By Charmaine Ndlela
ActionSA has called on the Public Protector to investigate the stalled Boipatong Old Age home project, where more than R28 million has already been spent, yet the facility remains incomplete, vandalised, and long abandoned.
This follows the party’s formal criminal complaint against the Emfuleni Local Municipality, the Gauteng Department of Social Development, and the provincial government.
ActionSA Gauteng provincial legislature leader, Funzi Ngobeni, said the project—initiated in 2015 by the Emfuleni Local Municipality —was meant to deliver a fully equipped residential facility for elderly residents in Boipatong.
“Only 52% of the work was completed. R25 million was paid to the main contractors, JM Mcwango Trading and Makgotamishe Building Construction, while over R3 million went to professional service providers,” Ngobeni said.
“To date, no recovery efforts or consequence management actions have been undertaken by the responsible department.”
In response to questions from Ngobeni, Gauteng MEC for Infrastructure and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Jacob Mamabolo, cited “capacity limitations, administrative challenges, and community unrest” as reasons for the delay.
ActionSA’s Emfuleni regional chairperson described the situation as an “unacceptable delay.”
“Over R28 million has been spent with nothing to show for it but a dysfunctional procurement process, poor planning, and failed contractor appointments,” he said.
The party has asked the Office of the Public Protector to determine:
- Whether procurement, management, and oversight processes complied with legal and ethical standards.
- Why no disciplinary or legal action has been taken against officials or contractors.
- Whether the Departments of Social Development and Infrastructure failed in their public service obligations.
- What remedies can be proposed to ensure accountability and completion of the project.
“ActionSA stands firm in our mission to uphold clean governance and protect public resources. Residents of Gauteng deserve justice, accountability, and service delivery,” the party said in a statement.
Mamabolo has since committed to completing the Boipatong Old Age home by the end of 2026.
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