Here is the rewritten article with the relevant links added:
**The rise of Gqeberha: A new horizon for urban development and public project management**
In the vibrant town of Gqeberha, a recent court victory marked a crucial turning point for development agency MBDA. Following a favorable judgment by the Gqeberha Court, funds unfairly withheld by certain entities have been urgently released, paving the way for new opportunities in service delivery. However, this legal saga left financial scars, impacting not only the citizens of the metropolis, but also compromising valuable development opportunities over a period of nine months.
When I was appointed in June 2023, the MBDA agency was already engaged in a profound transformation aimed at becoming a dynamic, sustainable, and agile entity responsible for initiating long-stalled catalytic projects. The aim was to revitalize the city center and bring the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium back to life, but these ambitions were dashed by political interference and illegal actions, as the High Court upheld.
The five-year plan adopted by the board in May 2023, and incorporated into the NMBM Integrated Development Plan, offered solutions for Gqeberha town center, particularly for the central district. The agency was also positioning itself to provide project management services to other levels of government to accelerate service delivery where it is most needed. A priority goal was to revive pending catalytic programs such as the International Convention Center, Bayworld, the Waterfront, and North End Lake. All this good work has been compromised by political interference and malpractice, leading to inappropriate advice given to the highest levels of government and the withholding of funds, all amid a recruitment dispute. As the court found, there was no legal basis for such unilateral action, putting at risk not only the jobs of MBDA staff, but also those of SMEs, service providers, and key projects. The order was clear: MBDA grants were to be disbursed immediately, and this has since been implemented.
This court decision had devastating consequences for the entity, with nine months of anxiety, a decline in staff morale, delays on major projects due to cash flow problems, cost escalations, and reputational damage that will take years to be repaired. Despite all this, we are determined to move forward without weakening. The organization, its employees, and its leaders have demonstrated exemplary resilience in the face of adversity.
The events of the last nine months must serve as a lesson to all, reminding us of the importance of respecting the rule of law. Additionally, legal costs should deter anyone who thinks they can manipulate the system to resolve personal disputes and be held personally liable. As the dust settles, we are more determined than ever to implement our strategic plan and have initiated discussions with key stakeholders.
Over the past week, we contacted our MOU partner, ARS Central, to discuss immediate actions to take to combat delinquency in the city center. Our specialist security provider is currently developing an integrated response plan combining human resources, technology, and armed intervention to tackle sensitive areas of the city center and CBD. Security agents have already been reinstated at strategic sites and specific properties in the city center to reinforce security visibility.
In addition to addressing the unfortunate decisions of 2016 that ended an effective K-9 security program downtown, we must also fill the void created by withholding funds that allowed crime to take hold again, degrading our heritage, and leading to massive acts of vandalism. With the commitment of our partners, the city center will regain its cleanliness and safety by the end of the year.
To jump-start pending catalytic programs, we recently collaborated with a team from Transnet Properties to unlock the long-awaited Waterfront project. At this point, our teams have resumed their thinking and will engage in in-depth conversations with stakeholders to define the best strategy to meet current maritime and economic imperatives.
The Bayworld program is underway; in December 2023, we began structural demolition, a R20 million project to prepare the ground for a future renovation of the Oceanarium. In the same month, we successfully organized an investment roadshow to present this opportunity. Work is underway to prepare an expression of interest to the market, focusing on the creation of a world-class International Convention Center in exchange for the valuable land available. We let the market decide which offers to submit, but the final decisions will be made by the shareholders, who will evaluate the right social and economic balance for the citizens of the bay. We are excited to complete this initiative before the end of the fiscal year.
Despite the challenges encountered, receiving a year of funding with only three months remaining, we remain determined to achieve our goals. Ongoing projects include the creation of a zip line in Baakens, the renovation of the Kariega warehouses, the extension of Baakens Boulevard, and the completion of the R50 million project…
*For the rest of this fascinating story on urban development and the management of public projects in Gqeberha, continue to follow Fatshimetrie news.*
For more related articles, visit:
1. [Jean-Pierre Bemba’s visit to Bunia: Hope for Ituri and the DRC](https://eng.fatshimetrie.org/2024/04/28/jean-pierre-bembas-visit-to-bunia-hope-for-ituri-and-the-drc/)
2. [The collapse of the bridge at Kalemie Central Prison: A cry of alert for urgent measures](https://eng.fatshimetrie.org/2024/04/28/the-collapse-of-the-bridge-at-kalemie-central-prison-a-cry-of-alert-for-urgent-measures/)
3. [Urgent calls for better care for people living with disabilities in the Democratic Republic of Congo](https://eng.fatshimetrie.org/2024/04/28/urgent-calls-for-better-care-for-people-living-with-disabilities-in-the-democratic-republic-of-congo/)
4. [On the brink: Kylian Mbappe’s crucial challenge against Barcelona](https://eng.fatshimetrie.org/2024/04/28/on-the-brink-kylian-mbappes-crucial-challenge-against-barcelona/)
5. [Vision and action for a new beginning in the DRC](https://eng.fatshimetrie.org/2024/04/28/vision-and-action-for-a-new-beginning-in-the-drc/)
6. [Crisis and power in the Democratic Republic of Congo: between the east in turbulence and the political games in Kinshasa](https://eng.fatshimetrie.org/2024/04/28/crisis-and-power-in-the-democratic-republic-of-congo-between-the-east-in-turbulence-and-the-political-games-in-kinshasa/)
7. [The race for the presidency of the National Assembly: challenges and ambitions for 2024](https://eng.fatshimetrie.org/2024/04/28/the-race-for-the-presidency-of-the-national-assembly-challenges-and-ambitions-for-2024/)
And more articles on **Fatshimetrie**.