Siyabonga Sesant
The long-mooted International Convention Centre for Nelson Mandela Bay is back on the agenda of the Mandela Bay Development Agency.
The MBDA unveiled some of its future plans on Monday as it marked its 20th year of existence.
“Watch this space,” said enthusiastic board chairperson, Glenda Perumal.
“The MBDA will surprise the citizens of this metro!”
“What’s even more exciting for me as the chairperson, is that we’ve got a new CEO [Anele Qaba] who has come in and hit the ground running, brought in some amazing energy into the management team that he leads as well as the staff,” she said.
“I’m excited as the chairperson knowing that in the next month of August we are going to see the MBDA we deserve.
Although over the years many projects have fallen by the wayside, Perumal was confident – with the appointment of Qaba as new chief executive – the MBDA would revive some of its ambitious plans – including the long-promised International Convention Centre in the Bay and the refurbishment of Bayworld.
The MBDA is eyeing to construct the ICC at the derelict old Telkom building in the Summerstrand area.
“Let’s start off with the Bayworld project and then let’s also look at the ICC project that’s come up ,” said Perumal.
Qaba added: “If you look at the past 20 years, the MBDA has done a lot of projects, successfully so, but I think the model or the approach [was wrong].
“That particular model or approach did not work well because some of the those [projects] were not well managed and then they sort of back-tracked.
“So hence we are now looking at a new strategy that involves the total precinct management which means that where we get involved we stay there to ensure that we are involved in the operations so that we don’t leave projects hanging or not sure who’s dealing with them.”
Meanwhile, the MBDA would not be drawn on the controversial appointment of Qaba as CEO.
The MBDA maintains Qaba was best suited for the position after objections were raised by the DA's Retief Odendaal.
Odendaal said because of the questionable manner in which Qaba was appointed after he left the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality under a cloud following several alleged financial irregularities, National Treasury has withheld millions in grant funding to the metro.
According to the DA, National Treasury is withholding more than half a billion rand until the situation has been resolved.
Qaba received a golden handshake from the metro before his departure.
“The whole issue is a matter between the city and National Treasury – not with us,” said Qaba.
“We are moving ahead with our work.”
