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The Citizen
4 days ago
- The Citizen
Road not upgraded despite millions being spent
EVATON – The DA in Gauteng has expressed outrage after learning that the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport has not upgraded the Evaton Road, from Adams to Selbourne Street. DA MPL Kingsol Chabalala says this is despite the promises made by former Gauteng Premier, David Makhura, in 2016 that the Gauteng Government would refurbish the road. 'This road remains in terrible condition. It is unrehabilitated and poses a safety risk for motorists and pedestrians, contradicting the Gauteng Department of Transport and Logistics MEC, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela's claim that the road was upgraded and the project was well implemented. ' In response to a question from the DA in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL), Diale-Tlabela stated that R23.4m was paid to two service providers and R8.6m to 12 subcontractors for the upgrade of Evaton Road; this amount totals R32m. She further explained that the project was initiated on 17 October 2016 and completed on 30 August 2017, and that the department is happy with the work done, as the project was well implemented. Chabalala says they will request the chairperson of the Roads and Transport Portfolio Committee in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature to arrange an oversight inspection to assess the state of the roads. 'Should the committee confirm that the roads were not upgraded. We will report the MEC to the GPL Ethics Committee for misleading the House that the road was upgraded.' At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Eyewitness News
12-06-2025
- Automotive
- Eyewitness News
R87m Sebokeng DLTC still incomplete ten years after starting construction
JOHANNESBURG - It's been ten years since the Gauteng government began constructing a Driving Licence Testing Centre (DLTC) in the Vaal, yet the project remains incomplete. Construction of the Sebokeng DLTC began in 2015, with its completion initially planned for the following year. A decade later, its construction is still not finished despite R87 million already spent, including costs for a private security company. What was once envisioned by the Gauteng government to be buzzing with learner drivers in 2025 now stands abandoned with no sign of life. Ceilings have collapsed on every floor, while the grass outside grows taller by the day. The construction of the Sebokeng DLTC was originally budgeted at R63 million, but the cost soared to over R80 million. The Democratic Alliance (DA)'s Kingsol Chabalala said it comes as no surprise that millions have been wasted. "The ANC [African National Congress] cannot govern. They cannot manage projects very well. They cannot complete projects on time and within budget." The reconstruction of the DLTC is expected to resume on Friday, marking ten years since it first began. ALSO READ: Gauteng govt to inject additional R138m to complete construction of Sebokeng DLTC
IOL News
04-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
The R13 million library in Orange Farm: A year of unfulfilled promises
The Drieziek Community Library has not seen opened its doors to the community since it was officially inaugurated by the Gauteng provincial government over a year ago. Image: Supplied A state-of-the-art R13 million public library in Drieziek, south of Johannesburg, opened by the Gauteng provincial government five days before the May 2024 national and provincial elections, remains unused. This emerged this week in correspondence sent by DA member of the Gauteng provincial legislature, Kingsol Chabalala, to the province's Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation MEC Matome Chiloane, demanding that the abandoned facility in Orange Farm be finally opened. Inside the Drieziek Community Library in Orange Farm. Image: Supplied Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Chabalala said construction of the library started in February 2014, with a total cost of over R13m. Chiloane's predecessor as Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation MEC, Morakane Mosupyoe, who is now the speaker of the Gauteng provincial legislature, on May 24, 2024, officially opened the library five days before last year's elections on May 29. The DA is demanding answers on why the Drieziek Community Library has still not opened a year later. Image: Supplied It was scheduled to open to the public on May 27 and offer lending services (print and online), reference service and research support, study space and support with access to dedicated study areas and programme implementation, including reading development programmes such as the Battle of the Books and the Story Skirmish starting from July last year. Other promised offerings included e-learning programmes such as digital skills and basic coding for children of all ages, children's services, including homework assistance, story hours, and holiday programmes, as well as photocopying services. The Drieziek library was also meant to fulfil various community-centred roles, such as a community centre, which would be a place for learning, socialising, meetings, business, research, and education for children. There would be an entertainment space offering fiction, audiobooks, and online resources for community enjoyment, an empowerment centre providing digital skills training, reading and learning skills, and assistance with online job applications. Other services were a knowledge and information centre supporting lifelong learning through various print and online resources, an education space encouraging quiet reading, learning and research, and community discussions. However, Chabalala complained that a year later, it remains inaccessible and unbeneficial to Orange Farm residents, while funds are wasted on security and maintenance. He said that when the provincial legislature's Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation conducted an unannounced oversight visit on May 21 this year, members found only a security guard present. 'The DA has tabled questions in the legislature to Chiloane, to determine why this facility is closed to the public and inquire about the amount spent on security and maintenance,' said Chabalala, adding that residents were frustrated because they must commute to nearby townships to access libraries while their own is gathering dust.
