By Sibongile Mkani

Frantic efforts are being made to fix the neglected Kei Mouth caravan park just weeks before visitors from around the country descend on the seaside town for the holiday season.

Residents and the business community have decided to undertake the work themselves ? and pay for it - after the municipality dithered over the clean-up.

On Tuesday the Great Kei Municipality, which runs the caravan park, promised to have it ready by Monday, adding it had been delayed by "bureaucratic processes".

The park has been badly neglected. The grass has grown out of control, parts of the ablution block's roof has been damaged and the perimeter fence has fallen, prompting locals to dig into their pockets to revamp the site.

Resident Brian Church said the state of things was so bad that one caravanner booked in and promptly left for another nearby facility for two weeks.

He said the park could accommodate 91 caravans and created work for locals in the form of cleaners and car washers for the whole of December.

Great Kei municipal manager Andile Sihlahla said they were aware of the park's shabby condition and were in the process of getting it ready for holiday makers.

"The park will be ready by Monday and the municipality will visit the park today to inspect what still needs to be done," he said.

Sihlahla said they had already started painting bathrooms and that the grass had been slashed although it has grown again.

"The grass will be cut again and the municipality is going to hire a temporary security guard for the festive season period, as well as cleaners," said Sihlahla.

Church said the residents and the Kei Mouth Business Forum donated money for the revamp of the park as well as the riverfront, which was also in a dilapidated state.

He said the municipality had helped them by painting the bathrooms and the shower rooms at the park, but the rest of the work, like cutting the grass, fencing the grounds and fixing the bathroom roof and road had fallen to the residents.

"The community has donated money and time in having this park looking like it used to," he said.

Church said the work would start today so that they could meet their deadline and have people flocking into the park. Businessman Corrie Els, said he was donating a tractor and bush cutters to their project.

Daily Dispatch