@greygazette
GREYTOWN RECYCLING
40 Dr Wessels Street • Greytown 3250 Phone: 033 417 1237
Buyers of: Scrap Metal Plastic Cardboard Paper etc We collect. Help to SAVE our PLANET
Greytown Gazette
COME TEST DRIVE
Greytown
GAZETTE Umvoti | Kranskop | New Hanover | Msinga Magisterial Districts 10 000 copies weekly| Est. 1903
FREE
9 Armitage Road • 087 893 0488 / 087 893 0485 www.bidvestmccarthyrenault.co.za
WEDNESDAY 10 FEBRUARY 2021
033 413 2735 Fax 033 413 1933
e-mail Andile.sithole@media24.com or Rashnee.Dheorajh@media24.com
Royal squabble behind five-year wait for Bhambatha statue ANDILE SITHOLE >>Andile.sithole@media24.com THE sculpture of chief Bhambatha kaMancinza Zondi in uMvoti Memorial and Heritage Park is becoming an eyesore as vandals have started removing the fence. It’s been five years since the statue was erected but has never been formally unveiled to the public, due to a royal family squabble. Residents have criticised uMvoti Municipality for failing to safeguard and maintain the site. PR councillor for the Democratic Alliance Rajen Maharaj said there has been an outcry from the community trying to put pressure on the officials to unveil it. “I can’t understand why there’s a delay in unveiling it. It’s of historical significance and the community should be informed about the date of unveiling it. “The municipality should tell us why it’s not unveiled and give us a time frame. An unveiling ceremony should have been done long time ago. Taxpayers’ money was used
when the statue was erected,’ Maharaj said. A resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said Bhambatha’s statue is becoming an eyesore in town. “The fencing around it is falling apart. There’s a long grass growing near the statue of chief Bhambatha. The municipality should be protecting it from being vandalised by vagrants and criminals.” Ward councillor Wilson Khoza said the unveiling is a project of the national Department of Arts and Culture. He said the municipality was only tasked to identify the site where the sculpture was erected. Spokesperson for uMvoti Local Municipality Phindile Phungula said the sculpture has not been officially handed over to the municipality by the Department of Arts and Culture. “The recent inclement weather conditions have impacted on the park’s maintenance plan,” Phungula said. Bhambatha kaMancinza Zondi was renowned for his leadership role in an armed rebellion in the 1906 against the poll tax. A ceremony to unveil his sculpture was
scheduled for September 22, 2015. However, spokesperson for the Zondi’s family Mzwanele Zondi said the delay in the unveiling is due to an ongoing court battle over the legitimate heir of the Zondi clan. He added that the delay is caused by the internal squabbles within the Royal family. “The Department of Arts and Culture was prepared to unveil it [in 2015]. “But Minister Nathi Mthethwa had to stop the process after another faction in the Zondi family wanted to be recognised as the descendants of Chief Bhambatha. “There are two factions within the family. The department is unable to unveil the statue while there is an ongoing battle over the leadership in the royal family,” Zondi said. Attempts to get comment from Depart-
ment of Arts and Culture spokesperson, Masechaba Khumalo were not successful.
MLETHI SECURITY AND TRAINING • Security courses • Grade EDC
2790 1099
90
SAND SIEVE
CONCRET WHEELBARROW
Greytown : 033 417 1331/9 Msinga : 033 413 1211
34
9990
90
THE STANDARD DIGGING SPADE
each
BUILDERS BUCKET 10lt Round / Triangular
5mm x 1m x 1m
12990
16990
BUILD IT PICKHEAD 3kg
74990 each
BUILD IT GARDEN HOSE
LASHER FALCON CONCRETE OR POLY WHEELBARROW
12mm X 20m Includes Fittings
34990
per roll
BLACK SHEETING 2m x 30m x 250mic SAB Approvd
39990 BLACK & DECKER ANGLE GRINDER 115mm, 710watt
7990 22990
19
90
BUILD IT CHALK LINE REEL AND REFILL POWDER SET
BUILD IT BUILDERS LINE
30m
0.9mm X 100m
per pair
DEFENDER SAFETY BOOTS Size 6 - 12
PROMOTION VALID UNTIL 17 FEBRUARY 2021. T’S & C’S APPLY
GREYTOWN PHOTO: ANDILE SITHOLE
A statue of Chief Bhambatha kaMancinza Zondi still under wraps in Greytown.
120 Pine Street, Greytown • Tel: 033 413 2196 • Fax: 033 413 2100