DA reports MEC to Public Protector for white elephant monument
DA Member of the Provincial Legislature, Leanne de Jager, has expressed concerns over the lack of progress in opening the Women’s Living Monument in the Pretoria CBD. She highlighted that despite multiple oversight attempts, access to the site has been restricted, and the reasons for the delays remain unclear.
The DA has reported Gauteng MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture, and Recreation Matome Chiloane to the Public Protector (PP) over the prolonged closure of the Women’s Living Heritage Monument in Pretoria.
Despite its completion at a cost of R280-million, the monument remains inaccessible to the public, incurring annual maintenance expenses of R12-million.
Situated in the heart of Tshwane, adjacent to the State Theatre and Church Square, the monument occupies a prime location for tourism.
It was inaugurated on Women’s Day in 2016 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the 1956 march of 20 000 women to the Union Buildings.
The facility houses four bronze statues honouring Lilian Ngoyi, Sophia Williams-de Bruyn, Helen Joseph, and Rahima Moosa, and is intended to serve as a cultural and educational hub.
However, the monument has remained closed to the public due to unresolved structural issues, including non-compliant fire safety systems, roof leaks, and plumbing deficiencies.
The metro has withheld an occupancy certificate, citing safety concerns.
Despite these challenges, the provincial department continues to allocate funds for maintenance, with R5.6-million spent in the 2023/24 financial year alone.
Leanne de Jager, DA member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL), expressed her party’’ concerns over the situation.
“Despite repeated inquiries, the MEC has failed to provide satisfactory explanations for the delays,” she stated. “The DA has been denied access to the site during oversight visits, citing safety protocols, even when no construction activity was evident.”
De Jager further noted that during a recent inspection late in May, she observed staff members inside the building and wanted to make enquiries.
“A security guard approached me, and upon inquiry, I was informed that updated building plans were being prepared for an engineering inspection, after which the plans would be submitted to building inspectors for an occupancy certificate,” she explained.
She called for a comprehensive audit of the monument’s status and a detailed plan to address the outstanding issues.
“The monument stands as a testament to the contributions of women in our history,” said De Jager. “It is imperative that the provincial government takes immediate action to ensure that this facility becomes operational, serving both as a cultural landmark and a catalyst for local economic development.”
The PP has acknowledged receipt of the complaint and is expected to investigate the matter, with the DA urging for transparency and accountability in the handling of public heritage projects.
The Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture, and Recreation, has been approached for comment but none has been received at time of publication.
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