Legal action taken

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The Siyanithanda Centre for people with a disability seems to be largely unused currently.

PetroSA donated a brand new building, the construction of which, it said, cost R8.5 million, for use by Siyanithanda in 2016.

It is well built, with high quality fittings.

All the modern, attractive classrooms and other rooms open on to a quadrangle in the middle of the building, which is in Rhino Crescent, off Bill Jeffery Road.

The centre is opposite the Alma Clinic in Boplaas, KwaNonqaba.

Whereas it previously catered for 62 users, only three children were present when the Mossel Bay Advertiser went to Siyanithanda on Friday, 17 September, at 11:30.

Pastor Liyanda Maki is the centre's founder, manager, COO and CEO.

He said the centre now served 19 disabled people, adding that it had two sections - one for one to 17 year olds and another for those aged 18 to 35.

Vehicle no longer in use
According to Maki, the rest of the centre users had not arrived at Siyanithanda that day, due to morning rain and a lack of transport. Maki added that the centre had had a Volkswagen Caddy to transport the disabled but it was no longer in use.

The centre was burgled and computers were stolen. Maki showed the Advertiser that a window frame had been bent. He speculated that the people who had broken in had known the centre layout because they had known how to disconnect the alarm.

Since the break-in, a company has installed security beams.

The lawn behind the centre is uncut and the jungle gym appears unused. There is a small vegetable patch in the grounds.

Controversy
There was controversy surrounding the centre two years ago. At the time, a complaint against the centre had been laid with the police's Family, Child and Sexual Offences Unit in Mossel Bay. The police investigated the complaint and it went to court, but the case was closed owing to insufficient evidence.

"People did not want to bring evidence," Maki told the Mossel Bay Advertiser during its visit.

Also, two years ago two volunteers at the centre came to the Advertiser, complaining about various types of alleged fraud, mismanagement and child neglect at the centre. Maki said that this had been "gossip and propaganda". He said there had been infighting on the previous board of the Siyanithanda NPO and that board members had accused him of fraud. A new board was subsequently announced.

Maki said his access to the Siyanithanda bank account had been blocked, following the infighting on the board, but he had opened another bank account.

A report on 27 May 2016 in the Mossel Bay Advertiser described the centre as a state-of-the-art 450 square metre facility that boasted classroom space, a hall, consultation rooms, office space, sick bays, a kitchen area and internal and external play areas.

Municipality takes legal action
When enquired to, the municipality told the Advertiser: "The property was leased by the municipality to Siyanithanda Centre for the Disabled. The municipality noted the concerns and complaints received from the public. Prior to these, it had commenced with legal action against the centre due to breach of contract. The matter is sub judice and no further information can be divulged at this stage. As soon as judgment has been handed down, the outcome will be communicated to the public."

Siyanithanda Centre for the Disabled. Photos: Jannie du Plessis