Abandoned VIP Toilet Project leaves Ga-Malekane residents in limbo

Ga-Malekane – The community of Ga-Malekane Village outside Burgersfort in Fetakgomo Tubatse Local Municipality (FTLM) Ward 27 say their long wait for the completion of a VIP toilet project must come to an end.

The project was abandoned by a contractor since April 2022 leaving sub-contractors and labourers unpaid.

The project was commissioned after Department of Water and Sanitation, together with Sekhukhune District Municipality (SDM), allocated 100 VIP toilets to households in various villages of FTLM Ward 27.

The main contractor was appointed and the project commenced in April 2022, however, it was left unfinished after the main contractor disappeared.

The project was meant to benefit residents of Ga-Malekane, Madibele and Makakatela Villages.

A community leader, Evans Mabowa, said they are worried that the project was abandoned and the toilets were left to be vandalized.

“We have been seeking clarity ever since the project was abandoned and no one is providing clear answers. It is over two years now since the main contractor vanished without completing the project. We demanded clarity from the ward committee members and ward councillor about the whereabouts of the main contractor but they failed to provide clear answers,” he said.

Mabowa indicated that when the project started, the ward councillor announced that out of the 100 toilets, 60 of them will be allocated to G-Malekane Village and the other 40 will be allocated to other parts of the ward.

“We were happy about the project because the pit toilets the community was using were not safe at all. Some of the residents even demolished old pit toilet structures because of the development. We are disappointed that the project was left incomplete,” he said.

Mabowa informed that main complaints have arises from sub-contractors who are still owed by the main contractor before he can vanish.

“Everyone who was working in the project including unskilled labourers who were employed in the villages are complaining of not being paid,” he said.

Mabowa said FTLM Ward 27 residents feel neglected by the government because many projects were left unfinished in the area.

“It is like the government is operating in a construction mafia in our area because projects have started but never completed. There is abandoned RDP housing project which was also left half done in 2016. We have another abandoned water project in Kutullo Village, the water reticulation project in Tsakane Section is also delaying without any explanations. This is too much and should come to an end,” he said.

Mabowa said residents plan to convene a community meeting to seek clarity from the ward councillor and if the councillor fail to clarify the issue, on a later stage, they plan to take their concerns to the district municipality for clarification.