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Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale and Executive Mayor of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, Councillor Zanoxolo Wayile, opened the Soweto-on-Sea multi-purpose community centre on 3 October 2011.
The HDA managed the R18-million project, and CEO Taffy Adler said the centre “is a jewel in the HDA crown”. He also mentioned that it is the first non-residential building erected by the National Department of Human Settlements and, as such, gives meaning to the term “sustainable human settlement”.
Work on the community centre began on 22 June 2010 and was completed on 10 July 2011 – ahead of schedule and within budget, andwhen the facility was handed over to the Metro in October, Minister Sexwale said he hoped it would be “well managed”.
The highlight of the handover event was a boxing match between Cassius Baloyi and Anton Gilmore in the new boxing ring – one of the many facilities the community can now enjoy, including a sewing room, gymnasium, basketball facility, netball court, and much more.
The centre is world class in appearance and design, and because solar panels and wind turbines are used to generate power for the building, it is also extremely functional and innovative. Operations Manager Nicholas Tsewusays he is thrilled with the centre. “Our team can be very proud of this achievement – a project of an exceptionally high standard completed within the given deadline.”
