Dissatisfied, angry Kouga ratepayers and residents with widely different viewpoints and political beliefs across the Kouga area have frequently, if not daily, taken to FB and WA to express their frustrations and state their criticisms about DA-led Kouga Municipality’s services in the Eastern Cape of South Africa, and lately about the neglect and ruin of public buildings across the municipal area.
And Kouga’s political parties in opposition to the current Kouga Municipality (KM) government have come out publicly to condemn and severely criticise KM for what they say is the “neglect of public buildings across Kouga and loss and wastage of revenue as a result” KM says it “refutes these allegations” (see below)
Here are four opposition parties’ views that express outrage at what they describe as “shocking neglect and mismanagement of some key community facilities”:
1 ANC: Firstly, the main opposition party, the African National Congress (ANC) Caucus in Kouga under the leadership of Councillor Vuyani Zana (ANC Chief Whip), says the DA’s failure to protect and maintain these vital assets has led to their complete destruction, robbing our communities of recreational, cultural, and economic opportunities.
* A Legacy of Destruction and Neglect: The DA’s incompetence and lack of political will have resulted in the following disasters:
* Kouga Cultural Centre (Humansdorp) – Once a beacon of arts and heritage, this facility was allowed to deteriorate to such an extent that it had to be demolished. The DA failed to secure, maintain, and invest in this critical institution, erasing a part of our community’s cultural identity.
* Humansdorp Caravan Park (Humansdorp) – This once-thriving tourist attraction has been reduced to ruins due to vandalism and municipal neglect. The DA failed to employ security and upkeep measures, leading to its total collapse.
* Humansdorp Country Club – These facilities, which once brought people together, have been demolished and vandalised beyond use. The DA’s lack of intervention shows their disregard for community recreation and social cohesion.
* Hankey Fresh Produce Market – A classic case of fruitless and wasteful expenditure. The DA rushed to build this facility without proper public participation, failing to consult the very communities it was meant to serve. Worse, they neglected to secure the building, leaving it vulnerable to damage and rendering it useless.
*The DA’s Leadership Failed. The DA’s inability to safeguard and maintain these facilities highlights its lack of commitment to Kouga’s people. Their poor planning, financial mismanagement, and failure to employ basic security measures have cost our community dearly.
* ANC Demands Accountability: As the ANC, we demand: A full forensic investigation into the financial mismanagement and neglect of these facilities.
Immediate plans to rebuild and restore community assets with proper public participation.
Accountability from the DA-led municipality for their failures. The ANC will not stand by while the DA destroys Kouga’s infrastructure and betrays the trust of our people. We call on all residents to hold the DA accountable for their incompetence and join us in fighting for a Kouga that works for all its people.
2 ActionSA: ActionSA Eastern Cape Secretary, Suzette Britz: “It’s heart-breaking to see municipal buildings across Kouga vandalised and neglected – many left without any form of security since the DA took over in 2016.
The recent demolition of the Khoisan Cultural Centre, built in 2002, is not just a loss of infrastructure, but a loss of heritage and cherished memories – especially for Kouga residents who celebrated their matric farewells there. After two devastating fires in 2021 and 2022, there was public outcry for restoration and proper security measures. Yes, it might have been neglected when Kouga was governed by the ANC, but nearly a decade later, there was still no sign of meaningful care or restoration, although the previous DA mayor said on FB in 2021: “We hope to secure a R20m investment into the building soon”.
Our graveyards tell a similar story of decay, with grass so long you fear stepping inside. Some of these cemeteries hold beautiful, historic graves, now buried under weeds and forgotten by those who are meant to care – e.g. Kwanomzamo cemetery.
Humansdorp Caravan Park was once a prestigious caravan park – also vandalised and stripped until it had to be demolished.
The surroundings of the Kouga municipal building in St Francis are yet another example of neglect—an eyesore rather than a source of pride, made worse by large potholes and almost no visible lines left to demarcate the parking bays.
Since the introduction of ‘First Thursdays’ (one-on-one interactions), public participation meetings have been limited mainly to IDP sessions. Could this be why the ‘Kouga Unite’ Facebook page is growing — and now has over 1,000 followers?”
3 Patriot Alliance (PA) councillor, Bazil Deon Human: “The Patriotic Alliance is deeply alarmed by the ongoing pattern of deliberate neglect and destruction of public buildings under the DA-led Kouga Municipality. These are not isolated incidents; what we are witnessing is a systemic failure of accountability and basic care for community infrastructure.
Die Buiteklub in KwaNomzamo, once a lively community hub and host of the historic Taking Legislature to the People, has been completely destroyed. No building remains on site. Similarly, the Ben Marais Caravan Park, which previously provided affordable accommodation and housed the only public swimming pool in Kouga, has been left in total ruin, stripped of rondavels and now abandoned, with no recreational facilities available for Humansdorp residents.
The Protea Club, once serving our elders, collapsed after repeated break-ins. Numerous calls for assistance were ignored. Only after public outcry did a charity organisation intervene, with the municipality reacting too late by installing fencing after the damage was done.
The Kouga Cultural Centre was dislodged of its tenants and neglected to the point of two fires. No insurance or structural reports were ever made public. It was eventually demolished without proper community consultation, a move we view as a destruction plan disguised as progress.
Other examples include the failed Fresh Market in Hankey, built on an Eskom servitude without impact studies or proper public participation, and the Humansdorp Traffic Department, where poor oversight resulted in the theft of 17 firearms, sensitive documents, and undisclosed cash.
