The Democratic Alliance (DA) conducted an inspection at the Toekomsrus Multipurpose Centre on Monday, 4 June, following allegations of mismanagement of funds.
In a statement released by the Member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL) and DA Shadow Member of the Executive Committee (MEC) for Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Kingsol Chabalala, it is claimed that during the 2010/ 2011 financial year, the Rand West City Local Municipality (RWCLM) received an amount of R10 185 000 for construction of the Toekomsrus Sports Complex.
The statement continued, stating that, “After specifications were drawn up for the project, it was estimated that an amount of R68 000 000 would be needed. Because the municipality could not afford the entire amount it was decided that the project would be completed in phases.”
Read the initial article here: #MunicipalMonday: Funds for sports complex but not infrastructure
“The legislature became aware of this project and felt that an oversight inspection was needed, so that we could see for ourselves what was going on, as part of our responsibility to hold the government accountable. When we got here, we saw the mess that has been left by the contractors. It’s a demonstration of the lack of political will”, Chabalala said.
He said that the contractors who were handling the project lacked the capacity and the skill to deliver the much-needed project for the community.
“The contractors employed their friends, who did shoddy work, and later replaced them with even more incompetent companies,” Chabalala said.
Jacques Julius, the DA Member of the National Council of Provinces (MNCOP), said no one knew about the contractor as its appointment did not go through the right channels.
“We have just been told that a new contractor started here on 10 May. We feel that this was done clandestinely, because neither the ward councillor nor the community were involved in the project. People are being given jobs here and we do not know who they are”, he said.
In February 2017, the DA Proportional Representation (PR) Councillor for Toekomsrus, Paul Francis, told the Herald he was baffled at how a sports complex could be deemed more important than infrastructure. He found it unacceptable that funds were being used for a sports complex which seems unlikely to ever be completed while residents of Toekomsrus have infrastructure problems.
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