The Benoni Town Hall, a historic building in need of attention, requires only cosmetic repairs and minor structural upgrades to restore it to its former glory, according to Les Godwin, a concerned resident, and members of the DA’s Sports, Heritage, Recreation, Arts and Culture (SHRAC) committee. After years of neglect, an oversight visit was conducted on June 22 to assess the condition of the building, prompted by a Facebook live video from the Benoni City Times on June 7, which garnered positive responses from readers.
Godwin, along with the committee members, expressed optimism about the repairability of the hall. Despite interior damage, such as peeling paint, damaged doors and windows, broken seats in the main gallery, and unsanitary bathrooms due to a lack of water, Godwin stated that restoring the facility would not pose significant challenges. He described the hall as beautiful and expressed excitement about revitalizing it.
Godwin also highlighted the missed opportunities for the Council of Ekurhuleni (CoE) to generate income from the hall over the past decade. Renting out the facility could cover its maintenance costs and benefit the community. The neglected garden, where Godwin took his wedding photos, and the overall state of the hall saddened him. However, the public’s desire to see it restored and utilized provided encouragement.
In order to address the repairs, Godwin proposed a public-private partnership involving the CoE and the residents of Benoni, where both parties would collaborate on maintaining the facility. He suggested that funding for the restoration did not have to come solely from the municipality, as there was support from local businesses interested in contributing to the project.
Michael da Silva, a PR councillor from the DA in Ekurhuleni, echoed Godwin’s sentiments, stating, “I feel sad mainly because the facility is under-maintained. It needs cosmetic upgrades and some tender loving care.” Da Silva emphasized the importance of cooperation between the CoE, the public, and stakeholders to restore and reactivate the facility, saying, “What’s important for us is for the public and council to work together to get the facility back up.”
Da Silva expressed confidence in the repairability of the hall, adding, “I’m confident the hall is fixable.” He called for the involvement of the public and stakeholders, stating, “We would appeal to the CoE to join hands with the public and stakeholders to get the facility up and running.”
Da Silva also emphasized the significance of empowering communities and granting them access to public spaces. He said, “The more you empower communities, the better the facilities look. But when these spaces are abandoned and unused, they break down, leading to public frustration.”
Da Silva attributed the deterioration of the building to neglect and emphasized the need for adherence to the principles of good governance to ensure the proper maintenance of facilities in the city. He proposed involving tenants responsible for daily maintenance, stating, “Facilities such as stadiums and halls need to be rented to tenants, who will be in charge of the daily maintenance.” He further emphasized the importance of community involvement, saying, “Communities also need to be involved in the care of these facilities.”
Source: Benoni City Times
