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Buffalo City mayor, Princess Faku, officially opened the long-awaited Court Crescent precinct on the city's beachfront, named in honour of slain local champion boxer, Leighandre "Baby Lee" Jegels on Thursday.
The event however was marked by a protest by members of the Economic Freedom Fighters, who called for a probe into the escalated cost of the delayed project among others.
The Democratic Alliance also weighed in, saying many issues regarding maintenance, safety and security, shoddy workmanship, and the scope of work remain unanswered.
In her address, mayor Faku thanked the Jegels family for allowing the city to name the precinct after their daughter, who was gunned down by her policeman boyfriend in 2021.
The mayor also apologised for the disruption caused by her political opponents.
"We must not be shaken. We are here to celebrate a fighter. Baby Lee was a fighter, she was never a coward, even when she was in the ring, and today represents that," she said.
In an earlier statement, EFF regional secretary, Siya Rumbu, said that below-par project does not justify the escalated cost paid by the Buffalo City Development Agency.
He said the money should have been spent elsewhere.
"We will be writing to Council and requesting a forensic investigation by an independent company to get to the bottom of this," suggesting possible legal action if necessary.
DA caucus leader in Buffalo City, Sue Bentley, said they have been concerned about what she said was a vanity project, highlighting the apparent poor workmanship, escalated costs, and a change in scope of the project.
She said the DA would table further questions to force the municipality to provide answers regarding the viability and longevity of the project and to keep it from becoming an expensive white elephant.
"The family of the late Baby Lee Jegels deserve her name to be given to a functional, well maintained and safe development and the DA will do continual oversight of this precinct to hold the municipality and the BCMDA to account," Bentley said.
The Eastern beachfront project will be renamed after the late South African boxer and karate champion, Leighandre "Baby Lee" Jegels. pic.twitter.com/5sEGAgTRMn
— Buffalo City Metro Municipality (@OfficialBCMM) November 29, 2023
Meanwhile, a cousin, Lazelle du Plessis, told Algoa FM News that the family thought the protest was disrespectful.
However, she said it was an honour for them to know that 'Baby Lee' did not die in vain".
"This is a remarkable day for our family that this park is being named after Leahandre. It's such an honour to know that she didn't die in vain, there is a legacy that is left behind.
"Leahandre was a very hard working, dedicated person. With anything that she did, she dedicated 100% to her fighting, to her teaching career, anything that she did," Du Plessis said.
The young boxer and teacher was gunned down in 2019 by her policeman boyfriend, Sergeant Bulelani Manyakama, who also wounded her mother, Rita, during the incident on Vootrekker Road in East London.
He later died from the injuries sustained in a car crash while fleeing the scene of the shooting.
