Big dreams for derelict building
A Daveyton resident is planning to breathe new life into a vandalised and dilapidated building on Liverpool Road, Benoni South.
Dennis Molefe has taken it upon himself to turn the building into an artisan school.
“The department of infrastructure development has permitted me to utilise the building until 2020,” Molefe said.
“If I am able to collect enough money to open the school by then, they will lease the building to me for a 99-year period.”
Molefe said he has been trying to lease the building since 2011.
In 2015, he received a letter from the department permitting the lease if his five-year probation course results in a success.
“I will approach several departments to help me to drive projects in order to raise funds,” he said.
This building was erected in 1927, with the Department of Commerce occupying it in 1928.
The aim of the building was to have well-equipped workshops and educators to provide several courses, such as carpentry and plumbing.
Around the 1960s, it was evident that the Benoni Technical College for Higher Education was too small, so the Department of Education approved extensions costing R85 000 to build an assembly hall, a gymnasium, two laboratories, four classrooms and cloakrooms.
Through the years, the building was also used as a South African Police Mechanical School and Hoërskool Hans Moore.
It was even considered, at one stage, to use it as a cultural instead of an education centre.
Hoërskool Hans Moore principal Ertjies Hattingh said the name of the building changed to Hans Moore in 1984, but the school relocated to its current location, in Northmead, in the same year.
When the building became vacant, vagrants occupied it.
The City Times spoke to two vagrants who have been living in the building for three to four years, and they now work with Molefe.
“When I received permission to utilise the building and I realised people were living here, I decided to help them by improving their skills,” Molefe said.
“There are about 47 people who live in this building right now.”
Molefe is improving the skills of the vagrants by teaching them about organic and chicken farming.
“I have been living here for three years,” said Timothy Manana.
“There were about 20 other people who were already living in the building when I moved in.”
The building does not have electricity at the moment, but it does have running water, a hired portable toilet and food can be cooked on an open fire.
“Currently both men and women live in this building,” Molefe added.
Molefe is pleading with the community to help him raise funds through various projects, in order to open an artisan school by 2020, so that he can help more people by enhancing their skills.
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