The City of Ekurhuleni has started a procurement process to revamp the Benoni Plaza.
This is according to metro spokesperson Zweli Dlamini who said they are procuring services to repair broken doors and windows and once the procurement process is finished, the work will start.
The Benoni City Times received a complaint from a concerned resident about water running from the plaza into Prince’s Avenue “for several months”.
Dlamini explained that a drainage pump is defective, which led to the pools of water.
“The pump that drains the water is defective, hence the accumulation of water. The said water was drained on January 25,” he said.
Locals referred to Benoni Plaza in its heyday as the gem of the town and it was a place families could go to for an outing. Unfortunately, this place Benonians prided themselves in has been left to rot.
Daveyton resident Rebecca Ndala remembers the plaza as clean, popular and lively.
“It was a place where you could go with your family, especially at month-end, where we had flea market stalls. People took wedding photos here, including my sister. It was a safe place to go to unwind,” she said.
When the City Times visited the facility recently, we found the area quiet with a couple of children playing football in the open area that used to host the flea market.
A passerby pointed out that it has been peaceful since the homeless and vagrants who occupied the area were removed by taxi drivers last year.
However, burnt debris, needles, blankets and old clothes are still scattered around the area leading to the south entrance of the facility.
Inside the plaza, besides the damaged doors and windows, the escalator is broken and the floor here was engulfed in water before it was drained by the municipality.
“The homeless people are no longer there. The city will soon clean the surrounding areas,” Dlamini added.
To curb the illegal occupation of the facility, which allows further deterioration and possible vandalism, Dlamini said they’ve received a bid to lease the facility.
“The city received an unsolicited bid. A public participation meeting in that regard was held at the Benoni council chamber. Comments from the national and provincial treasuries have been drafted and are receiving attention from the city’s signatories,” he said.
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