TAFTA carries the costs as city delays approval
A shortfall in funds has hampered the completion of TAFTA's new residential building.
LENGTHY delays onthe part of eThekwini Municipality in approving building plans for TAFTA’s proposed new residential blick, Langeler Towers, has forced the association to embark on another round of fundraising initiatives to cover the escalation costs that have mounted while it waited for building plans to be approved.
According to CEO, Margie Smith, the anticipation and excitement over Langeler Towers has been dampened by the long delay in approving the building plans. Despite the best efforts of the project manager, countless professional people and concerned citizens to bring this to finality timeously, TAFTA is now looking at a R35 520 669 escalation in costs.
“When we held our sod-turning ceremony for Langeler Towers in March last year and our fundraising target was almost in reach, I thought it would be downhill after that. How wrong could I be? I found that there was another mountain to climb! You can imagine my anxiety waiting for eThekwini Development Planning and Management to approve the plans and seeing the weeks and months slipping by. I had sleepless nights wondering when approval would eventually be granted and worrying about the escalation costs. The bottom line is we must again step up our fundraising activities. It’s a big blow but has hardened our resolve to make it happen. The good news is the contractors are now hard at work, the piling is done and the foundations almost complete,” said Margie.
As it stands, TAFTA has to raise the extra money to cover the building contract and renovate and furnish John Conradie House.
“I know this is possible and when I feel down, I think back to the original motivation and see just how important this project is to TAFTA and the next few generations of senior citizens. Then I am encouraged to carry on knowing that we will succeed and put the roof on in about 20 months time. I also think about the thousands of people who have shared my vision. As I set out to find the extra funds, I will keep before me the wisewords of Nelson Mandela – ‘It always seems impossible, until it is done’, and I will remember how much we have achieved,” she said.
Anyone able to help support TAFTA in this fundraising initiative, can contact 031 332 3721 or email ateesha@tafta.org.za
