CAPE TOWN - The City Hall renovations set to begin in September are expected to be concluded in June next year at a cost of R27 million.
Mayoral committee member for assets and facilities Stuart Diamond is overseeing the project.
The renovations include the restoration of the floor; front and backstage, seating and the installation of a mechanical ventilation system, he said.
“City Hall is one of our oldest and most central public spaces with a rich history that resonates with residents across the city and the rest of South Africa.”
The building is more than 100 years old and renovations were “long
overdue”.
But Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit organisation which advocates for secure housing for all, questioned the timing and cost of the renovations.
“It seems irresponsible to spend such a large sum of money on a project that benefits the few rather than the many in need,” the organisation said.
“The allocated R27m could go a long way in providing access to viable and affordable housing options for many families in the metro area.”
Diamond said the funds had been incorporated into the City's budget over three financial years.
Habitat for Humanity requested that the budget be reviewed in order to reallocate funds and resources to other projects in need, such as the City’s housing crisis.
More should be done to include the residents of Cape Town in the decision-making processes that have a direct impact on their well-being, it said.
“Where the City is seemingly unable to follow through on its obligations to deliver viable and affordable housing options for those most in need, projects such as the upgrading of City Hall's auditorium seem bizarre.”