City of Johannesburg Fails To Deliver R23 Million Library Meant To Be Completed in 2018, Community Frustrated

• The City of Johannesburg has failed to open a library that was promised to the community of Lehae
• Construction of the library began in 2015 and was meant to have been completed in 2018, which has caused frustration in the community
• The Johanessburg Development Agency blamed the old construction company for the prolonged delay

JOHANNESBURG - The City of Johannesburg and the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) are pointing fingers at each other for failing to complete the construction of a library that started in 2015.

The R23 million Lehae library was initially set to open in 2018, but then the date got postponed to 1 April by the city, which never happened.

In June, the angry youth voiced their disappointment and demanded that the library be opened. The City said that it's still fixing the electricity connection damaged by the storm and that by the end of July, the library would be operational, reported News24.

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Jacques Bona, the AFK's Lehae Youth Club chairperson, said the youth in the area had created petitions to try and speed up the city's efforts in opening up the library. They have managed to get over 1000 signatures online and in person.

"The youth has to spend money and travel to other communities to access library services. Many cannot afford data for their research assignments. It is painful. Young people have lost hope in the government. We are fed with empty promises."

According to reports, JDA said the delayed opening of the Lehae Library is due to the contractor's incompetence and that a new one was hired.

"The JDA and the City are finalising the process of getting an occupational certificate. This will allow the library to be open for public use."

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City of Johannesburg plans to write off debt of residents, churches, small businesses and NPOs

Briefly News reported that The City of Johannesburg has launched a programme to help residents from certain groups write off their debt. These groups include small businesses, non-profit organisations, churches and households that earn less than R22 000 per month.

People can apply for the debt write-off programme, and once successful, the CoJ will immediately write off 50% of the owed municipal fees. The rest of the debt will be divided into three parts and each part will be written off every year for the next three years.

Source: Briefly News