The Gauteng Department of Social Development (GDSD) has recently made headlines with its plan to purchase a building in central Pretoria for up to R70-million. This move has sparked a debate due to the department’s unclear intentions for the building’s use.

The building in question, a former Protea Hotel, boasts 106 guest rooms, a reception area, dining room, offices, a boardroom, and a large kitchen, along with a swimming pool and parking for 49 cars. After the hotel ceased operations, it was leased to the Department of Public Works for the SANDF.

Initially, the GDSD had allocated funds for the acquisition of a new building to be repurposed into a shelter for the homeless, as part of the November 2023 medium-term budget. However, a leaked document suggests that the department began considering potential buildings before finalizing their intended use.

The department’s acting social work manager for partnership and finance, Portia Nemathithi, reported that the building’s location on a busy road and proximity to a tavern could pose risks to victims of gender-based violence (GBV). Moreover, the building’s closeness to two existing shelters and the need for GBV shelters in other areas were also highlighted. Nemathithi recommended that the building be earmarked for a different program that could benefit from it, other than the Victim Empowerment Programme.

The GDSD also explored the possibility of using the building as a drug rehab facility, but this idea was rejected. The spokesperson for the department, Themba Gadebe, later stated that the intention is now to purchase a building as a shelter for the homeless, aligning with the provincial priority on homelessness.

This situation has raised concerns about the department’s decision-making process and the transparency of its plans. The GDSD’s consideration of the building’s purchase without a clear purpose reflects broader issues within the department, which has faced criticism for mismanagement and inefficiency, impacting vulnerable groups that rely on its services.

The debate continues as the public and stakeholders await further clarification on the GDSD’s plans for the multimillion-rand building. The decision to purchase such a property should be made with careful consideration of its potential impact on the community and the department’s ability to fulfill its social development mandate effectively.