Following months of review processes by the DA-led multi-party administration into the state of the non-functional Reitiretse car wash in Mamelodi, the City of Tshwane has taken a decision to request legal opinion with a view to effecting the termination of the signed letter of intent signed by former City Manager and Mamelodi carwash cooperatives.
It was made public during my campaign for Mayor of Tshwane and has become common knowledge that the implementation and funding model of the Integrated Vehicle Washing Facility in Mamelodi- which cost the city over R6 million– is not functional nor sustainable. This vanity project has remained idle and non-functional since October 2016 due to structural damages and infighting amongst the cooperative members. All of the equipment from facility has since been stolen.
The then City Manager signed a Memorandum of Intent with the carwash cooperatives committing to provide support to the cooperatives for three years until the operations of the facility are self-sustaining and profit generating. At the current moment there is no signed agreement between the City and the cooperatives except the said Memorandum of Intent. The constitution of the said cooperative is also not yet adopted by its members.
“This vanity project has proven to be a badly managed one by the former administration with millions wasted. It is sad to see a project that was meant to revitalize the township economy, particularly in addressing unemployment and creating an opportunity for jobless South Africans, exposed for the sham we always suspected it to be at the expense of many vulnerable South Africans looking for work.”
“The promises to create employment touted by the former administration were indeed empty and resources wasted on this non-starter rather than channelled to workable projects to engergise the township economy and to provide opportunities for the unemployed.”
“We will do all within our powers to ensure that we salvage what we can from the structure and turn it into a useful asset for the community of Mamelodi. We are offering this lifeline because it pains us to see a multi-million project that was meant to uplift the community going to waste” said Msimanga.
The DA-led multi-party administration will continue to work hard to create many more jobs and opportunities for all.