years ago, eThekwini Municipality purchased farms from Rainbow Chicken in order to create jobs. Now they're standing barren.

The city spent R15 million on the land in Cato Ridge.

A recent inspection of the properties found that they were neglected and the infrastructure was degrading.

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Over 1 300 employees lost their jobs when the farms were sold. Now, many of them are unemployed.

Zwakele Mncwango, the DA's candidate for KZN premier, has said that the municipality had failed the employees who used to work on the farms. 

Mncwango alleges that the farms were sold to benefit certain individuals in government, rather than to provide jobs or help ordinary South Africans, according to IOL.

He has called for an investigation into the farm deal and insisted that those responsible should be disciplined.

READ ALSO: Mantashe fires worker who gave investigator access to his farm

However, the municipality insists that there are plans in place to make the farms productive again. They claimed that the farms will be operational again within a year, Briefly.co.za has gathered. 

eThekwini mayor, Zandile Gumede, said that city was currently in negotiations with commercial partners.

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Another city official, deputy head of Agribusiness, Vuyo Jayiya, said the municipality was working on setting up a project involving both commercial partners and former employees of the farms.

Jayiya said this would likely take the form of a kind of co-operative function.

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Source: Briefly News

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