Although the building was set alight by service delivery protesters in May, the necessary services were still rendered from the premises.
The toilets that were damaged in the fire were fixed, as was the office of Peter Pelele, the site project manager.
“My office is a container, but it is operational and that is all that counts,” he says.
He adds that they have to renew the lease with the Ekurhuleni Metro and that it is only after the lease has been renewed that the construction can commence.
“We applied for the renewal of the lease in 2015,” he Pelele adds.
As soon as they receive the new lease, they will plan for the rebuilding of the centre.
Pelele explains that the main purpose of the centre is to render integrated services to the community.
People from the Department of Social Development visit the centre every Tuesday and Thursday, from 9am to noon, and the Springs and KwaThema branches of Child Welfare are there on Wednesdays, from 9am to 1pm.
Pelele says they call Home Affairs and the South African Social Security Agency (Sassa) when there is need, and the two departments then send out members to assist the community.
There is also visible policing every day.
“There is a definite need in the community, therefore it is vital that the rebuild of the centre is done,” he concludes.
