Two-decade-old taxpayer funded project in South Africa sits incomplete and abandoned

In 2007, a library promised to transform Utlwanang, a small community in the North West near Bloemhof, into a place of learning and opportunity.

Nearly two decades later, the site stands deserted — millions in public funds spent, yet not a single book ever shelved.

Recently, African National Congress MP Gaolatlhe Kgabo asked Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie for an update in the nearly two-decade-long project.

“The project faced numerous challenges due to the Municipality’s inability to effectively manage the project implementation,” said McKenzie.

“The site has been abandoned since 2013, resulting in vandalism and deterioration of the structure.”

McKenzie passed the buck to the North West Provincial government, as they are constitutionally obligated to build and/or provide library infrastructure, facilities and services and infrastructure to the communities.

In the 2007/08 financial year, the North West Province entered into an agreement with the LTLM to construct a community library in Utlwanang funded through the Community Library Services Grant.

The total project cost was estimated at R4.1 million, or roughly R10.4 million in 2025 terms.

The Province transferred R1.5 million in 2007/08 and R2.5 million in 2009/10 towards the project. This would equate to roughly R3.8 million and R5.4 million in 2025 terms, respectively.

In 2010, professional services of planning, design, cost management and project management of the Utlwanang library were completed, said McKenzie.

However, the Province reportedly requested a few changes, including the demolition of an interior wall to accommodate the circulation desk.

In 2013, the project, promised to be an educational community hub for a community with high levels of poverty, was abandoned.

We are fixing it now – government

According to the Minister, since 2013, several meetings have taken place between the North West Province and the LTLM to resolve the challenges that delayed implementation and ultimately led to the collapse of the project.

“The frequent changing of Municipal Managers has made it difficult to resolve the challenges as the process was restarted each time a new incumbent took position,” said McKenzie.

In 2015, the North West Department of Public Works conducted a structural inspection of the Utlwanang Library.

The findings allegedly showed that the building was in good condition. A follow-up inspection a decade later in 2025 confirmed that the structure remained in good shape, according to the Minister.

However, images from November 2025 show a building dilapidating, vandalised, and withering.

It was recommended that maintenance be carried out to complete the project.

McKenzie said that the province and the municipality reached an agreement following a meeting held on July 26, 2025.

He said that LTLM will reconcile project spending of R4 million, submit the forensic audit report and Council’s resolutions to the Province, and assess the rehabilitation costs, which it will fund.

The Provincial Department of Public Works and Roads confirmed the structure is sound, needing only repairs and maintenance, and the Province will fund the library’s operationalisation once maintenance is completed.

Question marks raised

Upon analysis of LTLM’s 2025/26 Integrated Development Plan, only one library has been allocated resources – R19 million for the long-delayed Boitumelong Community Library.

The Utlwanang library was not mentioned once. It was mentioned in the 2023/24 annual report, stating it “is still not complete.”

“The Department of Arts, Culture, Sports, and Recreation is in the process of looking at other avenues to complete it.”

DA LTLM councillor Theo Gerber said, given the state of the municipality’s finances, he is not holding his breath for a completed Utlwanang library.

“I became a councilor in 2016 – since then, it has not been brought up once. Our people are struggling to get water, so I don’t think this library is on the municipality’s radar in the slightest.”

The municipality faces substantial economic challenges, including high unemployment, which impacts residents’ ability to pay for municipal rates and service charges.

LTLM has long faced issues related to effective governance, having received disclaimer audit opinions from the Auditor-General of South Africa for the past three consecutive years.

The municipality boasts hundreds of millions of rands in unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure.

This results in numerous taxpayer-funded projects not delivering on the promised benefits to the communities.

In its annual report, it promises to ‘continue improving service quality’, strong revenue management, and difficult choices regarding tariff increases are necessary.

The municipality aims for full cost recovery for specific user charges, especially for trading services.

Still, its financial health has been in tatters for years. In its latest report, the Auditor-General issued a qualified opinion, citing deficiencies across key area.

This includes assets, liabilities, revenue, expenditure, and cash flow, as well as unauthorised, irregular, and fruitless or wasteful expenditure.

The AG noted that the municipality as having issues with uncompetitive and unfair procurement, as well as inadequate contract management.

The leadership and their circle in the municipality are no stranger to controversy either.

The former mayoral driver and vehicle rental service provider appeared in the Christiana Magistrate’s Court in August on corruption charges.

The case stems from a fraud and contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Actlinked to former CFO Hendrick Thokoane.

Thokoane was arrested in November 2024 for irregularly procuring vehicle rental services for the mayor between April and May 2022, causing a municipal loss of over R167,000.

They allegedly received over R100,000 in kickbacks to influence the tender award. They have denied these allegations.