Ekurhuleni misses deadline to open long-delayed municipal building

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17-10-2025
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Germiston City News
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The city’s decision to allocate an additional R39 million has sparked outrage amid allegations of mismanagement, overspending, and years of missed deadlines.

The city is still struggling to turn the fate of the SAAME building around as the long-delayed project remains incomplete.

This is despite Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza’s June assurance that the facility would be fully operational by September.

The allocation of an additional R39m to the troubled project sparked outrage from opposition parties, who have condemned the move as a “reward for failure” and a betrayal of public trust.

ALSO READ: Ekurhuleni invests R39m to complete critical SAAME infrastructure project

The project, initially envisioned as a modern municipal service hub, has been mired in years of delays, escalating costs and allegations of poor management.

The DA argue the city can no longer justify further financial injections into a project that has consistently missed deadlines and overspent its budget.

Germiston City News sent an enquiry to the city on October 7, questioning when the building will be open for operations. At the time of going to print, no comment was received.

MMC for Finances Jongizizwe Dlabathi said in his 2025/26 budget speech that the capital budget of R3.1b will support completion of existing projects and improve infrastructure, especially in under-serviced areas.

City defends additional funding

During a media briefing in June, MMC for Developmental Planning and Real Estate Nomadlozi Nkosi joined Mayor Xhakaza to outline the city’s renewed commitment to completing the building.

Nkosi detailed plans to focus on finalising the remaining structural work, installing IT systems and preparing for the launch of municipal customer-care services.

Construction began more than seven years ago but repeated administrative delays and financial mismanagement have continuously derailed progress.

Audit exposes massive irregularities

A recent forensic audit revealed irregularities amounting to over R272m, including irregular expenditure, unauthorised spending and lost

inventory. These findings have raised further questions about accountability and the city’s ability to manage large-scale infrastructure projects.

The audit’s revelations have further depleted public trust with residents and opposition parties questioning whether the additional R39m will truly deliver results this time.

Mayor promises transparency and oversight

Despite mounting criticism, Xhakaza defended the renewed investment, saying it represents a commitment to “rejuvenating infrastructure, restoring service efficiency and eliminating financial waste.”

He pledged strict oversight to ensure the transparent and effective use of funds.

“When completed, the SAAME building will serve as a vital hub for municipal services and customer care,” the mayor added during the site visit in June."

As Ekurhuleni residents continue to wait for the long-promised completion, the SAAME building stands as a towering reminder of what many see as the city’s ongoing struggle with transparency and financial discipline.