I call this a government in crisis. These buildings represent public value, history, and opportunity. Yet, under current leadership, Kouga is losing its public infrastructure at an alarming rate, without plans to restore, rebuild or even take responsibility.
The Patriotic Alliance calls for urgent investigations, full disclosure on insurance and security failures, and the development of a credible municipal asset maintenance plan. Communities cannot be left in the dark while their shared spaces are destroyed.”
4 VF Plus Albe van der Westhuyzen, Member VF Plus Provincial Management, EC: “The VF is deeply concerned about the continued neglect and deterioration of public infrastructure and community assets within the Kouga Municipality, under the leadership of the DA-led administration. Public facilities, such as the cultural centre, Jeffreys Bay caravan park, community halls, and recreational spaces, are vital for both the social and economic well-being of residents. It is unacceptable that these assets are allowed to fall into disrepair.
These facilities are not only places for recreation and cultural expression but also carry historical and economic value for the community. The neglect of such sites signals a lack of proper planning, budget prioritisation, and accountability by those elected to manage public resources responsibly.
The VF Plus has long maintained that municipalities have a duty to preserve and maintain public infrastructure in the interest of current and future generations. These community assets must be managed sustainably, made accessible to all residents, and actively contribute to local economic development, especially in areas that rely on tourism and community activities, such as in Kouga.
What is further troubling is that this neglect occurs while ratepayers continue to shoulder increasing service tariffs and property rates. The VF Plus believes that it is immoral to expect communities to pay more for services while public assets crumble around them.
The party calls for a comprehensive facilities audit in Kouga to assess the state of all municipal buildings and properties, with a transparent action plan to restore, upgrade, or repurpose neglected sites for community benefit.
The VF Plus will continue to hold the Kouga Municipality accountable and work alongside residents to ensure that public infrastructure is protected, maintained, and valued as essential components of local identity and development.
Communities deserve better — and the VF Plus will advocate for exactly that.”
KM was informed by this newspaper that four political opposition parties, including the ANC, had criticised the demise of the public buildings. It was asked to comment on the list of buildings that had decayed, and that building list was sent to them for comment. And KM was told other political parties had similarly criticised KM’s handling and loss of those buildings, each with their respective, differing viewpoints.
Commenting, the municipality gave its version by saying it refutes recent allegations made by ‘the ANC’ regarding the neglect and mismanagement of community facilities in the region. Contrary to the claims, these facilities were already in a state of decline prior to August 2016, when the DA-led government took office in Kouga. The deterioration of these assets began under the ANC’s administration, which now seeks to deflect responsibility.
Kouga Cultural Centre
The Kouga Cultural Centre began falling into disuse as early as 2014. The last recorded event at the facility took place that year. By the time the DA took over the administration in 2016, the building had already started showing signs of significant neglect.
Ben Marais Caravan Park
Similarly, the Ben Marais Caravan Park in Humansdorp had long ceased to be used by the time the DA came into power. In November 2014, under the ANC administration, a public invitation was issued for comments on proposals to either lease or sell Erf 353 (the caravan park site) for commercial development. These proposals included options for retail business and office space. In June 2015, the site was valued at over R6 million and was put up for sale to a private developer. At the time, DA councillors requested that an alternative site be considered for a new caravan park – but nothing came of the process.
As the site continued to deteriorate and posed a safety hazard to the broader community, the DA-led municipality made the responsible decision to demolish the dilapidated structure. The municipality has since earmarked the site for a proposed social housing development, with a formal tender process to follow soon.
Humansdorp Country Club
The destruction of the Humansdorp Country Club cannot be attributed to municipal neglect. The facility was burnt down by protesting community members, resulting in irreparable damage. The Municipality has since been exploring alternative uses for the site to ensure it benefits the wider community.
“It is disingenuous of the ANC to shift blame for the very decline that occurred under their watch,” KM mayor Hattingh Bornman said. “The DA-led municipality has allocated the highest repair and maintenance budget in its history for the 2025/2026 financial year. Facilities that are still in active use will continue to receive regular maintenance and attention, while strategic planning is underway for the responsible redevelopment of facilities that were allowed to deteriorate during previous administrations.”
Asked to comment the muni ran down the ANC only as I never sent them the comments of three other political I referred them to the ‘building list’ in the ANC’s release and the muni was told four political parties, including the ANC, criticised the neglect and decay of the buildings listed in the ANC’s press release.
The muni responded by just attacking the ANC. Maybe I should send them all the comments or just put their criticism of the ANC – blaming the ANC for buildings they claim they inherited, already decayed!!.
Commenting on the municipality’s response, Clr. Bazil Human of the PA said he was speechless at the municipality’s response because :
“In 2016, the cultural centre was intact. No fire or tenants. How is that ANC?
“In 2016 the Ben Marais Caravan Park were intact, buildings were there, especially the rondavels. The swimming pool though, was run at that time…
“The Protea Club in Arcadia was intact. It was used, and it was operational.
“The Country Club, Buiteklub, was in full use in 2016.
“I fail to understand how the blame could go to the ANC if all these buildings were standing without decay and were used regularly when they took over…. “
- The ANC could not be reached for comment
Note: Only the ANC’s press release is in the June edition of St Francis Chronicle – it was too late and there was too little space to print comments from other political parties, which we publish above.
Update to follow...
