PH
The future of the Gauteng government’s multibillion-rand Kopanong Precinct development is hanging in the balance.
The R5-billion project – under scrutiny by the provincial portfolio committee on infrastructure development – is intended to revive Johannesburg’s city centre.
It is being punted by Gauteng Premier David Makhura as the key project of his administration.
It includes the refurbishment of 19 CBD buildings and vacant land, and the creation of 1600 parking bays. It will become home to the headquarters of all provincial government departments.
The five-year project is targeting investors in an effort to stop the inner city’s decay. The promise is that it will create viable retail and commercial space.
In its report to the portfolio committee, the Gauteng infrastructure development department said the precinct will “develop a spatial network … [that will lead to] shared resources.”
But the portfolio committee questions whether the government will get value for money from the project which was conceptualised in 2001.
Former finance MEC Mandla Nkomfe suspended it in 2010 citing funding limitations. At the time, R110-million had been spent.
