ActionSA will write to Gauteng Housing MEC Lebogang Maile over the incomplete Montrose Mega City Development in Middelvlei, Randfontein, on the West Rand where the Gauteng government planned to build over 5,600 housing units during the first phase.
Six years since the R11-billion project was launched, construction has ground to a complete standstill, with hundreds of units standing empty and infrastructure being carried away while subcontractors complain about unpaid bills.
When I, alongside the ActionSA West Rand leadership, visited the Montrose Mega City development this week, we found the development representing nothing more than a ghost town with half-completed buildings, barricaded roads and construction material laying around.
Community members expressed their frustration that despite the project being launched to much fanfare in 2017 with promises of passenger rail access and economic opportunities, there has been little to no progress while the community still awaits the promised RDP housing.
Concerns were also raised that whenever construction does occur for brief periods of time, subcontractors are hired that are not from the region and who employ staff who work for less than R100 a day – below the minimum wage – raising questions about their immigration status.
ActionSA will therefore ask MEC Maile about the cause of the delay to the multi-billion Montrose Mega City Development, whether corruption by the state has been involved, whether subcontractors adhered to basic labour conditions, and what is being done to complete the project.
With the Gauteng State of the Province (SOPA) just four days away, Premier Panyaza Lesufi should refrain from announcing grand new projects but instead focus the provincial government’s attention to complete existing projects such as Montrose Mega City Development.
Public money cannot be wasted building incomplete white elephants such as the Montrose Mega City Development while the poor in our province go homeless, and that is why ActionSA will do everything in its power to ensure that the project is completed.
The time for unaccountable public leadership has come to an end, and ActionSA – a party which values ethical leadership – will ensure that our officials are kept accountable for their promises and how they spend public money.
ActionSA writes to Gauteng housing MEC about over R11-billion unfinished Montrose Mega City Development
ActionSA will write to Gauteng Housing MEC Lebogang Maile over the incomplete Montrose Mega City Development in Middelvlei, Randfontein, on the West Rand where the Gauteng government planned to build over 5,600 housing units during the first phase.
Six years since the R11-billion project was launched, construction has ground to a complete standstill, with hundreds of units standing empty and infrastructure being carried away while subcontractors complain about unpaid bills.
When I, alongside the ActionSA West Rand leadership, visited the Montrose Mega City development this week, we found the development representing nothing more than a ghost town with half-completed buildings, barricaded roads and construction material laying around.
Community members expressed their frustration that despite the project being launched to much fanfare in 2017 with promises of passenger rail access and economic opportunities, there has been little to no progress while the community still awaits the promised RDP housing.
Concerns were also raised that whenever construction does occur for brief periods of time, subcontractors are hired that are not from the region and who employ staff who work for less than R100 a day – below the minimum wage – raising questions about their immigration status.
ActionSA will therefore ask MEC Maile about the cause of the delay to the multi-billion Montrose Mega City Development, whether corruption by the state has been involved, whether subcontractors adhered to basic labour conditions, and what is being done to complete the project.
With the Gauteng State of the Province (SOPA) just four days away, Premier Panyaza Lesufi should refrain from announcing grand new projects but instead focus the provincial government’s attention to complete existing projects such as Montrose Mega City Development.
Public money cannot be wasted building incomplete white elephants such as the Montrose Mega City Development while the poor in our province go homeless, and that is why ActionSA will do everything in its power to ensure that the project is completed.
The time for unaccountable public leadership has come to an end, and ActionSA – a party which values ethical leadership – will ensure that our officials are kept accountable for their promises and how they spend public money.