Leon Nel from Rainbow Line Dancers is one of the frustrated residents who has been using the Blairgowrie Recreation Centre for the past eight years.
He said the delay in the completion of upgrades to the facility has been very frustrating. “For the past nine months now, we have had no home – is this hall not supposed to be for the community?” he asked.
He said they are a small business working from the centre, wanting to earn a living. “What do we have to do to get back into the hall?”
Another resident, Sharon Smith, who does her yoga at the centre, said she was very disappointed with the delays. “It is all locked up. I am furious. This here is not acceptable.”
Ward 102 councillor David Potter said the much-needed repairs and maintenance started at the centre at the end of July last year. “The construction has taken an age and caused much frustration to the users of the centre.”Potter explained that as the project continued to be on a ‘go-slow’, his office requested an urgent oversight visit with the Member of the Mayoral Committee of Community Development, Ronald Winston Harris, the community development officials, as well as the Joburg Development Agency (a City entity responsible for the repairs and maintenance).
“This site visit took place on February 22 to a scurry of construction workers on the site on the day. The work since seemingly slowed down. My office has requested an update from the City department on numerous occasions, and have yet to receive it,” Potter added.
He said it was promised that the repairs and maintenance would be complete by the end of March this year and a further follow-up has been sent to the City.
“I trust that all the repairs needed, including repairs to the central air-conditioning, roofing and flooring, will be completed and the centre opens soonest. At the site visit on February 22, the centre was starting to look better with new tiling and painting work which included repairs to leaks.”
He indicated that his office received formal notice on April 1 that the current contractor’s contract has been terminated. “The work completion date of end-March has thus not been delivered upon by the City contractor.”
Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) indicated the delays were caused by the challenges as the contractor was failing to perform duties and obligations stipulated in their contract. Initially, the agency said the contractor was facing challenges and as JDA, they have asked the contractor to unpack their challenges to the JDA team. “Yes, we do communicate through community leaders in Blairgowrie. We understand the frustrations and are working hard to resolve [the issues] and fast-track the project,” it said.
Asked if the agency terminated the contract of the contractor who was working at the centre, it said it couldn’t confirm ‘until this process has been finalised and completed’.
It said upon completion of the process, they will have a revised update for the appointment of a new contractor should that be the case and revised timelines for upgrades.
