Latest news with #Ward12
IOL News
4 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Lehae allegations are a political witch hunt
Sithembiso Zungu Zungu insists the accusations lack credible evidence and are politically driven. Image: Facebook LEHAE Phase 3 — Sithembiso Zungu, newly appointed MMC for Group Corporate and Shared Services, has firmly rejected corruption allegations related to his tenure as Ward 12 Councillor and his association with Citydev Construction. Presenting a detailed rebuttal, Zungu insists the accusations lack credible evidence and are politically driven. Responding to claims that he received illegal payments, Zungu stated unequivocally: 'There is no credible, publicly available evidence that confirms I never received any payments from Citydev Construction during my tenure as Ward 12 Councillor in Lehae Phase 3.' He emphasised that official records, including those from the Department of Correctional Services, 'have no record of me being held at their facility in relation to the Lehae community housing project case'. Video Player is loading. 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Next Stay Close ✕ On accusations of demanding facilitation fees from contractors involved in community housing projects and school refurbishments, Zungu said: 'Why would I do that? I have consistently and strongly dismissed these claims via credible media platforms and through direct statements to journalists.' He highlighted his role as a mediator: 'My primary aim was mediation between contractors and communities, not financial gain or extortion.' He also pointed out an absence of any audit reports, financial documents, or other proof linking him to illicit payments, describing the charges as 'a witch hunt aimed at tarnishing my name and abusing media narratives for political gain'. Regarding his cooperation with law enforcement, Zungu affirmed full transparency and compliance. 'The Hawks have completed their investigation and submitted the findings to the Director of Public Prosecutions for a decision,' he noted. 'I have no judicial reprimands, contempt findings, or adverse procedural rulings against me in relation to document provision.' Addressing concerns about his recent MMC appointment in the context of these longstanding allegations and purported association with a 'Construction Mafia,' Zungu stated: 'My appointment as MMC for Group Corporate and Shared Services was made by the Executive Mayor, following internal council deliberations. The Office of the Executive Mayor would be better placed to comment on this.' Providing context to his involvement with Citydev Construction, Zungu gave a nuanced account: 'In 2017, we were introduced to this private company by the then Ward Councillor of Ward 122, as they were undertaking bond housing in Lehae. I was the chairperson of the business forum at the time. Initially, I supplied materials for them and was later appointed as a social facilitator.' Zungu explained: 'We worked very well until I was elected Ward Councillor of 122 after the previous councillor passed away. I then resigned from the business forum to focus on my councillorship. Politics within the ANC then kicked in.' He concluded with a warning about internal party conflict: 'In short, all this has been a fabrication and is meant to tarnish my name from members within the ANC.' While the Hawks investigation has been handed to the Director of Public Prosecutions, no charges have been filed to date, and Zungu's legal status remains unchanged. His comprehensive denial and claims of political targeting prompt questions about the motivations behind the allegations, suggesting a wider context of factional battles within local politics. Zungu's insistence on transparency and cooperation stands in contrast to the persistent, yet unsubstantiated claims — underscoring the need for the process to run its course before drawing conclusions about his conduct. 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Calgary Herald
04-06-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Council rejects 'formality' motion to reaffirm next year's property tax increase
Calgary city councillors couldn't find consensus Tuesday on whether to reaffirm their previous commitment to keep next year's property tax hike at 3.6 per cent. Article content But according to two members of council, the failed motion was mostly a formality, as well as an exercise in budget transparency. Article content Article content When approving the 2023-26 budget in November 2022, council supported a 3.6 per cent property tax increase for 2026, the final year of the four-year budget cycle. Article content Article content Those supportive of the motion from Ward 11 representative Kourtney Penner included Mayor Jyoti Gondek, Couns. Raj Dhaliwal, Evan Spencer, Jasmine Mian, Peter Demong and Courtney Walcott. Article content 'Calgarians want steadiness. They want consistency and they want some predictability,' Penner said, when moving the recommendation. Article content Article content Those in opposition to the motion argued that although budget transparency ahead of November is important, it's premature to promise Calgarians in June what type of tax increase they will see the following year. Article content Article content Ward 1 Coun. Sonya Sharp, who voted in opposition alongside Couns. Dan McLean, Gian-Carlo Carra, Jennifer Wyness, Terry Wong, Sean Chu and Andre Chabot, said after the meeting she felt the vote was a formality. Article content Article content 'The direction didn't lose,' she said. 'Administration was already given that direction in 2022.' Article content Sharp and others, including Chabot, also disagreed with the 3.6 per cent figure, pointing out it didn't factor in a motion from Ward 12 Coun. Evan Spencer, which was approved by council last week, to develop an Infrastructure Reinvestment Program. The motion included several considerations to address the city's worsening backlog of deferred maintenance during the 2027-30 budget cycle.
Calgary Herald
28-05-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Council approves creating 'infrastructure reinvestment program' to tackle $7.7 billion in deferred maintenance
A Calgary city councillor's proposal to find ways to chip away at the city's multibillion-dollar infrastructure deficit next budget cycle was approved Tuesday. Article content Article content A long-winded notice of motion from Ward 12 Coun. Evan Spencer directed administration to develop an Infrastructure Reinvestment Program, with eight considerations to address the city's worsening backlog of deferred maintenance during the 2027 to 2030 four-year budget cycle. Article content Article content 'What I want out of this is to force the conversation,' said Spencer, who is also chair of the city's audit committee. 'We have a gap. We have to talk about the actual amount of money required to deal with this and start making plans to do so.' Article content Article content The considerations include identifying and 'consolidating' stable funding sources, such as utility rates, government grants, property taxes and user fees; establishing criteria for prioritizing infrastructure reinvestment projects based on their condition, risk, service levels and alignment with strategic objectives; and exploring potential contributions from other orders of government to share risks and costs associated with infrastructure reinvestment. Article content The motion also directs the city to amend the terms of reference for its future capital and lifecycle maintenance reserves, to double the 2.6 per cent annual property tax funding to five per cent. According to Spencer, this consideration will come to council's July 22 executive committee meeting for approval. Article content Article content Spencer's motion was in response to the city's 2020 infrastructure status report, which highlighted a growing percentage of deteriorating assets and an estimated $7.73-billion infrastructure funding gap. The report recommended more than $500 million in annual maintenance and operating investments by 2030. Article content Article content The city's infrastructure deficit has been amplified by rapid population growth, aging assets and escalating costs driven by inflation, he argued. Article content The Ward 12 representative, who is not running for reelection, has been critical of council's tendency to draw from its reserves to support initiatives on a one-time basis.
Axios
18-03-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Tanmay Shah seeks city council seat in new Ward 12
Tanmay Shah, an Indian immigrant, union organizer, lawyer and truck driver, has formally launched his candidacy for Cleveland City Council in the new Ward 12. Why it matters: Shah's is the most explicitly leftist city council campaign to date in 2025, with messaging highlighting working class solidarity and his democratic socialist bona fides. State of play: The new Ward 12 includes the majority of the existing Ward 11 on Cleveland's west side. Incumbent Councilman Danny Kelly is seeking reelection. Another challenger, Andrew DeFratis, the director of public affairs for the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, announced his candidacy last week. Zoom in: Shah attended Copley High School, Kent State University and Case Western Reserve University School of Law. He helped organize a union at Legal Aid while working as a housing attorney there. He now works as a truck driver for local composting company Rust Belt Riders. What they're saying: "I am running to make Cleveland work for the working class," Shah said in a press release.
