A war of words has erupted between the Northern Cape Tourism Authority (NCTA) and the Northern Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Nocci) over the filthy state of Kimberley.

The conflict broke out at launch of the Keep the Diamond City Sparkling clean-up campaign yesterday, NCTA CEO Sharron Lewis, who was on the street with her team cleaning up, said Nocci was always complaining in the media about how dirty Kimberley was, yet its own members were contributing to this state of affairs.

“They are always complaining about the municipality but the dump behind that building does not come from nobody. It is the same businesses that Nocci represents. They don’t walk the talk,” she said, pointing to the heap of rubbish opposite the SABC offices and behind Bultfontein Road, which had been closed.

“They (Nocci) are quick to go to the papers when the city is not clean but they are the ones who are littering it.”

NCTA is the provincial government agency responsible for tourism. Asked for a comment, Nocci CEO, Sharon Steyn said that Lewis should provide her with proof.

“Tell her to call me and let us sit and discuss the matter and if it is true that there is such a thing I will speak to the businesses concerned.

“We have had numerous cleaning campaigns in the city and the NCTA was nowhere to be seen. We can’t be held responsible for Bultfontein Road. There are no businesses there and you know we have been pleading with the municipality to open the road without success. We have even taken the matter to the public protector. They should get their facts straight,” she said.

Bultfontein Road, which passes next to The Big Hole, was closed some years ago with the municipality saying there was a danger it could collapse into the hole. Economically it was one of the busiest roads.

The campaign, was launched by the MEC for environment and nature conservation, Sylvia Lucas together with the mayor of Sol Plaatje municipality.

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