Consistency in local government is something worth aspiring to. Consistency in service delivery, consistency in financial management, consistency in policy implementation and consistency in stakeholder engagement.
The Buffalo City Metro has proven its ability to remain consistent, but not in a way that benefits the people it serves. It has been consistent in its failures.
Last week, a finance meeting of the city heard that BCM needs about R1.2bn to complete a crucial wastewater treatment works project in Zwelitsha.
The project has been years in the making and once up-and-running, will ease the load on existing wastewater treatment works battling to keep up with the pace of development in the greater Qonce area, which includes Breidbach, Bhisho and Zwelitsha.
The project was initially budgeted at R400m and BCM now needs three times that amount to complete the development.
Here is the kicker: the treatment works was already said to be 95% complete four years ago but was subsequently left to fall into a state of disrepair.
The treatment works was already said to be 95% complete four years ago but was subsequently left to fall into a state of disrepair
If this narrative sounds familiar, that’s because it is. Over the years, we have seen this same pattern of escalating costs with other major infrastructure projects such as the now infamous Stoep, Waterworld Fun Park and the NU2 swimming pools.
The Mdantsane pool complex and Waterworld, touted as a potential tourism attraction and a recreational park for locals to enjoy, remain closed to the public.
Millions of rand spent and nothing to show for it.
The Zwelitsha project is great news for that area. Its completion could open the doors to housing and other development, but has instead become yet another symbol of neglect.
The AG flagged the project in its 2002-2023 audit after R380m had been spent but the development remained incomplete.
Vandals have also done damage, highlighting the need for better security measures at the site.
This situation, coupled with the other problematic projects in BCM, again raises serious questions about the city’s management and oversight of projects of such magnitude.
More importantly, it highlights the lack of accountability of those in charge of these developments.
The department of cooperative governance in the province said it was concerned about the escalating costs of infrastructure projects in BCM.
Raising concerns is one thing; and taking the BCM leadership to task over their failings is a whole other matter.
Infrastructure development is important for the growth of our communities, but the city cannot continue operating the public purse with reckless abandon.
Daily Dipatch
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