Latest news with #MasabataMkwananzi
The Star
26-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
ActionSA calls for urgent intervention in Emfuleni municipality crisis
Masabata Mkwananzi | Published 4 hours ago ActionSA has ramped up pressure on Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi and Finance MEC Jacob Mamabolo, demanding that Emfuleni Local Municipality be placed under mandatory administration. The party said years of financial mismanagement, collapsing infrastructure, and failed service delivery have pushed the municipality beyond the point of recovery without urgent national intervention. "It is now imperative that the Gauteng Provincial Government invoke Section 139(5) of the Constitution and place Emfuleni Local Municipality under mandatory administration, with the full oversight of National Treasury." ActionSA Gauteng provincial chairperson, Funzi Ngobeni MPL, has criticised the ongoing oversight failures in Emfuleni, warning that years of ineffective and incomplete interventions under Section 139(1)(b) have allowed the municipality to slide into what he described as a 'full-blown crisis.' Ngobeni stressed that Emfuleni's dire financial state is undeniable, citing the municipality's R7.1 billion debt to Eskom and mounting arrears with Rand Water as key indicators of its insolvency. He added that massive service delivery failures, including 62% water losses and 22% electricity losses — amounting to over R750 million in annual lost revenue — have left basic services out of reach for many residents. 'Ongoing sewer spillages, neglected infrastructure, and collapsed waste management systems have turned essential services into a luxury most communities can no longer count on,' Ngobeni added. Ngobeni further pointed to the ongoing sanitation crisis at the Ramaphosa informal settlement as a glaring example of Emfuleni's collapse. 'The fact that portable toilets have gone unserviced for more than four months is not just unacceptable — it should be the final straw…this level of neglect underscores why urgent intervention through Section 139(5) is no longer optional but absolutely necessary. 'Despite Premier Lesufi's belated instruction to the Gauteng Human Settlements Department to resolve the matter, it is clear that without intentional, decisive provincial intervention, residents will continue to suffer. Emfuleni's failure to provide basic sanitation is not confined to one settlement – it is a systemic, recurring feature of a municipality in collapse,' he said. Previously placed under administration due to chronic service delivery failures, Emfuleni Local Municipality remains in disarray. Ngobeni has slammed the earlier Section 139(1)(b) intervention, terminated in 2022, as a 'disastrous failure.' The party argued that the measure merely offered a façade of oversight while allowing Emfuleni's political leadership to retain control over the budget and continue with unchecked, irresponsible spending. "The situation has now escalated beyond discretionary oversight. ActionSA, therefore, supports the immediate implementation of a financial recovery plan in terms of Section 139(5), which would transfer financial control to National Treasury and impose mandatory reforms," he said. Ngobeni stated that ActionSA has formally submitted a proposal to the Gauteng Legislature's COGTA Committee, urging the Portfolio Committee and Premier Panyaza Lesufi to act swiftly. He said the municipality's dire financial state requires immediate fiscal control by the National Treasury to enforce a funded and credible budget capable of addressing years of financial mismanagement. 'An immediate fiscal control by National Treasury to enforce a funded and credible budget, aggressive debt recovery aligned with Eskom's debt relief framework, and prioritised infrastructure restoration in water, electricity, and sanitation,' said Ngobeni. He further added that stabilising the municipality's leadership is also crucial to turning things around. 'Appointing a permanent Municipal Manager and Chief Financial Officer without delay is vital to restoring governance and accountability in Emfuleni.' ActionSA is not the only political party placing pressure on the embattled Emfuleni Local Municipality. As previously reported by The Star , the Democratic Alliance (DA) has also taken decisive action by referring the municipality to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC). The DA is calling for a full investigation, citing long-standing and severe service delivery failures. According to the party, these failures have subjected residents to inhumane living conditions, effectively violating their constitutional rights to basic services such as clean water, adequate sanitation, and a safe and healthy environment. The Star [email protected]
IOL News
07-05-2025
- IOL News
Sebokeng's R78m driving licence testing centre in ruins despite R9. 4m spent on securing it
