{"id":52201,"date":"2023-09-12T11:51:17","date_gmt":"2023-09-12T09:51:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/close-to-a-billion-gone-20230831-3\/"},"modified":"2025-03-21T07:50:55","modified_gmt":"2025-03-21T05:50:55","slug":"close-to-a-billion-gone-20230831-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/close-to-a-billion-gone-20230831-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Close to a billion gone"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>One Billion is gone<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>First R222 million in 2018, R328 million in 2019, R348 million in 2023<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Project was initiated to accommodate 728<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>___________________________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In excess of R1 billion has been squandered on the G Hostel apartment complex since its initiation in 2014.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span><em>Vista<\/em> <\/span>reported that the first R222 million was stolen in 2018, and R328 million in 2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The last catastrophic disappearance, of R348 million, was discovered in 2023. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There is also R8 million that was allocated for payment to sub-contractors and general workers that is unaccounted for. <span><em>Vista<\/em><\/span>has proof of the disappearing R8 millon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The project was initiated to accommodate 728 residents from ward 31. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div contenteditable=\"false\" data-embed24=\"Images\" data-pos=\"middle\" id=\"embed_54e83883\">\n<div class=\"slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"In 2018 Vista reported - The site plan of the new \" data-smallsrc=\"https:\/\/cdn.24.co.za\/files\/Cms\/General\/d\/9215\/7ff0d97ce25040ddb1d7e02a067e19d8.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/67d22fb347dd4fccb56afdf45fd82b34.jpg\" title=\"In 2018 Vista reported - The site plan of the new G Hostel Community Residential Units. This rental accommodation, built by government, is earmarked to replace the old dilapidated G Hostel.\"><p><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\">In 2018 Vista reported \u2013 The site plan of the new G Hostel Community Residential Units. This rental accommodation, built by government, is earmarked to replace the old dilapidated G Hostel.<\/div>\n<div class=\"img_accreditation\"><span class=\"source\" style=\"display:none;\">Vista<\/span> <span class=\"photographer\" style=\"display:none;\">Free State Department of Human Settlements<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"In 2018 Vista reported - Altogether 12 living unit\" data-smallsrc=\"https:\/\/cdn.24.co.za\/files\/Cms\/General\/d\/9215\/d07710aedb5445959e94540059865cf7.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/76b70823ad544e08934e622489db8666.jpg\" title=\"In 2018 Vista reported - Altogether 12 living units in the new G Hostel Community Residential development have been completed to first-floor phase.\"><p><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\">In 2018 Vista reported \u2013 Altogether 12 living units in the new G Hostel Community Residential development have been completed to first-floor phase.<\/div>\n<div class=\"img_accreditation\"><span class=\"source\" style=\"display:none;\">Vista<\/span> <span class=\"photographer\" style=\"display:none;\">Supplied<\/span> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"slide\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"In 2018 Vista reported - This is the completed gro\" data-smallsrc=\"https:\/\/cdn.24.co.za\/files\/Cms\/General\/d\/9215\/3aa98c6f143e4d85b172fbdf02be2adb.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/novanews.co.za\/vistanews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/323fc72fe666437d9f44200347b171a0.jpg\" title=\"In 2018 Vista reported - This is the completed ground floor of one of the residential units.\"><p><\/p>\n<div class=\"caption\">In 2018 Vista reported \u2013 This is the completed ground floor of one of the residential units.<\/div>\n<div class=\"img_accreditation\"><span class=\"source\" style=\"display:none;\">Vista<\/span> <span class=\"photographer\" style=\"display:none;\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The old and notorious G Hostel, per court order, should have already been totally demolished. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Construction on the new modern living units started in 2014, but the project has been hampered with double dealings, disappearing funds and corrupt officials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When the minister of Human Settlements, Mamoloko Kubai, visited the site at the beginning of August, she noted the catastrophe in her own department and has since launched a Special Unit investigation into her department. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is where the missing R348 million was discovered. She was accompanied by the MEC for Provincial government, Toto Makume and premier Mxolisi Dukwana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Makume reported to parliament in April that a special investigation will be initiated against officials in the Department of Human Settlement concerning G Hostel and Top Side and Bottom Side (which is in Bloemfontein). The same contractor is responsible for both projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2018 and 2019 <em>Vista <\/em>reported extensively on the missing millions and the virtually scuttled project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite the missing millions 80% of the project has been built, but corruption is impeding the completion of this ultra modern apartment complex.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite monetary impediments, the sub-contractors have managed to complete 37 units. The remaining nine, which are under the management of DHS need to be built, it is their completion that hangs in the balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At the time of going to print, Motale Sebego, communication officer for the Department of Human Settlement, did not answer <em>Vista\u2019s <\/em>enquiry regarding the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Read previous articles pinpointing some of the missions millions<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div contenteditable=\"false\" data-embed24=\"InfoBlock\" data-pos=\"left\" id=\"embed_d0df26e3\">\n<div class=\"heading\">Money still unaccounted for<\/div>\n<div class=\"text\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:normal;background:white;\"><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">Marti Will<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:normal;background:white;\"><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">It is still not clear what has happened to the <span style=\"background:yellow;\">G<\/span> <span style=\"background:yellow;\">Hostel<\/span>\u2019s R222 million.