The Star
18-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
DA reports Emfuleni municipality to SAHRC over severe service delivery failures
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has taken a decisive step in the fight against government negligence by reporting the Emfuleni Local Municipality to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC). The party has formally requested the SAHRC to investigate the Municipality, citing persistent and severe service delivery failures. According to the DA, these ongoing issues have condemned residents to inhumane living conditions, stripping them of their constitutional rights to access water, proper sanitation, and a safe environment. The Star has been running a series of stories recently, highlighting the plight of Emfuleni residents. DA MPL Kingsol Chabalala expressed deep concern over the deteriorating living conditions in Emfuleni, citing ongoing sewer overflows that have polluted homes, roads, and even the Vaal River. He warned that the situation has created a public health and environmental crisis. "Residents have been subjected to raw sewage in their living spaces for years, and now they're also battling water shortages caused by crumbling infrastructure and unattended leaks," said Chabalala. Chabalala further highlighted that financial mismanagement has deepened Emfuleni's service delivery crisis. Despite the urgent need to repair failing sewer, water, and road infrastructure, the municipality returned R636 million from its Municipal Infrastructure Grant. In addition, it incurred a wasteful expenditure of R562 million on employee overtime, with no visible improvements in basic services. The Star revealed that between 2019 and 2024, Emfuleni Municipality poured a staggering R202.6 million into 71 contractors to fix its failing sewer infrastructure. Yet, despite this massive spending, the sewage crisis remains relentless, with virtually no accountability for the continued collapse, leaving communities exposed and suffering. In 2024, The Star also revealed a dire crisis as a sewer pipeline collapse poisoned water supplies, forcing desperate residents to boil their water for survival. This blatant neglect by the municipality has recklessly endangered public health, hitting hardest in already vulnerable communities like Sebokeng and Palm Springs. In his letter to the SAHRC, Chabalala underscores the severe water crisis residents endure, marked by frequent outages and dwindling pressure caused by unresolved leaks and failing infrastructure. Despite spending R65.25 million on water tankers in 2023 alone, countless communities remain without reliable water for weeks, compelling them to buy water or travel long distances just to meet their basic needs. Makhosonke Sangweni, Emfuleni Municipality Communications Manager, told The Star that while the municipality is unaware of the latest Human Rights Commission application, it is addressing a previous complaint. He said, 'Remedial action is being implemented in terms of Section 63 of the Water Act by a coordinated effort involving all spheres of government, led by the National Government.' He explained that the turnaround intervention programme, funded by the national government, has appointed Rand Water as the implementing agency to improve water and sanitation services, with a special focus on addressing sewer spillages and overall sanitation issues within the Emfuleni Local Municipality. Sangweni explained that Emfuleni's under-expenditure was a result of a directive from the Department of Cooperative Governance's MIG office during the 2019/2020 financial year, which ordered the municipality to prioritise sanitation-related projects. 'The decision came after the Human Rights Commission hearing into sewer pollution in the Vaal River,' he said. He added that at the time, Emfuleni had already allocated over R100 million to fully designed capital projects that were ready for construction. 'However, those projects were removed from the implementation plan by DCoG,' Sangweni stated. Sangweni reported that in the 2024/2025 financial year, the municipality received an allocation of R160 million, with 61% of that amount spent by the end of December 2024. He said this improved rate of expenditure is a positive sign, indicating potential progress in enhancing service delivery for local residents. During a recent ANC Gauteng Provincial Task Team Lekgotla held over two days at the Indaba Hotel in Johannesburg, Premier Panyaza Lesufi addressed the state of filth and decay affecting municipalities across the province, expressing deep concern over the deteriorating conditions. 'Comrades, our province and our municipalities are dirty, dirty, dirty. I attended the May rally in Sharpeville, Executive Mayor Sedibeng auwaaaaaaaaa banna (Nooooooooooo Man),' Lesufi said, in disgust. He issued a stern rebuke to ANC officials leading the Sedibeng District Municipality and Emfuleni Local Municipality, holding them accountable for the persistent service delivery failures and unacceptable living conditions in those areas. 