The Sebokeng Driver's Licence Testing Centre has become a striking example of mismanaged public funds, with R9.4 million spent on security for a facility that is in ruins. This situation highlights severe oversight failures in government projects. Image: Masabata Mkwananzi R9.4 million blown on security — yet the Sebokeng Driving Licence Testing Centre ( DLTC) is a wreck. The vandalised, abandoned site has become a symbol of wasteful spending and failed oversight. This information was revealed by Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Jacob Mamabolo, who confirmed that a total of R9,420,295.68 has been spent on securing the Sebokeng DLTC since 1 June 2019, in response to questions tabled by the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL). From 2019 to 2025, over R9.4 million was spent on security for the site, with annual amounts of R966,000 in 2019/2020 R1,102,290 2020/2021 R1,088,858.16 2021/2022 R2,053,800 2022/2023 R2,063,400 2023/2024 R2,145,947.52 2024/2025 Despite this hefty expenditure, the facility remains in a state of ruin, vandalised and non-operational. During a visit to the site, The Star encountered security personnel who were unwilling to speak in detail. Still, it came to our attention that they were operating on a shift basis to safeguard the premises. 'We can't say much, but yes, we take turns — there's a day shift and a night shift to ensure the place is secure,' one guard briefly stated. The building stands as a stark symbol of neglect — its walls are defaced, the ceiling is crumbling, and doors hang broken from their hinges. Discarded construction equipment litters the site, now overtaken by waist-high, overgrown grass that adds to the sense of abandonment. Abandoned construction equipment and overgrown grass reflect the neglect and decay at the Sebokeng DLTC site. Image: Masabata Mkwananzi Neglect is evident as the building crumbles, with broken doors and defaced walls. Image: Masabata Mkwananzi Inside the Sebokeng DLTC: a decaying interior with crumbling walls and broken doors. Image: Masabata Mkwananzi The Star has since obtained legislative correspondence revealing ongoing communication between the Democratic Alliance and both the Department of Infrastructure Development and COGTA concerning the condition and future of the testing station. The document reveals that five security companies were contracted to guard the construction site. However, the DA has raised concerns about the legitimacy of some of these companies in actually providing security services, specifically mentioning Action Sound Trading and Projects, Maile Consulting, and Matetsa Construction. The five contracted companies are Maraba Security Services, Action Sound Trading and Projects, Maile Consulting, Matetsa Construction, and Red Hawks Army Protection Projects. Kingsol Chabalala, the DA's constituency head for Emfuleni North, criticised the situation, calling it a travesty. 'It is unacceptable that this project, which has already cost taxpayers over R78 million, has been abandoned and left to deteriorate, while residents are forced to commute or walk long distances to access DLTC services,' he stated. He added that it is equally absurd that millions of rands are being wasted on security companies that fail to deliver the promised services. He also stated that he would be requesting a clear timeline for the project's completion. 'The Sebokeng DLTC is another example of the Department of Infrastructure Development's (DID) failure to complete projects on time and within budget. 'The DA will write to MEC Mamabolo to provide timelines to ensure this project is completed within the stipulated additional budget,' he added Theo Nkonki, spokesperson for Gauteng MEC for Infrastructure Development and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Jacob Mamabolo, said that Sebokeng DLTC had already been vandalised before the deployment of security personnel. 'Furthermore, there was no formal handover of the site to the security team by either the Project Manager or the contractor. As a result, the site was found to be unsecured and unattended.' When asked how the Department justifies the R9.4 million spent on security despite the facility's deteriorating condition, Nkonki said: 'Security Management deploys personnel upon request from departments such as Property Management, the Health Branch, Education, and the STARS Branch. The appointed security service providers are paid in accordance with PSIRA rates. The DLTC has been under the protection of various security companies from 2019 to date, as detailed in the table below.' Despite the vandalised state of the site, Nkonki maintained that Security Management has not recorded any security breaches since the facility's inception. As the chaos at the Sebokeng DLTC unfolded, the Gauteng Department of Transport distanced itself from the project, referring inquiries to the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), which confirmed it had no involvement. The Sebokeng DLTC, meant to open in 2021, now stands as a monument to government failure, with construction dating back to 2015 and nearly R80 million spent on a facility left to rot. The Star [email protected]