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:normal;background:white;\"><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">According to the Free State leader of the DA, Patricia Kopane, R11<br>\nbillion was allocated to the Free State Department of Human Settlements for<br>\nhousing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:normal;background:white;\"><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">More than R1 billion was paid to contracters, but very few houses were<br>\never built in the province.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:normal;background:white;\"><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">Kopane says 66<\/span><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;color:black;\">\u2009<\/span><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">000 title deeds for RDP houses in the Free State are yet to be given to<br>\nbeneficiaries.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:normal;background:white;\"><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">\u201cThe provincial Department of Human Settlements has incomplete audits<br>\nand is rife with corruption.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:normal;background:white;\"><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">Kopane, along with a delegation of DA leaders, visited the beleaguered<br>\nsite on Monday (23\/04). <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:normal;background:white;\"><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">On 12 April, <em>Vista<\/em><\/span> reported that the contract had been awarded to<br>\nthe Mafuri Turnkey construction company in 2016. It was terminated due to<br>\nnon-performance of the contractor. The DA will take the matter to parliament. <\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:normal;background:white;\"><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">According to Senne Bogatsu, spokesperson of the Department of Human<br>\nSettlements, the project is still funded and will be recommenced in the<br>\n2018-\u201919 financial year. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:normal;background:white;\"><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">\u201cPeople who qualify for government subsidised housing will be housed,\u201d<br>\nshe says. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:normal;background:white;\"><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">\u201cIn 2014, some 700 people were moved from here to a non-serviced area<br>\nnext to the Tisha Vanga Bridge,\u201d says Michael Letutu, spokesperson for the Ward<br>\n31 Small Business Forum. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:normal;background:white;\"><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">\u201cThey are still there, although some have found other informal<br>\nsettlements to live in.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:normal;background:white;\"><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">The project entails 46 three- and four-storey buildings, including<br>\nelectricity and plumbing. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div contenteditable=\"false\" data-embed24=\"InfoBlock\" data-pos=\"Left\" id=\"embed_776a3997\">\n<div class=\"heading\">Hostel underway \u2014\u2013 Housing units finally progress after years of disappointment<\/div>\n<div class=\"text\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:normal;\"><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;background:white;\">Marti Will<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:normal;background:white;\"><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">After five years of disappointment, delays and alleged missing monies, the much-mooted&nbsp;G&nbsp;Hostel&nbsp;residential development in Thabong (G&nbsp;Block) is under construction at last.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:normal;background:white;\"><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">At a cost of R328<\/span><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;color:black;\">\u2009<\/span><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">692<\/span><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;color:black;\">\u2009<\/span><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">million, the new community residential units are rental accommodations built by the government to replace the old dilapidated<\/span><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">&nbsp;<\/span><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">G&nbsp;Hostel.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:normal;background:white;\"><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">\u201cThe air here is clean \u2013 it is refreshing,\u201d says Senne Bogatsu, director of corporate communication.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:normal;background:white;\"><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">Bogatsu and a delegation of the Department of Human Settlements were on site at the beginning of August, and are very excited about the progress being made on the development.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:normal;background:white;\"><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">The new project started in earnest in May, and much progress has been made.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:normal;background:white;\"><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">It entails 728 units, and will incorporate the construction of mixed housing and development units.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:normal;background:white;\"><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">LTE Consulting Engineers is the main contractor on the project, and the expected time frame of the project is June 2019 to July 2020.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:normal;background:white;\"><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">Bogatsu says the department makes use of young men and women as local labour on site.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:normal;background:white;\"><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">Michael Letutu of the Concerned Residents Forum, and one of the local contractors, says the renewed project is progressing successfully.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:normal;background:white;\"><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">\u201cThe second main contractor to be appointed is Baba Radebe. Fortunately, Radebe has saved the day, and this project will be completed successfully within the allotted time frame,\u201d says Letutu.<br>The initial project description entailed 46 three- and four-storey buildings of six different types. In 2014, more than R222<br><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;color:black;\">\u2009<\/span><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">million was allocated to this project, which in four years did not see a single brick being laid or road being cleared.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:normal;background:white;\"><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">At the time, the contract had been awarded to Mafuri Turnkey Accelerated and was then scheduled to be completed within 18 months \u2013 by January 2016.