A frustrated taxpayer criticises the mismanagement and wasteful spending on the incomplete and deteriorating Homevale fire station project, calling for accountability and consequences for those responsible.
Dear Sir,
The situation at the Homevale fire station (DFA, October 25, 2024) has reached an unacceptable and frustrating low – it’s an embarrassment for our entire community.
The recent report about the Public Protector investigation hits uncomfortably close to home, highlighting the alarming incompetence and mismanagement that have plagued our city. It’s astounding that R17 million has already been spent on an incomplete building that’s literally falling apart, with walls crumbling and equipment being stolen right under our noses.
How can anyone possibly justify pouring even more of our hard-earned tax money into repairing a project that was bungled from the start?
It’s clear to me that the Sol Plaatje Municipality was well aware of the marshy soil before construction even began, yet they proceeded without addressing the issue. It’s baffling – how can there be structural damage even before the building has been completed?
And then there’s the matter of the R10 million spent on a fire truck that’s been sitting idle, thanks to unresolved engine problems. Why hire staff and buy a vehicle for a fire station that’s basically useless? It reeks of poor planning and a troubling lack of respect for responsible spending.
We’ve been told the funds will be recovered through retention fees, but that does little to reassure residents who have gone without a functioning fire station for many years.
When it comes to accountability, the leadership seems more interested in passing the buck than actually taking responsibility. How many more millions will be thrown away on avoidable repairs before anyone is held accountable?
This has gone on long enough. We deserve action, not just another round of finger-pointing and investigations. Those responsible should face real consequences, including financial penalties. The people of this city deserve better than an expensive “white elephant” and the endless excuses that come with it.
Sincerely,
A Frustrated Taxpayer
ALSO READ: Public Protector to probe another ‘white elephant’
