POLOKWANE – The DA is deeply concerned over the Polokwane Municipality’s failure to take action against officials responsible for paying more than R1,2 million for a failed car wash project abandoned in 2011.
In 2008 the municipality allocated R500 000 for the construction of the car wash facility, but ended up paying R1,2 million to the consulting engineer and the service provider, who vanished without completing the facility. The facility was supposed to be a job creation project. At the time, independent car washers were using municipal water illegally to wash cars on the streets and parking areas of the central business district. The idea was that the car washers would form a cooperative and be able to earn their money in a structured way, it was said during several council meetings at the time.
The car wash would have consisted of a steel structure corrugated iron shelter, storage facility, water storage tank, recycling plant, wash bays, and paved areas as well as palisade fencing, but the service provider allegedly used low quality materials and vanished.
According to DA councillor Vuledzanie Mashie the poorly-built facility, situated on the corner of Thabo Mbeki and Dahl Street has been turned into a playground for prostitution and gambling. “The palisade fence and other items have been vandalised and apparently the municipality wants to outsource the facility,” Mashie said, adding that the facility had never been opened officially. He said equipment such as protective clothing had also been purchased, but were nowhere to be found.
He said the DA had already requested the Public Protector to probe the matter.
“Our main concern is that the municipality plans to pump more money into an already failed project,” Mashie said.
“The DA wants the municipality to initiate plans on how to recoup the taxpayers’ money from the service provider and ensure that the facility is completed and opened officially for public use.”
Municipal spokesperson, Tidimalo Chuene, said the municipality was busy with investigations in the matter and would comment at a later stage.
