The recent claims by the Mayor of the Ekurhuleni Metro, Mr Nkosindiphile Xhakaza, that the long-delayed SAAME municipal building project in Germiston remains within budget are misleading.
The project entails upgrading the SAAME building into a multi-purpose municipal service centre.
Since its inception in 2017, however, the project has repeatedly experienced delays and cost overruns. The original budget was approximately R46 million, with completion expected in 2021.
According to forensic and internal audit reports, the total cost had already exceeded R272 million by 2025 – with rumours of it exceeding R300 million – due to irregular expenditure, price fluctuations and poor contract management.
In June 2025, a further R39 million was allocated to complete the project.
During an inspection on 13 March 2026, the Mayor announced that the building is now 99,9% complete, with only final finishing touches remaining on the so-called “snag list”. He promised that the centre would officially open in April, or early in May, 2026.
The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) wants to emphasise that these assurances are misleading. Residents have already paid many times over for a building that has remained incomplete for years, while the Metro incurred additional expenses by leasing alternative office space and security services.
The project has been linked to serious findings of mismanagement and irregular expenditure, including unauthorised payments, inflated material prices and poor workmanship. One forensic report even recommended that the matter be referred to law enforcement and the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) for further investigation.
Residents have every right to demand a detailed, public update on:
• whether the SIU will officially investigate the matter;
• whether any irregularly spent funds have been recovered, and whether any official or contractor faces disciplinary or criminal action;
• the full, final cost of the project, including professional fees; and
• a credible, fixed schedule for occupation and operational readiness, without any more excuses and extended deadlines.
Ekurhuleni’s taxpayers deserve honest communication and real accountability, not claims aimed at downplaying delays.
The Freedom Front Plus will keep demanding transparency, consequence management and a comprehensive public report on every rand spent on this project.