The Star
07-05-2025
- The Star
Sebokeng's R78m driving licence testing centre in ruins despite R9.4m spent on securing it
Masabata Mkwananzi | Published 16 minutes ago R9.4 million blown on security — yet the Sebokeng Driving Licence Testing Centre ( DLTC) is a wreck. The vandalised, abandoned site has become a symbol of wasteful spending and failed oversight. This information was revealed by Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Jacob Mamabolo, who confirmed that a total of R9,420,295.68 has been spent on securing the Sebokeng DLTC since 1 June 2019, in response to questions tabled by the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL). From 2019 to 2025, over R9.4 million was spent on security for the site, with annual amounts of R966,000 in 2019/2020 R1,102,290 2020/2021 R1,088,858.16 2021/2022 R2,053,800 2022/2023 R2,063,400 2023/2024 R2,145,947.52 2024/2025 Despite this hefty expenditure, the facility remains in a state of ruin, vandalised and non-operational. During a visit to the site, The Star encountered security personnel who were unwilling to speak in detail. Still, it came to our attention that they were operating on a shift basis to safeguard the premises. 'We can't say much, but yes, we take turns — there's a day shift and a night shift to ensure the place is secure,' one guard briefly stated. The building stands as a stark symbol of neglect — its walls are defaced, the ceiling is crumbling, and doors hang broken from their hinges. Discarded construction equipment litters the site, now overtaken by waist-high, overgrown grass that adds to the sense of abandonment. The Star has since obtained legislative correspondence revealing ongoing communication between the Democratic Alliance and both the Department of Infrastructure Development and COGTA concerning the condition and future of the testing station. The document reveals that five security companies were contracted to guard the construction site. However, the DA has raised concerns about the legitimacy of some of these companies in actually providing security services, specifically mentioning Action Sound Trading and Projects, Maile Consulting, and Matetsa Construction. The five contracted companies are Maraba Security Services, Action Sound Trading and Projects, Maile Consulting, Matetsa Construction, and Red Hawks Army Protection Projects. Kingsol Chabalala, the DA's constituency head for Emfuleni North, criticised the situation, calling it a travesty. 'It is unacceptable that this project, which has already cost taxpayers over R78 million, has been abandoned and left to deteriorate, while residents are forced to commute or walk long distances to access DLTC services,' he stated. He added that it is equally absurd that millions of rands are being wasted on security companies that fail to deliver the promised services. He also stated that he would be requesting a clear timeline for the project's completion. 'The Sebokeng DLTC is another example of the Department of Infrastructure Development's (DID) failure to complete projects on time and within budget. 'The DA will write to MEC Mamabolo to provide timelines to ensure this project is completed within the stipulated additional budget,' he added Theo Nkonki, spokesperson for Gauteng MEC for Infrastructure Development and Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Jacob Mamabolo, said that Sebokeng DLTC had already been vandalised before the deployment of security personnel. 'Furthermore, there was no formal handover of the site to the security team by either the Project Manager or the contractor. As a result, the site was found to be unsecured and unattended.' When asked how the Department justifies the R9.4 million spent on security despite the facility's deteriorating condition, Nkonki said: 'Security Management deploys personnel upon request from departments such as Property Management, the Health Branch, Education, and the STARS Branch. The appointed security service providers are paid in accordance with PSIRA rates. The DLTC has been under the protection of various security companies from 2019 to date, as detailed in the table below.' Despite the vandalised state of the site, Nkonki maintained that Security Management has not recorded any security breaches since the facility's inception. As the chaos at the Sebokeng DLTC unfolded, the Gauteng Department of Transport distanced itself from the project, referring inquiries to the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC), which confirmed it had no involvement. The Sebokeng DLTC, meant to open in 2021, now stands as a monument to government failure, with construction dating back to 2015 and nearly R80 million spent on a facility left to rot. The Star [email protected]
