Polokwane - The Polokwane local municipality is refurbishing its civic centre in the hopes that it will help to improve service delivery.
Construction work on the extension of the centre will cost R6 million and will be completed early next year.
"The civic centre is currently very congested, making it difficult for public servants to do their jobs properly," said Phuti Lekganyane, spokesperson for the Polokwane municipality.
A tender office and a public gallery are planned as additions to the building as well as the refurbishment of the rates hall which is currently overcrowded.
"We have a rate of 2.3 percent annual growth in the population of the city, which increases the number of people who come in to pay their accounts," said Lekganyane.
He said the construction temporarily could affect the day-to-day operations of the rates hall.
"During the construction, the centre's main entrance will be moved to Bodenstein Street from Landdros Mare Street. This is only until the construction is over," Lekganyane said.
He said the upgrading of the municipal buildings would comply with new environmental requirements.
"Meaning, we don't just dispose of the rubble anywhere we want. There are procedures that need to be followed. And we also want to make sure that the building is environmentally friendly."
