By Sbongile Dimbaza

An inspection of dilapidated buildings in Nelson Mandela Bay’s historical heartland was called off yesterday after Irish slumlord Ken Denton objected to the presence of the media.

A technical team appointed by Mayor Zanoxolo Wayile was due to inspect dilapidated buildings in Central, some of which belong to Denton.

A total of 16 buildings are to be inspected – 11 yesterday and five more on Friday.

After arriving with one of his employees at 19 Bird Street, Central, where a partially assembled task team had gathered, Denton remained in his car, speaking on his cellphone, before speeding off.

Monty Ganyana, of the municipality’s legal unit, said Denton refused to take part in the inspection because he did not want the media present.

Denton later acknowledged an inspection was planned for the Bird Street building, but said an agreement had been reached with the municipality “that no media would be present”.

“Two senior officials in the municipal legal services gave assurance only the inspectors would be present, not the media or political party representatives,” he told The Herald.

After Ganyana spoke to Denton through his car window, the inspection was called off.

Also adding to the cancellation was the fact only two of the nine task team member arrived for the tour.

Denton’s interference infuriated a task- team member, DA councillor Terry Herbst, who called on the municipality to investigate Denton’s dealings.

Only Herbst and a DA counterpart, Central ward councillor Jeremy Davis, pitched for the inspection. The seven remaining task team members failed to show, despite being notified of the inspection a week ago.

Denton’s refusal to avail himself has cast a doubt over whether the inspection of five other buildings planned for Friday will take place, although according to Herbst the task team’s deadline of March 31 – when a report by the team is due to be handed to Wayile – was “still achievable”.

Herbst, who called Denton’s behaviour “a slap in the face of the city”, said: “This has become a total circus. The mayor will be very humiliated when he hears about this. (Denton) is in no position to dictate terms and conditions for the technical team.”

City chief operating officer Israel Tsatsire told a municipal oversight committee last week all aspects of the legal opinion on how to address the issue of dilapidated buildings – drafted by advocate Glen Goosen – had been incorporated into an action plan. He said the owners of the 16 properties had been informed of the compulsory inspection by registered mail.

City spokesman Kupido Baron said the tour, described as “a closed session”, was postponed as not all members of the task team were present.

Source: The Herald