The Tshireletsong Child and Youth Care Centre in Bloemfontein has eventually reopened for the use of its intended purpose – to accommodate orphaned children and youth.
The MEC for public works and infrastructure, Dipolelo Mance, handed over to the Department of Social Development the ready for use section of the centre on Thursday, 26 October.
The centre’s reopening relieves the Department of Public Works of the burden to feed lease agreement bills. This comes after more than five years during which upgrading work costed this department more than R50 million.
The provincial Department of Labour closed the centre in 2017, after finding transgressions of occupational health and safety regulations. It deemed the place a threat to both children and the workers.
The centre deteriorated to an unacceptable level owing to the provincial government’s failure to do maintenance to infrastructure.
Ernest Mohlahlo, head of the department of public works and infrastructure, explained that about R20 million was for lease agreements at two venues in Bloemfontein, the Christian Revival Church (CRC) and Sentraal High School.
He said the difference of the total money was for major upgrading to comply with occupational health and safety regulations.
“The financial costs, not budgeted for, went out of the roof due to failure to do the simple thing, maintenance of infrastructure. This should not repeat itself going forward to avoid large monies that could have been channelled to other infrastructure projects,” said Mohlahlo.
He revealed the department was obliged to feed the two lease agreements bills, R1 9469 072,31 at the CRC for nine years plus three months and the bill of R3 293 558,42 for lease at Sentraal for almost three years.
With upgrading work prolonged beyond the timelines, the budget was adjusted to upgrade phase 1 at R20 143,48, with R33 million to revamp the second phase. The project was further crippled by the crime of vandalism the period the it was unoccupied and contractual disputes which led to termination of contract with the first construction company.
Mance expressed satisfaction with the quality work by currently enlisted company, further lamenting shoddy work the large financial implications. She said work of the second phase include completion of a swimming pool of which the deadline is December.
Mance said the company currently enlisted embarked on overhaul process on sewage infrastructure, exterior and interior given the terrible state following the crime of vandalism.
“The other good aspect is the upgrading of the facility meets norms and standards in terms of the Children’s Act. There is privacy and safety, making every child really feel home. Unlike previously, the rooms accommodate two persons and have built-in wardrobes for their belongings,” said Mance.
The kitchen and laundry have modern equipment.
Mance pointed out that the main contractor was allocating work to sub-contractors and 28 women on the contractor development programme (CDP).
