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DA welcomes the SAHRC’s probe into Evaton residents’ use of pit toilets

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng welcomes the South African Human Rights Commission’s (SAHRC) investigation into the unsanitary and inhumane use of pit toilets by Evaton residents in Emfuleni.

For the past 29 years, the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) has failed to eradicate pit toilets in Evaton and to provide dignified housing and access to reliable water and electricity supplies for Evaton residents.

Today, the DA conducted an oversight inspection with the SAHRC in Evaton, and we were shocked to discover that six households are sharing one pit toilet.

See the photos here, here, here, and here.

This is appalling, unhygienic, and poses a danger to children, women, and the community.

Furthermore, most of the community members who are eligible to vote do not have identity documents, and their children do not have birth certificates.

This is because they cannot afford to commute to Home Affairs offices to apply for identity documents and birth certificates.

The DA will write to the following Gauteng MECs for Human Settlements, Social Development, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) and the Minister for Home Affairs to seek assistance with the issues faced by these residents.

These residents continue to suffer due to the failed Evaton Renewal Project.

The DA demands that the Gauteng MEC for Human Settlements, Lebogang Maile, urgently launch a forensic audit into the failed Evaton Renewal Project to establish what happened to the millions allocated to the project.

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DA to assess the incomplete and abandoned Evaton Renewal Project in Emfuleni

Today, Monday, 12 June 2023, the Democratic Alliance (DA) Gauteng Shadow MEC for Human Settlements, Meryn Cirota MPL, the DA Gauteng Spokesperson for Human Settlements, Evert Du Plessis MPL and the DA Constituency Head for Emfuleni North, Kingsol Chabalala MPL, will conduct oversight inspections in Evaton Renewal Project in Emfuleni Local Municipality.

The purpose of the oversight inspection is to assess the progress of the Evaton Renewal Project in terms of eradicating pit toilets and building RDP houses and roads.

The Evaton Renewal Project was implemented in 2004 and meant to improve the living conditions of Evaton residents is still incomplete and abandoned.

The DA will visit the area and engage with residents to establish if there is any progress on Evaton Renewal Project and access to quality services.

The DA will assess the work done and establish workable solutions to ensure incomplete and abandoned projects are completed.

Members of the media are invited, and there will be an opportunity for interviews and photographs.

Details of the oversight inspections are as follows:
Date: 12 June 2023

Oversight inspection one

Location: 962 Miller Road 962 Miller road Evaton, Evaton, Vereeniging, 1984
Time: 10:00-10:20

Oversight inspection two:

Location: Evaton RDP house, Buffalo Road,
Time: 10:40-11:05

Oversight inspection three:

Location: Evaton Road
Time: 11:15 to 11:30

Oversight inspection four:

Location: Muthi House, Muthi House Taxi Rank, Adams Rd, Evaton Central, Evaton, 1985.
Time: 11:40 -12:00

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DA calls on MEC Maile to institute an investigation into the Evaton Renewal Project

The Democratic Alliance (DA) is calling on Gauteng MEC for COGTA and Human Settlements, Lebogang Maile to institute an investigation into the failed Evaton Renewal Project (ERP).

The ERP was initiated in 2004 and was scheduled to be completed in 2014 at a budget of R100 275 304,57.

The project was meant to uplift and improve the lives of previously disadvantaged Evaton residents by developing roads, improving sanitation, delivering housing and creating an environment conducive for the local economy to grow.

However, there is nothing to show for all the money spent on this project thus far.

Evaton still remains one of Gauteng’s most neglected townships. There is no service delivery, residents are still using pit toilets, and the infrastructure is poor with gravel roads and potholes.

According to the Auditor General’s report findings, R708 474 966.00 had been spent on the Evaton Renewal Project by the end of 2014/15 financial year.

Yet the former MEC for COGTA and Human Settlements, Paul Mashatile stated that the cost of the Evaton Renewal Project (ERP) was R470 million.

While his successor MEC Uhuru Moiloa revealed that R206 842 207 has been spent on this project thus far.

These figures are contradictory to the report published by the Auditor General in 2016.

The Evaton residents have the right to know what happened to their money.

The DA will write to MEC Maile to request that an investigation be conducted to determine the exact amount of money spent to date on the ERP. Those who are found to be implicated in the misappropriation of funds and who benefitted illegally must face the full might of the law.

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Evaton Renewal Project: MEC Mashatile in violation of PAIA Act

The DA has written to Gauteng Cooperative Governance and Human Settlements MEC, Paul Mashatile to request that he expedite the process of obtaining documents on the Evaton Renewal Project.

The DA’s request for information was submitted through a Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) application to obtain documentation, contracts and tenders awarded on the project earlier this year on the 27th of February and subsequently followed up.

This request has to date not been answered and the department is in violation of Section 25(1) of the PAIA Act.

Thirteen years on, at a cost of R700 million, the Evaton Renewal Project has achieved very little.

The MEC’s refusal to release the documents to the DA begs the question as to whether or not he has something to hide.

Evaton is one of the province’s most neglected townships and the residents deserve better. Initiated in 2004, the renewal project was intended to uplift and improve the lives of Evaton residents by developing roads, increasing sanitation, delivering housing and creating an environment conducive for the local economy to grow.

The DA will continue to pursue access to all documents relating to projects within the Evaton Renewal Project. Corrupt officials, contractors and politicians must be held accountable.

Gauteng residents deserve to know how their money has been spent over the past thirteen years and who benefited at the cost of the poor.

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DA Submits PAIA To Obtain Evaton Renewal Project’s Documents

Promotion of Access to Information Act

The DA has today submitted a Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) application to obtain the Evaton Renewal Project documents.

