The Democratic Alliance (DA) has lodged a complaint with the Public Protector (PP) against the Sol Plaatje municipality over shoddy workmanship and the escalating cost of the Homevale satellite fire station in Kimberley.
Approval for the fire station was granted in the 2016/2017 financial year. Construction commenced in 2019 and in an online video recording featuring then Executive Mayor Patrick Mabilo, on site in August 2020, Tendiwanga Construction indicated that the building was 55% complete and would be finished by December.
To date, the building has not been signed off by Sol Plaatje and the snag list has yet to be completed. Last month, the municipality asked for an additional R1,5 million for repairs on the building, which has never been operationalized. This is in addition to the R17,246 million already spent on both Gibb Consulting and Tendiwanga Construction. The request was opposed by the safety committee.
A recent oversight inspection of the station revealed that the foundation is sinking while all walls, in all sections of the building, are busy cracking. This appears to be as a result of shoddy workmanship and the marshy land that the station was built on.
Despite the project remaining incomplete, Sol Plaatje has appointed personnel and procured a new fire truck to the value of R10 million, for the station. The truck also remains out of order, because of issues with the engine that cannot be resolved until insurance matters are sorted out. There has further been vandalism and theft of air conditioners and other items at the station, which is currently being guarded by security provided by the contractor.
Replies received from the municipality show no urgency or political will to deal with this failed project or to hold the contractor accountable. They also raise questions about costs incurred on human resources and equipment for the station, which looks increasingly like it has no future.
The DA has submitted our concerns to the PP, in addition to the National Minister of COGTA, Velenkosini Hlabisa. We hope that an investigation will assist in holding the municipality and the relevant contractors and consultants accountable. In the meantime, we will also put pressure on Sol Plaatje to take a decision about the future of the structure. This includes considering the option of demolition.