Benoni City Hall remains closed
It is not clear when the 79-year-old Benoni City Hall will reopen its doors to the public.
The hall, which is situated in the Benoni CBD, has not been operational since 2014, and will remain non-operational until further notice.
“I am not happy with the progress,” said ward 73 ANC Clr Samuel Ngobese.
The Real Estate division within the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM) is tasked to maintain council property.
“We were told in August 2014 the hall would take 14 months to be repaired,” Ngobese said.
However, he is not sure why the time frame was not adhered to.
“But I will find out because this hall is used for various community functions and needs to be operational,” he said.
Ngobese said a report was released in 2012 stating the hall’s roof and walls, among other issues, needed to be repaired.
On Wednesday (April 13), Ngobese said the municipality told him they are still in the process of appointing a contractor for the job.
“However, the construction will only start after July, because of the budget speech,” Ngobese said.
In 2014 Ngobese told City Times that approval needs to come from Heritage Association of South Africa (HASA).
“It must be noted that the Benoni City Hall is a place that needs the approval of HASA,” said Ngobese in 2014.
He repeated and explained the same statement to the City Times on Friday (April 15).
“Although the building is not a heritage site,” he said.
“Any renovations concerning the building needs to be approved by HASA.”
However, the City Hall not being operational is still affecting those who once used it.
Vivian McDonald, who is the spokesperson for the Startime Players amateur drama society, said producing shows now is more difficult.
“We have approached many schools and halls,” she said.
“The All Souls Anglican Church was generous enough to let us use their building,
“But space is still limited.”
Ngobese, who used the City Hall on occasion himself, said he now holds meetings at the Benoni Chamber of Commerce Industries, Benoni Library and the Actonville Community Centre.
The EMM could not be reached for comment at the time of publication.
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