Women’s Heritage Monument still not open after being completed several years ago
Last year, the department said the site would open in August 2022, despite operational challenges at the facility.
The Women’s Living Heritage Monument remains unopened after a recent oversight found the building still has various structural issues.
The DA conducted an oversight inspection at the monument last week and said the situation remains the same as when it visited the facility last year.
“The toilets and the roof are leaking, the walls have cracks, and the courtyard is full of weeds. Instead of fixing the shoddy work, the Gauteng Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation (SACR) has installed a new art incubator, which remains empty,” said DA Gauteng SACR spokesperson Wildri Peach.
Last year, the department said the site would open in August 2022, despite operational challenges at the facility.
These included non-functional fire hydrants, unfinished floors, roof leaks, non-operational lifts, improper fire exits, and no access for people with disabilities.
Peach said the monument was completed in the 2019/2020 financial year, but never received an occupancy certificate. He added that the delay in handing it over to the metro was due to the structural deficiency of the building, leaks, faulty fire suppression systems and more.
“Little has been done to open the facility for public use.
“We also want to know what the department has done or will be doing to ensure the contractor fixes the shoddy work.
“This monument has a huge potential to attract tourists and bring local and international investment, creating job opportunities for unemployed Tshwane residents.”
Records show the department had spent over R300-million on the monument last year. Figures reflecting what has been spent since were not made available during the oversight.
The department had yet to provide comment by the time of publication.
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