Patriotic Alliance President Gayton McKenzie Promised That His Party Will Help To Solve the Electricity Impasse in Eldorado Park

Gayton McKenzie, the president of the Patriotic Alliance has expressed concern on the way how the problem of electricity in Eldorado Park has been handled and promised that his party as represented by Councilor Peter Rafferty will do what it takes for the good of this community.

“This constituency is critically important to the Patriotic Alliance and Councilor Peter Rafferty, a tireless worker and activist, is part of the party’s drive to build a solid community power to solve problems that help improve the quality of life for the community. 

We do hope that the new political home of Councilor Peter Rafferty will help resolve the power insecurity in this area.” Said McKenzie

Ward 17 Councilor Peter Rafferty who was elected on the DA ticket recently joined the Patriotic Alliance as a member. He and his wife LeeAnn both joined the PA following their resignation from the DA.

The residents of Eldorado Park are angry that power supply remain erratic because this important project that was supposed to be completed in 2018 was caught up in the dispute between City Of Joburg and Setheo. 

The electricity problem in Eldorado that has been worsened by the non-completion of a substation which resulted from a fallout between contracting parties to the power project which was terminated by former Mayor, Mr. Herman Mashaba on allegations of corruption.

In a City of Joburg media statement dated 05/12/2017 Mashaba said “I have previously stated that our priority is to bring stability to City Power, and terminating the contract with Setheo is one of the steps we are taking to ensure that projects are properly managed and implemented to ensure better service delivery to our residents.” 

This controversial multi million rand project which has attracted much public attention because of the ongoing legal battles was entered between City Power and Setheo Engineering Pty Limited (Setheo) as the main contractor for the purpose of building a substation in Eldorado.

The former Mayor, now the leader of the Political Dialogue, instigated the termination of the project while corruption allegations surrounding the project were being in progress and pleaded with residents to bear with him as the issue gets solved but 3 years later, the project is still in comatose

In response to the cancellation of the contract, Setheo Engineering is suing City Power for breach of contract that was terminated by Mashaba in a matter that has now become a legal dispute between City of Joburg and one of Setheo’s non-executive employees Brighton Chifamba who is being charged for fraud and theft.

There has been much confusion in this Eldorado project concerning the exact identities and authority of the actual contracting parties and complainants against the breach which result in the termination of the contract and the delay in project completion.

In clarifying the issue, The NPA spokesperson, Ms. Phindi Mjondobdwane, confirmed that the complainant that has caused two Setheo directors and two City Power directors being arrested in 2017 was the City of Joburg and not City Power. 

The charges against the directors were however withdrawn in 2018 after 12 court appearances.

As a way of solving the Eldorado saga, McKenzie is reported to have recently met the representatives of Setheo who briefed him on the issues related to this project. 

While commenting on the matter, he said: “I was asked by the community to meet Setheo and I am happy that I did because the version I got was different from what I been made to believe. 

It had been put to me that Setheo had failed, refused and neglected to pay subcontractors from the area who were working on the project.

However, tit has also been explained to me that in terms of an agreement concluded between City Power and the company, subcontractors from the area who were selected and engaged by City Power were to be paid their remuneration by Setheo as an agent. 

So when the contact was unilaterally and arbitrarily cancelled by City Of Johannesburg, Setheo could not pay out what it was no longer receiving from City Power.

This therefore gave an impression to subcontractors and the community that Setheo had abandoned the project with the funds.

Therefore, as the president of the Patriotic Alliance which is committed to being the positive force for good and change in Eldorado Park, I intend to get to the bottom of this issue so that the implementation of the project can expeditiously resume and the community can benefit from the service they need.”

Gayton McKenzie, the president of the Patriotic Alliance has expressed concern on the way how the problem of electricity in Eldorado Park has been handled and promised that his party as represented by Councilor Peter Rafferty will do what it takes for the good of this community.

“This constituency is critically important to the Patriotic Alliance and Councilor Peter Rafferty, a tireless worker and activist, is part of the party’s drive to build a solid community power to solve problems that help improve the quality of life for the community. 

We do hope that the new political home of Councilor Peter Rafferty will help resolve the power insecurity in this area.” Said McKenzie

Ward 17 Councilor Peter Rafferty who was elected on the DA ticket recently joined the Patriotic Alliance as a member. He and his wife LeeAnn both joined the PA following their resignation from the DA.

The residents of Eldorado Park are angry that power supply remain erratic because this important project that was supposed to be completed in 2018 was caught up in the dispute between City Of Joburg and Setheo. 

The electricity problem in Eldorado that has been worsened by the non-completion of a substation which resulted from a fallout between contracting parties to the power project which was terminated by former Mayor, Mr. Herman Mashaba on allegations of corruption.

In a City of Joburg media statement dated 05/12/2017 Mashaba said “I have previously stated that our priority is to bring stability to City Power, and terminating the contract with Setheo is one of the steps we are taking to ensure that projects are properly managed and implemented to ensure better service delivery to our residents.” 

This controversial multi million rand project which has attracted much public attention because of the ongoing legal battles was entered between City Power and Setheo Engineering Pty Limited (Setheo) as the main contractor for the purpose of building a substation in Eldorado.

The former Mayor, now the leader of the Political Dialogue, instigated the termination of the project while corruption allegations surrounding the project were being in progress and pleaded with residents to bear with him as the issue gets solved but 3 years later, the project is still in comatose

In response to the cancellation of the contract, Setheo Engineering is suing City Power for breach of contract that was terminated by Mashaba in a matter that has now become a legal dispute between City of Joburg and one of Setheo’s non-executive employees Brighton Chifamba who is being charged for fraud and theft.

There has been much confusion in this Eldorado project concerning the exact identities and authority of the actual contracting parties and complainants against the breach which result in the termination of the contract and the delay in project completion.

In clarifying the issue, The NPA spokesperson, Ms. Phindi Mjondobdwane, confirmed that the complainant that has caused two Setheo directors and two City Power directors being arrested in 2017 was the City of Joburg and not City Power. 

The charges against the directors were however withdrawn in 2018 after 12 court appearances.

As a way of solving the Eldorado saga, McKenzie is reported to have recently met the representatives of Setheo who briefed him on the issues related to this project. 

While commenting on the matter, he said: “I was asked by the community to meet Setheo and I am happy that I did because the version I got was different from what I been made to believe. 

It had been put to me that Setheo had failed, refused and neglected to pay subcontractors from the area who were working on the project.

However, tit has also been explained to me that in terms of an agreement concluded between City Power and the company, subcontractors from the area who were selected and engaged by City Power were to be paid their remuneration by Setheo as an agent. 

So when the contact was unilaterally and arbitrarily cancelled by City Of Johannesburg, Setheo could not pay out what it was no longer receiving from City Power.

This therefore gave an impression to subcontractors and the community that Setheo had abandoned the project with the funds.

Therefore, as the president of the Patriotic Alliance which is committed to being the positive force for good and change in Eldorado Park, I intend to get to the bottom of this issue so that the implementation of the project can expeditiously resume and the community can benefit from the service they need.”