Gauteng’s Sebokeng DLTC Remains a White Elephant After Decade of Delays, Now Needs Extra R138 Million to Complete

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19-08-2025
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Central News
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Project History and Escalating Costs
Vandalism Despite Heavy Security Spending
MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela’s Response and Accountability Measures
Community Impact and Political Backlash

Gauteng’s Sebokeng Driver’s License Testing Centre (DLTC) remains a white elephant after a decade of delays, with construction costs spiralling beyond the original budget, widespread vandalism despite millions spent on security, and the facility still incomplete and unusable, now requiring an additional R138 million from taxpayers to finally bring it online.

The long-stalled project in Sebokeng, located in the Vaal region under the Emfuleni Local Municipality in Sedibeng District, has become a stark symbol of service delivery failures and wasteful expenditure in Gauteng. Construction kicked off in September 2015, with an initial completion target of 2016 and an original budget of R63 million. However, costs have ballooned to over R80 million already spent, including R78 million on the core build and an additional R9.4 million on security services from 2019 to 2025, yet the centre stands in ruins, vandalised and far from operational. Recent interventions by the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport (GDRT) aim to revive the facility, but at a steep price, highlighting ongoing challenges in infrastructure management amid community frustration and political scrutiny.

Project History and Escalating Costs

The Sebokeng DLTC was envisioned as a modern hub to provide essential services like driver’s licence testing, vehicle registration, and learner’s permit issuance, easing the burden on residents in the densely populated Vaal area. Work began under the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development, with the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) initially involved, but the project was formally transferred to the GDRT in August 2021 after years of stagnation. Despite the handover, progress halted, leading to repeated budget overruns.

By 2023, reports indicated that R78 million had been poured into the site, but it was left abandoned, with overgrown grass, piles of rubble, and a pervasive smell of dust signalling neglect. An assessment that year pegged the additional cost to repair and complete the facility at R91 million, but this figure has since risen. In May 2025, the GDRT announced it had allocated funds to repair the vandalised structure, with site handover scheduled for June 2025 and practical completion targeted for February 2027. This timeline extends beyond earlier promises, underscoring persistent delays.

The latest financial injection, confirmed in June 2025, totals R138 million over two financial years: R54.5 million for 2025/26 and R84 million for 2026/27. The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) has been appointed as the implementing agent to oversee the revival, focusing on structural repairs, electrical installations, and security upgrades. This brings the projected total cost well over R200 million, a far cry from the initial R63 million estimate.

Vandalism Despite Heavy Security Spending

One of the most glaring issues has been the rampant vandalism at the site, despite substantial investment in protection. Between June 2019 and 2025, R9,420,295.68 was spent on security contracts with five companies: Maraba Security Services (R966,000 in 2019/20), Action Sound Trading and Projects (R1,102,290 in 2020/21), Maile Consulting (R1,088,858.16 in 2021/22), Matetsa Construction (R2,053,800 in 2022/23), and Red Hawks Army Protection Projects (R2,063,400 in 2023/24 and R2,145,947.52 in 2024/25). Yet, the double-storey building shows defaced walls, crumbling ceilings, broken doors, and discarded construction equipment, with no recorded breaches by security teams.

Departmental spokesperson Theo Nkonki explained that the site was already vandalised before security deployment and lacked a formal handover, which hampered effective guarding. Critics argue this points to deeper systemic failures, including poor oversight and questionable contract awards.

MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela’s Response and Accountability Measures

Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport Kedibone Diale-Tlabela has acknowledged the project’s woes, emphasising accountability for the wastage. In a recent briefing, she stated that government officials implicated in the mismanagement are being brought to book, with investigations into the millions squandered. “For the financial year 2025/2026, the budget allocation is R54.5 million and R84 million for the financial year 2026/2027,” Diale-Tlabela confirmed, underscoring the need for more funds to complete the work.

The MEC highlighted recent interventions, noting that visible progress is underway following departmental action. She assured that the facility would be fully operational by February 2027, allowing it to serve as a key transport licensing hub. This aligns with her July 2025 budget vote speech, where she committed to customer-centric transport services, including the Sebokeng DLTC’s revival as part of broader infrastructure priorities.

Community Impact and Political Backlash

Local residents and driving school owners in Sebokeng have voiced deep frustration over the delays. Many are forced to travel to Vereeniging for licence services, incurring extra costs and inconvenience. Community members describe the site as an eyesore and a waste of public funds, with one driving school operator telling reporters it feels like a major setback for the area.

Politically, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has been vocal in its criticism. DA constituency head for Emfuleni North, Kingsol Chabalala, labelled the project a “travesty,” pointing to the absurdity of spending millions on security that failed to protect the facility. The DA has demanded clear timelines and further budget details, vowing to monitor progress closely.

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