Mayoral mansion in a derelict state
Mogale City's Mayoral Mansion was meant to be used as a GBV safe haven for victims has reportedly been severely neglected.
In December 2022, the Democratic Alliance along with the former executive mayor of Mogale City, Tyrone Gray, wanted to convert the dilapidated mayoral mansion, Dan Tloome House, into a gender-based violence safe haven and upliftment centre for victims.
However, the centre is reportedly decrypt and in a desolate state due to Mogale City Local Municipality (MCLM) allegedly neglecting it.
The house was named after a stalwart of the liberation struggle and opened officially by the former president of Zambia and the recipient of an Ubuntu Award, Kenneth Kaunda.
The mansion was at the centre of controversy recently when allegations were made by the DA on social media that members of the previous ANC-led municipal administration had been using the mansion for personal use; inviting family and friends over to visit.
Gray’s decision to convert it at the time was considered an act of service since, according to the South African Local Government Association Mayoral Handbook, a mayor or executive mayor may receive residential privileges and benefits arising from their duties. This means that furnished official mayoral state residences may be provided to mayors within the jurisdiction of their municipalities.
The handbook also states that the municipality is responsible for the maintenance of the residence by cleaning, maintenance and garden service of these residences.
“Mayors are allowed to negotiate on a one-to-one basis with the officials allocated to the residence to render additional normal domestic services such as laundry and child care at a price to be agreed upon. A security clearance is necessary for all employees on a mayoral estate. The occupier concerned should obtain such clearance in consultation with the local police. A housing allowance will be paid to mayors irrespective of whether they use a mayoral residence offered to them or not, provided that where a municipality makes certain additional items available for the private residence, such items will remain the property of the municipality,” the handbook states.
Photos have now surfaced of the poor conditions and bad state of the mayoral mansion. The photos show very much of the infrastructure destroyed, curtain rails falling apart and most of the facilities ruined.
The Krugersdorp News made contact with MCLM to gain access to the residence and to confirm if the home is in poor condition. No access was granted, however, MCLM mayoral spokesperson Nkosana Zali confirmed that the mansion is indeed in a bad state and the municipality would be working to fix the structure.
“It is not in a state we are proud of. We are working with the Gauteng Provincial Government and local luminaries of our freedom struggle to turn the home into a heritage asset to be included in the Mogale Liberation Route that is currently under development,” Zali said.
“We believe that resources mobilised through this venture will go a long way in augmenting the maintenance kitty that the municipality deploys to this public amenity. The Office of the Executive Mayor will keep the public up to date as each milestone of our grand plan for the facility is achieved.”
