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Despite having a multimillion-rand sports facility on their doorstep, voting is the last thing on the minds of many talented Komani youngsters because it has failed to make a difference in their community.
Young people who have big dreams of sporting futures are reportedly being barred from playing on the controversial Lesseyton sports field in Ndlovukazi village, and the Dispatch spotted them playing outside the stadium.
“We only train on the streets and village fields,” soccer player Vuyolwethu Qwabi said.
“We would like to have training sessions at the stadium.
“They [officials] handed over kits at stadium but we didn’t know the criteria they used, maybe they prioritised people from certain parties.”
Another soccer player, Khanya Mamnkeli, said the village just outside Komani had plenty of talented youngsters and the stadium should be used to unearth local gems.
“I don’t know how to access the field because we are never allowed to go there,” Mamnkeli said.
“I have no idea why the local teams cannot play there.”
Many “born frees” who should have been using the stadium to train or play matches, said they were doubtful about going to the polls on May 29 because voting had not made any significant changes to the lives of people in the village.
“I haven’t yet made up my mind about voting,” Mamnkeli said.
When the Dispatch visited the stadium last week, goats were grazing on the field. The grass was unkempt.
Broken nets and rusty poles further validated claims that the facility was neglected and not being used for the soccer and rugby matches for which it was intended.
It has, however, not been vandalised because it is protected around the clock by security guards.
A resident who lives a stone’s throw from the sports field said it had not been used by any sports teams so far this year.
However, municipal officials arrived at the facility from time to time to inspect it, she said.
The woman, who asked not to be named, said community members were puzzled by the lack of sporting activity taking place at the costly facility.
“I heard that it was used only once in 2023,” she said.
The facility’s electricity is off and the toilets do not flush.
It is understood only youths doing learnerships with the municipality use the stadium’s toilets when they stay at a community hall across the road, using buckets filled with rainwater from two water tanks.
The stadium reportedly cost R15m, though some media reports put the amount at R20m.
The high cost caused an uproar when the stadium was launched in 2021, with concerns being raised that it did not represent value for money, as it seemed incomplete despite the millions spent.
Images of the project went viral on social media and the EFF opened a case of corruption with the Hawks.
In 2022, the Dispatch reported that the contractor, Thalami Civils, could be forced to repay money received from the contract if the Enoch Mgijima municipality acted on the recommendations of a probe into the construction of the facility.
Municipal spokesperson Lonwabo Kowa previously said there was no wrongdoing on the part of the local authority.
At the time, the municipality was adamant that it got value for money with the project, saying some of the money had been used to erect 780m of palisade fencing, construct rugby and soccer fields and ablution and changing room facilities, and conduct rock blasting, earthworks and layer works.
The money was also reportedly used to install the rain water tanks, a sewerage system with septic tanks, electricity connections, a guard house and steel grandstands.
This week, Kowa said the facility had been handed over to the community to use.
All work had been completed except for a connection to the Eskom grid.
“An application for the electricity connection was made to Eskom during construction,” he said.
Kowa denied that local teams were being denied access to the facility.
“Sport teams are not barred from using the facility and they are using it.
“The sports field was constructed at the request of members of the community. The municipality cannot dictate the needs of the people.”
EFF provincial secretary Simthembile Madikizela said the party had not yet received an update on the legal investigation into the issue.
Hawks provincial spokesperson Captain Yolisa Mgolodela said the investigation was still under way.
“The investigating officer is waiting for outstanding documents from various institutions that will assist the investigation for submission to the director of public prosecutions to pave a way forward,” she said.
A preliminary report into the construction tender leaked to Dispatch in 2022 recommended that the municipality approach the high court for the awarding of the contract to Thalami Civils to be set aside.
The investigation, conducted by Wesley Pretorius & Associates Inc, found that the procurement process and tender award had been marred by numerous irregularities.
This week, Kowa said the municipality was not yet in possession of a final report with recommendations from the co-operative governance and traditional affairs department.
“We cannot act in the absence of a final report.”
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