Community centre remains unfinished eight years after its construction began and spending R289 million

The Randfontein Community Healthcare Centre remains unfinished eight years after its construction began, and six years after it was set to be completed.

The centre has been under construction since 2018, and has reportedly cost R289 million to date. The facility was originally scheduled for completion in 2020, but is now set to open in August 2027.

According to the Gauteng MEC for Infrastructure Development, Jacob Mamabolo, construction on the project officially stopped on 17 April 2026, with the building only at 81% completion.

The following month, the contractor appointed to build the community centre, Clear Choice Builders, applied for a liquidation order after two years in business rescue.

The Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development (GDID) revealed that the contractor had experienced financial difficulties which led to subcontractors not being paid.

Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, Jade Miller, said numerous oversight visits had been conducted at the site over the years, with no visible construction activity.

She also said she had repeatedly raised concerns around the abandoned site, the unpaid subcontractors, and security personnel.

“MEC Mamabolo’s answers to our questions were alarmingly brief,” Miller said. “Furthermore, the answers provided gave no meaningful explanations regarding the delay.”

“The department could not provide an updated final project cost or indicate how much additional funding will be required.”

Gauteng MEC for Health, Faith Mazibuko, visited the facility in April 2026 and confirmed that the contractor’s financial issues had contributed to the project’s delays.

While at the time it was promised that a new contractor would be appointed, no replacement has yet been appointed, and the facility remains incomplete.

Miller called on the GDID to investigate why Clear Choice Builders’ contract was not terminated when the company applied for business rescue in 2024.

“The Gauteng Provincial Government must stop providing vague answers and changing completion dates while millions of rands in public funds have been spent,” Miller said.

“Residents of Randfontein have been waiting since 2018 for better access to essential healthcare services. They are now expected to wait until 2027, with no certainty that this latest deadline will be met.”

Miller pointed out that the Randfontein Community Healthcare Centre is just one of numerous incomplete projects that Clear Choice Builders is involved in.

This includes the R218 million Ethandukukhanya Community Health Centre in Mpumalanga, whose contractor’s appointment was terminated in September 2024 due to poor performance.

Others, such as the Nancefield Primary School in Gauteng and the Rivoni School for the Blind in Limpopo, saw the contractor removed over delays and financial difficulties.