Answers demanded on incomplete multimillion rands stadium

MAMPHOKGO – Residents in Ephraim Mogale Local Municipality (EPMLM) are calling for the local municipality to take them into confidence and update them on the developments around the multimillion rands worth incomplete Mamphokgo Stadium outside Marble Hall.

The residents complained that the last time they heard from the local municipality on the matter was that the director of infrastructure in the municipality has been suspended and that an update would be available after 90 days, which has since passed without any information made available to them.

Seun Mogotji, Bolsheviks Party of South Africa (BPSA) leader, an opposition in EPMLM council, said that it was concerning that so many millions meant for service delivery could be misused and no one held accountable.

Mogotji indicated that the municipality needed to put in place serious consequence management on those responsible and that the mere suspension of the director for infrastructure was just a slap on the wrist.

“Those millions must be paid back and or the stadium must be completed. That structure in its current state is an insult to the people. Remedial action must be taken by the municipality or we will take it upon ourselves to open a case and follow this up through law enforcement agencies.

Percy Moagi, EPMLM Communications Manager, said that the project started on 07 September 2017 and was envisaged for completion on 14 December 2018, and further indicated that it was at a cost of R23 867 008.

Moagi added that the project’s scope was completed although there has been cable theft affecting the functionality of the submersible pump that resulted in the defects encountered on some of the completed work such as the dead grass on the soccer pitch, due to inefficient water supply, eroding surface on the netball and volleyball courts and seized up pressure (booster pump).

“The delay was caused by the prolonged time of energizing the facility by ESKOM and the replacement of stolen cables. There is severe presence of hard rock on the cable route which slows the rate of excavation and ultimately affecting the reinstallation,” explained Moagi.

He concluded that the municipality would execute all the outstanding remedial works internally to bring the stadium to its function.