The old DFA building in Woodley Street. Picture: Sandi Kwon Hoo
THE OLD DFA building in Woodley Street will be turned into an artisan and skills and development training centre in partnership with the Sol Plaatje Municipality to ultimately create jobs for electricians, plumbers, mechanical fitters and turners and millwrights.
According to council, various applications were received for the lease of the first floor of the building that is vacant and is in a “poor condition and in need of general maintenance and repairs”.
The ground floor is currently being utilised as an office and storeroom for the municipality’s refuse removal workers.
The cleansing staff will be relocated to the City Hall.
In 2020, council decided to use the building as an emergency call centre.
However, funding was availed from the national skills fund under the Department of Higher Education and Training in March 2022 for the Khosithi Artisan and Skills Training Institute.
It was decided not to place the lease on public tender due to “exceptional circumstances” where the lease will be signed for a period of three years at a cost of R15,500 per month for the ground floor and R14,000 for the first floor.
The rental will increase by 6% per year with an option to renew the lease for a further three years.
The lessee will be responsible for the cost of any renovations and upgrading of the premises.
Any objections to this development must be submitted to the Spellum committee.
Council also recommended the alienation of various erven in Southridge for the relocation of the Phomolong 109 beneficiaries to address housing backlogs for middle-income groups.
It was noted in council minutes that during a screening process through the housing subsidy system, the beneficiaries did not qualify for the finance-linked individual subsidy programme (Flisp) as their current income fell slightly above the R3,500 to R22,000 income bracket.
“The municipality has been faced with sporadic land invasions throughout the city, including Galeshewe and Roodepan. Furthermore there is a growing social need for the provision of serviced erven in particular for members of the public who do not qualify for a bond or Flisp subsidy.”