Tinyiko Barbara Ngobeni
The City of Johannesburg has announced plans to refurbish the iconic Metro Centre in Braamfontein, signalling a major step forward in revitalising the inner city.
Executive Mayor Cllr Dada Morero revealed the refurbishment plans following a recent visit by President Cyril Ramaphosa, underscoring a national commitment to restoring key public infrastructure. The Metro Centre has been closed for over a year due to safety concerns arising from long-standing structural issues.
Mayor Morero outlined a three-phase refurbishment project aimed at transforming the Metro Centre into a modern, fit-for-purpose facility that meets the needs of the city’s administration.
“We are working closely with National Treasury to implement this project as part of the City’s Office Space Optimisation Programme,” Mayor Morero said. “The goal is to reduce our reliance on the private sector for office space, which will lead to long-term savings for the City and improved service delivery for residents.”
The City of Johannesburg is collaborating with a cabinet oversight team to establish a presidential working group that will help drive strategic priorities. In addition, the Government Technical Advisory Centre is assisting with streamlining procurement processes and assembling a specialist advisory team to support the Emergency Response Plan and oversee the construction of the new Metro Centre.
Currently, many City staff members are spread across various buildings in Johannesburg, such as Braampark, where the Development Planning Department operates with a fully functional help desk. Plans are also underway to safely relocate important files stored at the Metro Centre.
While an exact timeline for the Metro Centre’s reopening is yet to be confirmed, the City is committed to seeing the project through to completion. The refurbishment is expected to breathe new life into Braamfontein, creating a dynamic and efficient workspace that reflects Johannesburg’s vision for the future.
SOURCED FROM THE JOBURG WEBSITE.
