Africa-Press – South-Africa. The Women’s Living Heritage Monument in Tshwane is yet to be opened to the public even though it was completed in 2019 already at a whopping price tag of nearly R200 million.
As you walk through the entrance of the desolate building, a brief explanation on the wall greets you with details of the monument’s purpose.
The caption reads:
Despite the government’s recognition of the need to pay tribute, no one has been legally allowed to visit the monument since its completion.
Apart from governmental signage and a couple of banners and statues of struggle stalwarts, the building is effectively empty.
The only signs of life there come from the security officials who guard it.
This is because the monument, a project by the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture, and Recreation and the Department of Infrastructure Development, has not yet received an occupancy certificate from the City of Tshwane.
An occupancy certificate can only be issued once a client complies with national building regulation legislation found in the National Building Regulation and Standard Act 103 of 1977, City spokesperson Lindela Mashigo told News24.
According to the City, there are outstanding compliance issues, such as:
After conducting an oversight visit on Monday, the DA’s Gauteng spokesperson on sports, arts, culture and recreation, Wildri Peach, said there were structural deficiencies in the buildings and other building regulations were curtailed.
This may have resulted in the water leaks and cracks in the walls News24 observed during the visit.
“It is unsafe for the public to utilise this building,” Peach said.
He added that millions of rand were spent since to rectify the issues.
“As you can see, there has been very little that has actually happened at this facility to ensure that it is being utilised.”
“The DA demands that the department urgently fix the shoddy work hindering this building from getting its occupational certificate.”
“This monument has a huge potential to attract tourists and bring local and international investment, creating job opportunities for unemployed Tshwane residents.”
Peach added that the DA also wanted to ascertain why the initial contractor was paid before ensuring the work was done properly.
Vandalism and theft
In response to questions from News24, the Department of Sport, Arts, Culture, and Recreation blamed the delay in obtaining a certificate of occupancy on vandalism and theft.
“Work has been done to assess work to be carried out, including repairs due to vandalism and theft of material such as cables, parts of a standby generator, taps, and others,” it said.
“The assessment has also ascertained that the building is structurally sound except for issues of vandalism and theft, which had been affecting its suitability to obtain the certificate of occupancy.”
The department said the full assessment of work required was completed.
Without giving a timeline, it added that a process to appoint a contractor to carry out the repairs and maintenance work had been initiated and was undergoing internal procedures.
“Upon completion of the repairs along with the obtaining of the occupancy certificate, the facility, which was constructed at a cost of R198 000 000, will be ready and fully operational to carry out its important function in promoting and preserving the role and interests of women in our society.”
News24 asked the department whether criminal cases were opened in connection with the alleged vandalism and theft.
However, there was no response.
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