BY MBONGENI NDLELA
MBABANE – Mayors from municipal councils countrywide
have since promised to rebuild the structures that got
damaged during the recent riots.
The promise was made by Pigg’s Peak Mayor Victor
Rodriguez who was speaking on behalf of Mayors on
Thursday during a meeting with Minister of Housing and
Urban Development and CEOs.
“It is indeed a sad time for us in Local Government. Towns
look like ruins but we want to assure you Minister that we
will work tirelessly to rebuild them,” Rodriquez said.
Meanwhile, Minister of Housing and Urban Development
HRH Prince Simelane lamented the damage to property
under local authorities following protest actions that resulted
in looting and burning of business properties.
HRH Prince Simelane said towns were currently looking like
ruins right now and it was a sore sight for the ministry. “This is why we have called you here today to let you know
that we see what has happened, we are with you during this
period and we condemn these actions in the greatest way
possible,” he said.
He continued: “The damage to property has taken the
country back economically. I can’t imagine how tough this
must be for you as custodians of these areas, but as a
Government we believe in your capabilities to rebuild and
redevelop these areas again.”
Meanwhile, government, in its assessment of the damages,
has announced that properties worth over E3 billion were
damaged during the riots.