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div contenteditable=\"false\" data-embed24=\"InfoBlock\" data-pos=\"Left\" id=\"embed_43d7e5f9\">\n<div class=\"heading\">Where is the money? Nothing can be seen of the promised development of residential units<\/div>\n<div class=\"text\">\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:12.0pt;line-height:normal;background:white;\"><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">Marti Will<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:normal;background:white;\"><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">What has happened to the R222<\/span><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;color:black;\">\u2009<\/span><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">million awarded by the national<br>\ngovernment to the Free State Department of Human Settlements to develop the new<br>\n<span style=\"background:yellow;\">G<\/span> <span style=\"background:yellow;\">Hostel<\/span><br>\nof residential units in Thabong (<span style=\"background:yellow;\">G<\/span><br>\nBlock, Thabong Community Residents Units)?<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:normal;background:white;\"><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">The contract was awarded to Mafuri Turnkey Accelerated, and the site was<br>\nhanded over to the company on 14 August 2014. The project was scheduled to be<br>\ncompleted within 18 months \u2013 by January 2016.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:normal;background:white;\"><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">On completion, the notorious <span style=\"background:yellow;\">G<\/span> <span style=\"background:yellow;\">Hostel<\/span> and the ladies <span style=\"background:yellow;\">hostel<\/span> would have been demolished, and the legal South Africans<br>\noccupying the old structures were to be rehoused. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:normal;background:white;\"><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">\u201cIn 2014, the municipality moved 500 to 700 people to the non-serviced<br>\narea next to the Tisha Vanga Bridge. These people were previously on site<br>\n8225,\u201d says Michael Letutu, spokes\u00adperson for the <span style=\"background:yellow;\">G<\/span><br>\n<span style=\"background:yellow;\">Hostel<\/span> Concerned Residents Forum, a<br>\nregistered non-governmental organisation. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:normal;background:white;\"><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">\u201cThey remain on this site, although some of the displaced settlers have<br>\nfound other informal settlements where they can live.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:normal;background:white;\"><em><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">Vista<\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\"> is in possession of various minutes of meetings<br>\nheld in 2015 and 2016. It was noted in the minutes of a meeting held on 13<br>\nOctober 2015 that a three-month delay in the project was due to the moving of<br>\nthe informal settlers. The project description entailed 46 three- and<br>\nfour-storey buildings, with six different types of typologies including<br>\nelectrical wiring and plumbing, and proper access to water and sanitation.<br>\nThere was also to have been 3<\/span><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;color:black;\">\u2009<\/span><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">500<\/span><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;color:black;\">\u2009<\/span><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">m2 of roads and parking lots. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:normal;background:white;\"><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">A storm water drainage system and 570<\/span><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;color:black;\">\u2009<\/span><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">m of palisade fencing were also<br>\nincluded in the project description.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:normal;background:white;\"><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">Despite notes in emails and meeting minutes claiming that 100<\/span><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Arial',sans-serif;color:black;\">\u2009<\/span><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">% of the<br>\nfencing was complete, there is still no <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:normal;background:white;\"><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">(there is currently no<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:normal;background:white;\"><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">visible trace of fencing. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:normal;background:white;\"><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">The minutes also state that cement foundation blocks were laid. When <em>Vista,<br>\naccompanied by Letutu,<\/em><\/span> visited the abandoned site on Monday (09\/04), only a<br>\nvast expanse of emptiness could be seen. He pointed out that only a thin layer<br>\nof gravel has ever been laid out on a small strip of the site.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:normal;background:white;\"><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">It was noted in the minutes of a meeting held on 13 October 2015 that<br>\nthe developer Mafuri always changes the decisions of the project steering<br>\ncommittee, which has a negative impact on the progress of a project.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:normal;background:white;\"><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">In August 2016, all project workers were given notice by the<br>\nsub-contractor LGE Construction due to non-payment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:normal;background:white;\"><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">According to Kgojane Matutle, spokesperson for the Matjhabeng<br>\nMunicipality, the question of what has happened to the project \u2013 and the money<br>\n\u2013 must be addressed to the Free State Department of Human Settlements.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:normal;background:white;\"><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">\u201cThe Matjhabeng Local Municipality has done its part in the project. We<br>\nhave availed the land, and compiled and verified the list. The provincial<br>\nDepartment of Human Settlements, as the funder, is in a better position to give<br>\nthe reasons why the project has halted,\u201d he told Vista.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:normal;background:white;\"><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">Senne Bogatsu, director of corporate communication, says the project was<br>\nterminated due to non-performance by the contractor. <\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:normal;background:white;\"><span style=\"font-size:9.0pt;font-family:'Verdana',sans-serif;color:black;\">\u201cThe project is still funded, and it is due to commence this financial<br>\nyear (2018\/\u201919). It will accommodate those who qualify for government<br>\nsubsidised housing,\u201d says Bogatsu.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:0cm;line-height:normal;background:white;\">\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In excess of R1 billion has been squandered on the G Hostel apartment complex since its initiation in 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