Note to Editors: Please find an English soundbite from DA Gauteng Spokesperson for Economic Development Nazley Sharif MPL here.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng urgently appeals to the Gauteng Department of Economic Development to intervene and ensure that the Toekomsrus Business Hive becomes functional for the benefit of local businesses in dire need of this facility.
The department must engage West Rand District Municipality to ensure that this facility is fixed and regularly maintained to grow the local economy and create employment opportunities. We will also engage DA public representatives in West Rand District Municipality to raise this issue at council and ensure it is addressed.
During a recent oversight inspection, the DA Gauteng found that there has been no improvement in the state of the business hive since 2019 when we first discovered that the facility is derelict.
There are broken benches all over the building, the roof is broken, and the infrastructure is crumbling. Furthermore, only three businesses operate from the business hive.
See the video here.
The state of the Toekomsrus Business Hive is worrying given that Premier Panyaza Lesufi is always bragging about the investments being made into the township economy. It is high time that Premier Lesufi stops talking about the importance of the township economy and the so-called strides made in revitalising the economy and starts fixing all business hubs and business hives. By doing this, small businesses in need of space to operate from can do so with ease within the townships they operate from.
A DA Gauteng-led provincial government would immediately conduct an audit of all business hubs and hives to determine which ones need urgent maintenance and are not utilised properly. We will work with municipalities to ensure business hubs are fixed and fully operational to grow the township economy.