Lungani Zungu
Officials from the Enoch Mgijima municipality scored an own goal after the launch of a R15 million sub-standard sporting facility to woo voters backfired.
South Africans were stunned when the pictures of the so-called state-of-the-art Lesseyton Sports Facility were shared on social media, bringing into question whether the millions spent matched the facility.
The Eastern Cape Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) MEC, Xolile Nqatha, has intervened as calls grew for the officials to be red-carded.
In a statement, Nqatha said: “We have requested the leadership of Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality to get all the facts about the scope of work for the project and what has been delivered so far.”
He expected the report by the end of the week for the money spent on the project, which started in March last year.
Clad in ANC regalia, officials from the Eastern Cape municipality recently officially launched the facility, calling it a state-of-the-art facility.
Many questioned where the R15m was spent as there was only an open field and uncovered stands where few community members were seated during the launch.
What many also found amusing was that the officials used a danger tape as a “ribbon” when they launched the facility.
This was among the projects the ANC in the Eastern Cape used to woo voters ahead of the upcoming local government election on 1 November.
However, it backfired spectacularly.
Despite the glaring poor standard of the facility, the municipality stood its ground, saying the facility matched the money spent on it.
Municipal spokesperson Lonwabo Kowa said the pictures on social media were misleading.
“The project scope entailed 780 metres of palisade fencing, the construction of a rugby and soccer field, rock blasting, earthworks, layer works.
“Grass athletics track, ablution facilities, change rooms, borehole drilling, a rainwater catchment tank, a high-rise water main tank, sewer system with a septic tank, electrical installation, guardhouse and steel grandstands,” said Kowa.
However, the pictures told a different story.
He said the facility aimed at providing the community, especially youth, with a facility that will serve as a suitable playing ground to benefit over six local villages.
