Johannesburg residents will have to wait longer to access the Joburg City Library. A lack of continuity in contracting resulting from poor project management by the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) has caused delays in refurbishing the province’s largest source of information for learners and the public, resulting in increased costs and extended timelines for the project.
Responding to the Democratic Alliance’s (DA) written questions to the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Jacob Mamabolo stated that the City of Johannesburg (COJ), through the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA), has paid the appointed contractor Moago Construction and a team of professionals a total amount of R22,852,67.00 for phase 1 of the project. The high-level work completed by Moago Construction between 2021 and current includes building assessment, heritage impact assessment, roof and skylight repairs, gutter and downpipe replacement, electrical system upgrades, and fire safety planning.
The MEC also revealed that the COJ, through the JDA, has awarded the construction contract for phase 2 of the project to Dignity/Qhawe Joint Venture for a contract value of R54,885,143.43. This amount excludes professional fees and fees charged by the JDA. The scope of the work to be done by Dignity/Qhawe Joint Venture includes building construction (alterations, waterproofing, carpentry, ceilings, metalwork, glazing, painting), mechanical systems (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning), and electrical systems (installation of electrical wiring, fixtures, and components).
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The R22,852,67.00 spent on phase 1 and R54,885,143.43 projected for phase 2 add up to R77,737.813.43, significantly exceeding the initial scope of work estimated at R45 456 377, 73 excluding VAT.
It raises concerns that the same tasks reported to have been completed during Phase 1, such as electrical system upgrades, reappear in Phase 2. This unsettling duplication suggests the possibility of mismanagement of public funds that merits a thorough investigation to ensure accountability and integrity in the project’s execution.
Furthermore, during the DA’s inspection of the Joburg City Library on August 22, 2024, we were informed that the library would partially reopen in six months. Given that the library was initially scheduled to reopen in June 2024, it is difficult to believe this commitment will be met, but the JDA has since pushed that deadline to March 2025.
Currently, there is little to show for the money spent so far, and we question whether the increased scope of work will achieve the desired effect.
This library is a vital community resource that serves as a hub for knowledge and learning. It is disheartening to see its condition decline over time and its refurbishment prolonged due to poor management by the City of Johannesburg.
The DA demands that the MEC for COGTA initiate an urgent investigation into the suspicious duplication and implement the recommendations. This cannot go unaccounted for.
The DA will continue to exert pressure on MEC Jacob Mamabolo to ensure library management meets its timeline for the library’s partial reopening and full operation. We will conduct a follow-up oversight inspection of the library to evaluate the progress, and the commitments made.
A DA Gauteng provincial government would have ensured the swift refurbishment of this library, which has stood as a beacon of knowledge and enlightenment for decades.
The DA is committed to ensuring that this library becomes a welcoming and fully operational space for all Gauteng residents. We will not rest until this is achieved.