This comes as Gauteng Cooperative Governance and Human Settlements MEC, Paul Mashatile, refused to respond to a letter from the DA requesting all documentation on projects rolled out through the Evaton Renewal Project (ERP) since its inception in 2004.

Thirteen years on, at a cost of R700 million, this project has achieved very little.

The MECs refusal to release the documents to the DA begs the question on whether or not he has something to hide. Evaton remains one of the provinces most neglected townships and residents deserve better.

Evaton remains one of the provinces most neglected townships and residents deserve better.

The DA will continue to pursue access to all documents relating to projects to the ERP. Gauteng residents deserve to know how their money has been spent over the past thirteen years.

Media Enquiries
 
 
 
Kingsol Chabalala MPL
DA Gauteng Constituency Head – Emfuleni North
060 558 8299
 
Yaseen Carelse
Social Development Cluster Manager
076 721 8613
 
 
 
Image source
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Evaton Renewal Project’s R40million Missing Contracts

Performance audit of the effectiveness of the urban renewal programmes in Gauteng

The Auditor General’s latest report on the “Performance audit of the effectiveness of the urban renewal programmes in Gauteng” reveals a loss of R40 million in contracts gone missing on the Evaton Renewal Project (ERP).

 No physical verification of work completed amounting to this R40 million could be audited. The A-G noted that completion dates for projects could not be determined due to a lack of information.

According to the Department of Human Settlements, these contracts and documents were misplaced.

Further to this, the A-G revealed that the contractors working on the ERP did not have the appropriate minimum grading assigned by the Construction Industry Development Board.

ANC Crippling Evaton

Despite the grading, contractors should not have been considered to bid nor be awarded the tenders for this project.

As information on the ERP further unfolds, the DA will make these revelations known in order to inform the residents of Evaton of how the ANC is crippling their community.

The DA will request the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, Mbongeni Radebe, to table the A-G’s report to hold public officials accountable.

This project was purported to uplift and improve the lives of Evaton residents, yet it is becoming more apparent that this project was specifically designed to enrich a few at the expense of those left behind by this administration.

 

 

Media enquiries:

Kingsol Chabalala MPL

DA Gauteng Constituency Head – Emfuleni

060 558 8299

[Image source]

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A-G Report Reveals R700million Spent On Evaton Renewal Project

Evaton Renewal Project

Gauteng MEC for Human Settlements, Paul Mashatile, has misled Members of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL) by claiming the cost of the Evaton Renewal Project (ERP) was R470 million when the actual figure is just over R700 million.

According to the Auditor General’s report “Performance audit of the effectiveness of the urban renewal programmes in Gauteng” the project cost for the ERP stood at R708 474 966.

Initiated in 2004, the project was intended to uplift and improve the lives of Evaton residents by developing roads, increasing sanitation, delivering housing and creating an environment conducive for the local economy to grow.

Legislature Integrity Commissioner

Furthermore, the A-G reported that the progress on the ERP was “not substantial” and the projects completed were “small and less impactful”.

Currently, residents of Evaton are making use of pit-toilets, houses have not been built as planned and roads and storm water drainage are poorly built and maintained.

The DA will report MEC Mashatile to the Legislature Integrity Commissioner to have his utterances in misleading the Legislature and the public investigated in terms of Section 280 (2) (c) of the Standing Rules of the GPL.

Despite the funds that have been poured into this project, Evaton still remains one of Gauteng’s most neglected townships.

 

 

Media enquiries:

Kingsol Chabalala MPL

DA Gauteng Constituency Head – Emfuleni

060 558 8299

[Image source]

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Mashatile, Where Are The Evaton Renewal Project Documents?

Evaton Renewal Project

Gauteng Cooperative Governance and Human Settlements MEC, Paul Mashatile, has refused to respond to a letter from the DA requesting all documentation on projects rolled out through the Evaton Renewal Project (ERP) since its inception in 2004.

This letter was sent to the MEC more than 60 days ago.

Thirteen years on, at a cost of R470 million, this project has achieved very little.

The MECs silence on the project, which is intended to improve the lives of residents living in one of Gauteng’s oldest townships, is most disheartening.

PAIA

Evaton remains one of provinces most neglected townships and residents deserve better.

The DA will continue to pursue access to all documents relating to projects to the ERP, and if need be, we will not hesitate to submit a Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) request.

What does MEC Mashatile have to hide? It is high time he made the documents public, so that the people of Gauteng can know how their money has been spent.

 

 

Media enquiries:

Kingsol Chabalala MPL

DA Gauteng Constituency Head – Emfuleni

060 558 8299

[Image source]

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MEC Mashatile Must Release Documents On The Evaton Renewal Project

Evaton Renewal Project

The DA will write to Gauteng Cooperative Governance and Human Settlements MEC, Paul Mashatile, to request all documentation on projects rolled out through the Evaton Renewal Project since its inception in 2004.

12 years and R470 million later, the renewal project has achieved very little.

The initial intention of this project, to improve the township of Evaton, was commendable, however the execution and implementation over the past 12 years has been horrific.

Abused Public Funds

Despite the funds that have been poured into this project, Evaton still remains one of Gauteng’s most neglected townships.

MEC Mashatile must release all documentation and information on this project for the sake of transparency and accountability. Residents of Evaton have on numerous occasions requested the DA to investigate.

We will not stand idle whilst public funds are abused and no one is held to account.

 

Media enquiries:

Kingsol Chabalala MPL

DA Gauteng Constituency Head – Emfuleni

060 558 8299