By Jonk wa Mashamba
news@alexreporter.co.za
The on-going project at Madala Hostel could take some time to complete.
This, according to Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Housing in the City of Joburg, Cllr Mlungisi Mabaso.
Mabaso told Alex Reporter that the project was scheduled for completion last year, in October.
He stated that since the project’s inception, there have been investigations by the Special Investigation Unit (SIU).
He said the decision was because they had co-operated with the SIU.
“They have been commissioned to investigate all COVID-19-related transactions,” said Mabaso.
Mabaso says there are between 725 and 800 canisters.
He said that the completion date has been revised, indicating that completion would depend upon the completion of the investigation by the SIU.
“We have been working with them so that if there’s an element of corruption, they will do what is expected to do.
Mabaso said they wanted to demolish the entire hostel based on the recommendation from the assessment that was done.
“The intention is to dedensify the populated areas so that we start with an informal settlement upgrade program. The team has started with the identification of beneficiaries.”
Mabaso said that when the Marlboro project started, the focus was mainly on Setjwetla informal settlement.
“But when we spoke with other stakeholders, they indicated that the entire region was congested.”
Setjwetla was one of the informal settlements identified by the department of human settlement.
Mabaso said the project was given a conditional grant of R341 million.
“We have spent R270 million.”
