Gauteng government under fire over R34 million rehab centre funds

The Gauteng government is facing accusations of mismanaging funds allocated for the establishment of a drug rehabilitation centre in Tembisa. Critics claim that despite millions being spent, there has been no visible progress on the facility, raising serious concerns about financial accountability.

Budget Allocation vs. Actual Spending

In the 2018/2019 financial year, the Gauteng government set aside R20 million for the planning phase of the rehab centre. However, Social Development MEC Faith Mazibuko recently revealed that the actual expenditure has ballooned to over R34 million—a 14-million-rand increase beyond the initial budget.

Mazibuko stated that the money had been spent on:

• Quantity surveying

• Construction project management

• Town planning

However, despite these costs, the rehabilitation centre has yet to be built, leading to public outrage and calls for greater transparency.

Calls for Accountability

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has taken a strong stance on the matter, demanding that the Gauteng government explain how R34 million has been spent without a single brick being laid.

Gauteng Legislature member Refiloe Nt’sheke has been vocal about the issue, questioning how such an amount could be spent without tangible results.

“They’ve basically spent R34 million on a contractor to plan from 2018 to 2025. Nothing has actually been erected, but R34 million has been spent,” said Nt’sheke.

She further argued that this does not represent value for money, adding that Gauteng residents deserve better from their government.

Public Reaction and Concerns

The lack of progress on the Tembisa drug rehabilitation centre has raised concerns among residents and activists, particularly given the rising drug abuse crisis in the province.

Tembisa, like many areas in Gauteng, has seen an increase in substance abuse, particularly among the youth. Many believe that the rehabilitation centre would have played a crucial role in helping addicts recover and addressing the drug problem in the community.

One frustrated resident, Thabo Mashego, said:

“People are struggling with drugs here. Our young people are getting lost to nyaope and crystal meth. The government promised us a rehab centre, but now they are telling us that all the money has gone to ‘planning’? This is corruption.”

Many share this sentiment, accusing the government of failing the very people it claims to serve.

Is This a Case of Corruption?

With millions spent and no progress made, many are questioning whether this is a case of corruption or poor financial management.

South Africa has seen multiple cases of government funds being misused under the guise of planning and consultation fees, only for projects to stall indefinitely.

While no direct allegations of corruption have been made, opposition parties and civil society groups are demanding that the Gauteng government provide a detailed breakdown of how the money was spent.

Next Steps: Will the Government Take Action?

As the controversy surrounding the Tembisa rehab centre grows, it remains to be seen whether the Gauteng government will take corrective action.

For now, the DA and other concerned groups are:

• Calling for a full investigation into how the R34 million was spent

• Demanding accountability from those in charge of the project

• Pushing for the rehab centre to be completed as soon as possible

With 2025 fast approaching, the public will be watching closely to see whether the Gauteng government delivers on its promise—or whether this will be yet another failed project at the expense of taxpayers.