Elandskraal Sports Facility in shambles
ELANDSKRAAL
The Elandskraal Sports Facility in Ephraim Mogale Local Municipality (EPMLM), is on the brink of collapse. Despite millions of rands being spent on the multipurpose sports centre, the facility is plagued by lack of maintenance and repairs, leaving it in a state of despair.
The neglect has sparked fears that the facility will end up being a “White Elephant”, a symbol of poor planning and bad service delivery.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in EPMLM has raised concerns about the state of the sporting facility.
DA Councillor in the municipality, Flip Jacobs, has been vocal about the municipality’s failure to maintain the facility, citing poor planning and bad service delivery as the main contributors to its neglect.
“Our residents deserve better services,” Jacobs emphasized, highlighting the need for accountability and transparency in municipal governance.
Jacobs indicated that it is more concerning that the Elandskraal Sports Facility, which was intended to be a hub for sports and community activities, is now at risk of becoming a rundown and potentially being repurposed as an animal shelter.
A resident, Khutso Malatji, said they are worried that lack of maintenance and repairs has resulted in the facility’s deterioration, making it difficult for athletes and community members to use.
“The facility’s state is a far cry from its intended purpose, and its neglect has significant implications for the community,” he said.
Malatji indicated that they are concerned that millions of rands spent on the facility have yielded little return, with the facility’s condition worsening over time.
“The lack of maintenance and repairs has resulted in a significant waste of public funds, and the community is left to suffer the consequences. The municipality’s failure to prioritize maintenance and repairs has led to a situation where the facility’s future is uncertain,” he said.
Malatji reiterated that the community is fed up and will embark in a call to action for the municipality to prioritize maintenance and repairs of the facility.
“The community deserves better services, and it is the municipality’s responsibility to ensure that public facilities are well-maintained and functional. The fate of the Elandskraal Sports Facility hangs in the balance, and we want the municipality to commit and take the necessary steps to restore the facility to its intended glory,” he said.
At the time of going to press, EPMLM Spokesperson, Life Nape, could not respond to enquiries sent by the paper.