'If we cannot get the basics right, we have no legitimate right to claim that our people should still have confidence in us. If we can not get the basics right, we are no longer representing our people; we are misleading them. If we can not get the basics right, then we are betraying the service delivery; (This) is deplorable,' Lesufi added. The DA has committed to closely monitoring the progress of the SAHRC investigation, expressing hope that it will lead to real, tangible change for the people of Emfuleni. The party maintains that residents cannot continue to endure the inhumane conditions they currently face and deserve urgent intervention and relief. The Star [email protected]
IOL News
18-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
DA reports Emfuleni municipality to SAHRC over severe service delivery failures
The Democratic Alliance has reported the Emfuleni Local Municipality to the South African Human Rights Commission due to service delivery failures, directly impacting residents' health and well-being. The Democratic Alliance (DA) has taken a decisive step in the fight against government negligence by reporting the Emfuleni Local Municipality to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC). The party has formally requested the SAHRC to investigate the Municipality, citing persistent and severe service delivery failures. According to the DA, these ongoing issues have condemned residents to inhumane living conditions, stripping them of their constitutional rights to access water, proper sanitation, and a safe environment. The Star has been running a series of stories recently, highlighting the plight of Emfuleni residents. DA MPL Kingsol Chabalala expressed deep concern over the deteriorating living conditions in Emfuleni, citing ongoing sewer overflows that have polluted homes, roads, and even the Vaal River. He warned that the situation has created a public health and environmental crisis. "Residents have been subjected to raw sewage in their living spaces for years, and now they're also battling water shortages caused by crumbling infrastructure and unattended leaks," said Chabalala. Chabalala further highlighted that financial mismanagement has deepened Emfuleni's service delivery crisis. Despite the urgent need to repair failing sewer, water, and road infrastructure, the municipality returned R636 million from its Municipal Infrastructure Grant. In addition, it incurred a wasteful expenditure of R562 million on employee overtime, with no visible improvements in basic services. The Star revealed that between 2019 and 2024, Emfuleni Municipality poured a staggering R202.6 million into 71 contractors to fix its failing sewer infrastructure. Yet, despite this massive spending, the sewage crisis remains relentless, with virtually no accountability for the continued collapse, leaving communities exposed and suffering. In 2024, The Star also revealed a dire crisis as a sewer pipeline collapse poisoned water supplies, forcing desperate residents to boil their water for survival. This blatant neglect by the municipality has recklessly endangered public health, hitting hardest in already vulnerable communities like Sebokeng and Palm Springs. In his letter to the SAHRC, Chabalala underscores the severe water crisis residents endure, marked by frequent outages and dwindling pressure caused by unresolved leaks and failing infrastructure. Despite spending R65.25 million on water tankers in 2023 alone, countless communities remain without reliable water for weeks, compelling them to buy water or travel long distances just to meet their basic needs. Makhosonke Sangweni, Emfuleni Municipality Communications Manager, told The Star that while the municipality is unaware of the latest Human Rights Commission application, it is addressing a previous complaint. He said, 'Remedial action is being implemented in terms of Section 63 of the Water Act by a coordinated effort involving all spheres of government, led by the National Government.' He explained that the turnaround intervention programme, funded by the national government, has appointed Rand Water as the implementing agency to improve water and sanitation services, with a special focus on addressing sewer spillages and overall sanitation issues within the Emfuleni Local Municipality. Sangweni explained that Emfuleni's under-expenditure was a result of a directive from the Department of Cooperative Governance's MIG office during the 2019/2020 financial year, which ordered the municipality to prioritise sanitation-related projects. 'The decision came after the Human Rights Commission hearing into sewer pollution in the Vaal River,' he said. He added that at the time, Emfuleni had already allocated over R100 million to fully designed capital projects that were ready for construction. 'However, those projects were removed from the implementation plan by DCoG,' Sangweni stated.
