Crumbling Mthatha City Hall Irks Legal Eagle

While speaking in his capacity as the chairman of the iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu in Mthatha on Thursday, Ngcukayithobi hardly minced his words when he addressed the decay of one of Mthatha's major landmarks.

Its Victorian architecture with its majestic clock tower, slap bang in the centre of town, opposite the Mthatha Magistrates Court, is now a far-flung reminder of the colonial masterpiece it used to be.

The old clock stopped reminding citizens of the hours, minutes and seconds of the day several years ago.

Ngcukayithobi, one of the most recognisable names in the South African legal fraternity, lamented the sorry state of the building, the cracking walls, broken wooden floors and electric plug-points that are no longer functional. He said people have failed to transform and maintain public institutions they inherited and instead they have dilapidated under their watch.

"While still young students of the then University of Transkei, we used to respect this place. It was always surrounded by police. We would see it from afar," reminisced Ngcukayithobi.

He described their awe and amazement when they saw the beauty of the hall for the first time.

"We had never imagined it was this beautiful. We even slept in the hall when we were forced to leave campus during a Unitra students strike as Cala, my home, was too far.

"But when I look at the state of the infrastructure, today, I am extremely worried about what we are doing to our public institutions." Ngcukayithobi said because he was not a politician it was easy for him to speak the truth and not sugar-coat his observations.

He said the current government is sending the wrong message with the level of decay of public buildings. "Before we got to the main hall, as we enter the main building, I could see broken windows in the corridors and the dilapidation of infrastructure all over. This is not acceptable," he said. The renowned advocate said the bad state of the city hall was a reflection of how this country had treated its public institutions.

He said there was no longer a push to transform public institutions, adding that as the country goes to elections in a few weeks’ time (November 4), the newly elected leadership must respond to this matter.

They must find solutions and not allow public facilities and institutions to decay even further.

According to Ngcukayithobi true transformation happened in public institutions not in private ones.

"This is what we are trying to do at Walter Sisulu. We are lucky that we inherited the keys to the university," he said. "We must use the university to transform our children's lives, otherwise if we are incapable of fulfilling our roles, we must move aside, so that others, who know what public institutions are for, can take our places.

"I am not talking about politics; I am referring to the constitution. That is what the local government structures act, and local government systems act says." Ngcukayithobi said there were individuals who have been swallowed up by the culture of impunity at public institutions and the failure to transform the offices they occupy into centres that transform the lives of ordinary people.

He said such people must make way for people who know what needs to be done.

"We have been given the keys to these public institutions to use them to transform our people’s lives.

"But what has happened is that these public institutions have instead transformed us.

"Once trusted individuals become thieves as soon as they assume the duties of office-bearers in the public sector," said Ngcukayithobi. The city hall is also the main building that houses the King Sabatha Dalindyebo municipality council chambers where decisions affecting the people of Mthatha are made.

Ngcukayithobi was speaking at a local geographical name change programme, hosted by the King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality, where residents were posthumously honoured by having streets named after them.

Ngcukayithobi said he hoped the renaming of the streets would be accompanied by developments and that those streets will be free of potholes, have working streetlights and that refuse will be collected timeously.

Fikiswa Ndzobole, the sister of the late Lizo Ndzobole, who was also honoured on the day said she was happy that her brother's sacrifices have not been forgotten.

York Road, one of the main thoroughfares in Mthatha, was renamed Dr Laura Mpahlwa Street. Her son, Luyanda Mpahlwa said he hoped the street would be an exciting centre for development.

“This event is more than just the recognition of our mother (Dr Laura Mpahlwa) but is part of the reimagining what Mthatha can be and what our hopes are for this region. The name changes should be a catalyst for a renewed Mthatha,” Mpahlwa said.

KSD speaker, Nomamfengu Siyo-Sokutu said they had consulted extensively before they introduced the name changes and are very happy with their choices.

Siyo-Sokutu said some of the name changes included the renaming of Sprigg Street to Ngubethole Bam Street, Madeira Street to Dan Pasiya Street, Owen Street into Lizo Ndzobole Street and Sutherland Street to General Sabelo Victor Gqwetha Street.

The Mthatha Stadium is now known as the Gerald Raymond Hawkes Stadium, while in Northcrest, John Beer Drive has been changed to Nobantu Buka Drive.

"The municipality has the blessing of the families, successfully passed a council resolution and consulted widely to ensure all the public participation processes are completed," Siyo-Sokutu said.