By Johnathan Paoli
Ekurhuleni residents are being left without the full benefits of municipal infrastructure projects despite millions of rands having been spent, according to the DA’s mayoral candidate for the city, Khathutshelo Rasilingwane.
In an interview on the Inside Metros podcast, Rasilingwane stressed that the situation highlights the consequences of projects being completed without being put to use, alongside infrastructure developments that remain unfinished years after construction began.
“When you combine all these 12 facilities, the city spent R659 million, but to date, none of those facilities are being used. These are monies that residents have paid through their rates and taxes, but to date, they’re just gathering dust,” she said.
The projects include a R108-million enterprise hub in Reiger Park intended to provide business support and job-readiness training for young people, two early childhood development centres, a water reservoir and other municipal facilities, some of which were reportedly completed as far back as 2018.
Rasilingwane said she had raised questions about municipal projects through the Gauteng legislature and received responses from the municipality’s accounting officer.
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“I asked the MEC, Jacob Mamabolo, responsible for COGTA (Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs), which obviously oversees the work of municipalities. I asked him questions in terms of the project in the City of Ekurhuleni that have been completed, but today have not since been used. And what he does, he will then send the question to the accounting officer in this case, which will be the city manager in the City of Ekurhuleni.”
She described the facility as completed and secured, but not being used for its intended purpose.
For more on Ekurhuleni’s unused R659-million projects, alleged fabricated service delivery reports and questions over police visibility, watch the full Inside Metros podcast interview with Rasilingwane.
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