WINTERVELDT, TSHWANE — A state-of-the-art social services building in Winterveldt that was officially opened on 20 March 2026 remains closed and inactive, leaving residents without the local access to social development, SASSA, Home Affairs and rehabilitation services that the centre was built to provide.
Facility completed but not operational
The Winterveldt Social Integrated Centre, contracted in 2014 and handed over earlier this year, was intended as a one-stop hub for a range of services: social development support, South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) assistance, Department of Home Affairs services, a walk-in substance abuse rehabilitation centre, facilities for persons with disabilities, skills development programmes and gym resources.
Despite the official opening by the former MEC for Social Development, Faith Mazibuko, and Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya, the building has been empty for roughly six months. Photographs circulated with the statement from the Democratic Alliance (DA) show unused spaces and locked doors.
DA demands answers and an audit
The DA in Gauteng has written to the provincial MEC for Social Development, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, to seek explanations. The party said it would table questions to establish:
- how much has been spent on the centre to date;
- when the facility was supposed to be completed;
- which contractors were appointed and how funds were used;
- how much has been spent on security for an unoccupied building;
- the reasons for the delay in making the centre operational.
"The longer this facility remains closed, the more it inconveniences residents who must travel long distances to neighbouring areas for services," the DA said in a statement.
Local impact: residents still travelling for basics
Winterveldt residents have long faced transport and time costs to access social grants, identity documents and disability services. The centre was meant to reduce this burden by bringing multiple services under one roof. With the building unused, ordinary people remain dependent on trips to other suburbs — a problem for pensioners, people with disabilities and families seeking rehabilitation support.
Although the DA statement warned of the risks of theft, vandalism and illegal occupation when public buildings sit empty, the document did not specify whether the building is being guarded or whether any operational plan is in place from the provincial department.
Timeline at a glance
| Key milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Contract awarded | 2014 |
| Official opening | 20 March 2026 |
| Status at time of DA statement | Six months after opening — not operational |
Questions for the province
The situation raises several practical and governance questions that the provincial Department of Social Development should address publicly:
- Has an operational funding allocation been approved to staff and run the centre?
- Are SASSA and Home Affairs signed up to provide on-site services, and if so, on what timetable?
- Which department is responsible for maintenance, security and equipment stocking?
These are not academic queries. When multi-service centres stand idle, communities pay the price through lost time, added transport costs and delays in accessing grants or identity documents — issues that particularly affect the elderly and people with disabilities.
Past examples and risk
The DA noted that this centre is "one of many infrastructure projects that have been completed but remain non-operational." The party asked for a full audit to ensure public money was not wasted and to identify any bottlenecks preventing service delivery.
Prolonged inactivity also raises the risk that the facility will incur ongoing safeguarding costs or be subject to theft and vandalism — further eroding the value of the original investment.
What residents need to know
At present there is no public timetable for when the Winterveldt centre will open. Residents who require social grants, identity documents or rehabilitation support should continue to use the existing service points until provincial authorities confirm activation of the Winterveldt hub. The DA has indicated it will pursue the matter in the provincial legislature and request detailed financial and contractual records.
I will be following up with the Gauteng Department of Social Development and Tshwane metro for responses on staffing, budgets and the department’s plan to make the centre operational. This story will be updated when the province provides the requested information.
Bongani Zulu
Gauteng correspondent (Johannesburg)
