The Democratic Alliance (DA) is shocked to learn that the funding that is still required to complete the Palm Springs Multi-purpose centre has tripled to R126 168 959,78 compared to the initial budget of R44 129 510,28.
This was revealed by the Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Lebogang Maile in a written reply to the DA’s questions tabled in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature.
According to MEC Maile, phase one of the project has been completed which includes; construction of different layers of earth materials and installation of stormwater drainage systems. Phase one of this project cost R24 199 592,22 which is more than half of the total cost of the project.
The DA visited the site and discovered that there is no construction that has been done, the site is just an empty piece of ground, yet millions have been spent on this project.
Initially, the project was expected to be completed on 15 June 2018, however, there is no timeline as to when the construction of the project will commence and when it will be completed. The Emfuleni Local Municipality is facing a serious funding shortfall and the project will be funded through Municipal Infrastructure Grant and only after COGTA has approved the funding.
Unnecessary delays in the completion of this project have resulted in sky-rocketing costs that taxpayers are expected to cover.
The amount of R82 039 449,5 that has accumulated could have been used to build two multi-purpose centres for townships in Emfuleni such as Evaton and Bophelong that do not have sporting facilities.
This is unacceptable and its high time that the ANC-led Gauteng government and their municipalities start using taxpayer’s money wisely.
The DA will continue to put pressure on MEC Maile to ensure that this centre is completed, without accruing further costs.