EPMLM Stadiums investments raise sustainability concerns

MARBLE HALL – The Ephraim Mogale Local Municipality’s (EPMLM) investment in sports facilities has come under scrutiny, with concerns being raised about the sustainability and utility of these investments.

Despite the construction of three stadiums, including Leeuwfontein, Mamphokgo, and Matlerekeng, existing facilities are suffering from poor maintenance and inadequate basic amenities.

Cllr Flip Jacobs of the Democratic Alliance DA in (EPMLM), has questioned the priorities of the municipality, citing the economic hardships faced by residents and the lack of visible revenue generation plans for these facilities.

“When economic hardship forces residents to struggle for survival, every rand of public money must be spent wisely and with clear returns for the community,” Jacobs said.

He said the party has asked the municipality to provide answers on the revenue models developed for these facilities, maintenance budgets, and plans for usage.

Jacobs emphasized that sports infrastructure should serve the community while also contributing to municipal coffers, but this requires strategic planning and professional management.

“We raised concerns to highlight the need for transparency and accountability in the management of public funds. The municipality’s investment in sports facilities should benefit the community socially and economically, rather than becoming a financial burden,” added Jacobs.

The potential benefits of properly managed sports facilities include generating sustainable revenue, creating employment opportunities, and providing youth development programs.

“However, these benefits can only be realized through intentional planning, transparent management, and genuine accountability. We urge the Ephraim Mogale Local Municipality to engage with residents transparently and provide detailed plans for these facilities to demonstrate how they will benefit the community,” stated Jacobs.

He said the municipality leadership should state transparently what specific revenue models have been developed for these facilities and if they have dedicated maintenance budgets that have been allocated to ensure long-term sustainability.

“We also demand to know if these projects were prioritized based on comprehensive community needs assessments and we compel the municipality to provide transparent, detailed budgets explaining the costs. We also want to know if there is concrete usage plans exist for these facilities,” Jacobs asked.

Life Nape, EPMLM Spokesperson, could not respond to the publication’s inquiries.