The DA in the metro has strongly condemned the state of the metro’s derelict buildings.
“The core lifeline in rejuvenating our urban cities (urban renewal) is handicapped by the lack of maintenance and planning and has, therefore, left many of the metro’s real estate buildings in a shocking state of disrepair,” said DA councillor Chris Swanepoel.
It is reported that the metro’s real estate is valued at R12.8-billion.
“Under the ANC’s watch the officials neglected repair of buildings such as libraries, clinics and older town halls to a level where they are not usable,” said Swanepoel.
He went on to explain how simple items, such as door locks, carpets, leaking toilets and broken ceiling panels in these specialised buildings have not been maintained, while microphones and recording equipment are barely functioning.
The DA feel the mayor barely discussed maintenance of metro assets in his State of the City Address on March 25.
“The worrying fact is that new, envisaged projects, such as the Khutsong Religious Precinct Project, the 250 rental housing units to be built in Delville and the new theatre and fire station in Germiston are said to be worth millions of rand and will most likely suffer the same fate because of poor or no maintenance,” Swanepoel added.
“DA councillor Tracy Butler spoke about the flagship aerotropolis as a ”Trashrotropolis”, as the derelict buildings go hand-in-hand with the filth, solid waste, sewage spillage and refuse lying around and rodents in our CBD area.”
During the State of the City Address the mayor announced the appointment of cleaners to work night shifts to clean up CBD’s – thus doubling the work force.
The DA, as well as other parties, questioned the cost of such a work force and asked who would supervise the night shift?
With the DA commenting that the present day shift is poorly managed as it is.
The mayor is yet to comment on these concerns.
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Mayor highlights metro’s progress in his State of the City Address.
