The Democratic Alliance (DA) is shocked to learn that Emfuleni Local Municipality is spending over R900 000 on a rental fees per month on an unsafe and dilapidated OK Building in Vanderbijilpark.
This was revealed to me by the Gauteng MEC for COGTA, Lebogang Maile, in a written reply to my questions tabled in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature.
According to MEC Maile, Emfuleni is renting the OK Building and is paying R927 461,24 per month. This account varies every month due to the utilities bill and the lease agreement expires in 2022.
It is completely unacceptable for the municipality to continue paying this rental fee while the landlord is failing to fix the building.
This building cost is high compared to the two other buildings that the municipality is renting. The Andasta Building is R82 340,00 per month and the Vaal Gate Building is R217 039,49 per month. The two accounts also varies every month due to utilities bill.
The state of these other two buildings is better compared to the OK Building which does not give value for money and impacts on employees ability to render services to the residents.
Last month, the municipality’s workers who are occupying the building embarked on a protest over unsafe and poor working conditions.
This building has for months been exposed to raw sewer spillages. The situation is a health hazard and poses a serious risk for employees.
The Department of Labour also issued a notice that the workers must not be allowed to utilise this building unless the problem has been solved and the building is properly maintained.
We call on the Emfuleni Municipal Manager to engage the landlord to ensure that the building is properly maintained as a matter of urgency. Should the landlord fail to fix the building, the municipality must terminate the lease agreement.