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Money that the Mangaung Metro Municipality invested to set up a small-scale economic empowerment piggery in Thaba Nchu's Felloane Trust seems to be destined to go to waste.
The municipality plans to appoint an architect to design a new plan to complete the failed piggery initiative, aimed at empowering men and women trading with pigs in the village.
A project manager will subsequently also be appointed to complete this project, known as the Namatsegang Piggery Project.
It is believed that the Mangaung Metro had invested R1 million for the construction of a fully-fledged facility.
It is meant to uplift 21 beneficiaries presently trading informally.
The Mangaung Metro's executive mayor, Olly Mlamleli, announced on 23 October in her mayoral report the plan to appoint a project manager and architect to set up a fully-fledged piggery project.
The piggery initiative is part of the city council's rural development economic strategy and is funded through its Economic and Rural Development Directorate.
Legal disputes, financial constraints
The contractor abruptly stopped work in June 2017, allegedly due to dire financial constraints.
The company that received the tender for the construction of the piggery is owned by Tebogo Maseme, believed to be the managing director of the construction company.
When the contractor reportedly abandoned work in mid-June 2017, building material was apparently left to rot in the sun.
It has since emerged that construction of the facility was apparently halted due to legal disputes and unpaid monies to seven labourers who were temporarily employed.
"The construction of the piggery unit at Felloane Village is on hold due to legal dispute and financial hiccups," said Mlamleli.
"This project will, however, be completed through the appointment of an architect and project manager from the panel of services.
"Service providers will be required to sub-contract the cooperative (17 women and four men) as part of empowerment."
All the beneficiaries of the piggery project have been left in despair after the contractor abandoned construction work.
Allegations
Maseme would since not deny or confirm these allegations directed to him via media enquiries over monies owed to the seven labourers.
The roof of the piggery facility remains intact, while work to complete the floor of the internal structure is unfinished.
Bricks in the walls are gradually crumbling and apparently threatening to fall anytime soon.
The story of the unfinished piggery project came to light after some beneficiaries had lamented in the media about their frustration about not getting any response from the municipality's authority.
