The community of Benoni have not yet benefited from the OR Tambo Cultural Precinct which is on a brink of collapsing due to years of neglect by the previous ANC-led Ekurhuleni administration.
This historic cultural precinct which is named after the renowned liberation stalwart and was meant to boost the local economy is in now shambles.
The facility is unsuitable for human habitation as it poses a serious safety risk. The ceiling is damaged and falling off, walls have cracks, the exterior walls are also peeling off, and the ablution facilities are not functional.
This information was discovered during the DA’s oversight inspection at the facility today as part of the DA Gauteng Heritage Month Campaign.
Please see the photos here, here, and here.
Since 2018, the DA has been putting pressure on the Gauteng Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation (SACR) and the previous ANC-led Ekurhuleni municipality to find a plan to fix the structural defects at this monument, however, to date, nothing has been done.
The DA demands that the Gauteng MEC for SACR, Mbali Hlophe provide a detailed report stipulating the amount of money used to build this monument. We also demand to know how much money has been allocated for the maintenance of this facility.
We will also engage with the DA-led Ekurhuleni Municipality to ascertain what plans they have to revive this heritage facility. We will facilitate the engagement between the department and the metro through the SACR Portfolio Committee at the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL).
Together we will ensure that we revive this monument to its glory and ensure that it is well marketed to attract tourists and investors for the benefit of Benoni residents.
Our heritage and history will not be passed on to future generations if monuments of such importance are left to fall apart.