Construction of the multimillion Polokwane softball stadium has been halted due to budgetary constraints.
By Moyahabo Mabeba
The Polokwane municipality in Limpopo is yet to fork out an additional funding to complete a multimillion international softball stadium thrice the original tender budget before it was abruptly abandoned.
The municipality was supposed to cofound the initial budget of R90 millions through the municipal infrastructure grant but after the contractor, Bo-Mamohlala Projects abandoned the project, the revised budget skyrocketed to R184 millions.
Construction of the facility started in December 2020 and the envisaged practical completion was July 2022.
Prior to the abandonment of construction due to contractual disputes, R51 million had already been spent on the project – representing 84% of the contracted amount although the project’s physical progress was only at 43% according to a report that was tabled in council.
The current projections are that the stadium, if completed within current estimates, would cost over R251millions.
Professional fees paid as yet also amounted to more than R19m.
The debate on the adjustment of this exorbitant figure has triggered political ructions in the council and failure to reach consensus could result in this multimillion state-of-the-art facility becoming one of the many white elephants in a province beset by infrastructure backlog.
Those opposing the motion to increase the budget insist that the variation order reeks of fraud and corruption and that an external investigation should be instituted.
They further argue that the excessive amount would severely impact on other approved capital projects also being funded from the Integrated Urban Development Grant (IUDG).
The DA says it has been steadfast in rejecting the approval and subsequent rubber stamping of the additional funding.
The Freedom Front Plus and the Economic Freedom Fighters also joined the fray in vehemently opposing the additional funding, a move that could derail the completion of the facility.
DA caucus leader Jacques Joubert said the scope should be dramatically reduced in order to complete the project in order to avoid the facility ending up as a white elephant.
Joubert said “Although we understand that sport is great in promoting physical health, fostering social cohesion and encouraging community building, this cannot come at any cost. The question that begs an answer here is if this project would have seen the light of day if there were no errors or omissions in the bill of quantities, as the cost is astronomical. We demand that proper consequence management be implemented against all parties responsible. “The municipality has a proven track record of poor spending on capital projects, returning grant funding due to poor performance of over R135m to treasury last year. Residents of the city cannot afford other crucial projects to be affected by gross incompetence, poor planning and mismanagement deficiencies of the current administration and thus we demand a proper investigation by the Municipal Public Accounts Committee on the matter.”
Although the EFF initially supported the variation order, this week they changed their tune and announced that they reject the variation order.
EFF councilor, Freddy Ramaphakela said while they want to see the project being completed, the revised budget will have dire consequences on municipal funds and subsequent bearing on other service delivery commitments.
“After careful consideration, we couldn’t support this variation order. We need an independent evaluator to assess the remaining work and its costs before we can agree on the amount. However, the project cannot be abandoned because taxpayers’ money has already been used. Our wish is that this facility be completed so that the sport community could benefit from this stadium” Ramaphakela said.
FF-Plus councilor, Susan Maritz Clarke said the envisaged budget would severely impact on the maintenance and repair budget of other projects which are part of the backlog challenges in the municipality.
She said “We believe the scope should be dramatically reduced in order to complete the project and avoid the stadium ending up being unused and vandalised. If expenses are higher than progress, it would stand to reason that there are untoward actions taking place, and we as the FF-Plus believe that this should be referred for external investigation. The possibility of corruption and maladministration cannot be overlooked either, and service delivery cannot suffer as result of this kind of action. The municipality in its current format is largely dependent on grant funded dependency. We will continue to monitor this and other similar processes in which contractors are appointed under dubious circumstances.”
Since the commencement of construction on site, the project has been marred by contractual disputes between the municipality, politicians and business forums, Covid-19 lockdown regulations, inclement weather conditions, vandalism and escalating material prices.
As a result, over 100 workers who are employed for the project are now jobless.
The incessant stoppages and subsequent halt have been met with disdain by the sports fraternity in a province celebrated as the home of softball.
Limpopo Softball Association (LSA), the provincial governing body, said the failure to complete the stadium has denied them the opportunity to host flagship tournaments in the province.
The stadium would have hosted to the 2022 Softball South Africa (SSA) Masters Championships and the recently held World Baseball Softball Confederation African Qualifiers slated for February 29 to March 2.
Instead, the continental qualifiers were organised at the dilapidated Mahwelereng stadium in Mokopane.
Polokwane will also miss the opportunity to play host the SSA National Provincial Championships between March 19 and February 23 – instead, the inter-provincial tournament will be played at the Polokwane Cricket Grounds.
LSA chairwoman, Mokgadi Moswatsi said the perpetual failure to complete the stadium has denied softballers their greatest moment to shine on the biggest stages of the game.
She said “This international softball arena was supposed to be the theater of the dreams for our talented players where their dreams of playing on a state-of-the-art facility would be realised. We have missed so much and this opportunities may never return in our lifetime. We just hope that whatever disputes delaying the completion of this facility be resolved as a matter of urgency. It is just unfortunate that it is the softball community that is caught between this crossfire and were are bearing the full brunt of their political infightings.”
Tshidiso Mothapo, the spokesperson for the Polokwane municipality has confirmed that the council has resolved that the contract be terminated and explore other avenues.
“The contractor provided the municipality with the termination letter and the letter was accepted. The termination effectively led to the contract lapsing. The reason given by the contractor was that the contract amount was not going to complete the project as previously projected. The municipality did not institute any legal proceedings. The Polokwane municipal council has approved an indicative amount of R90 million to complete the project with co-funding by the Grant Financier Integrated Urban Development Grant” said Mothapo.
If completed, the international arena will have three playing softball diamonds, a practice field, an associated 3 500-seater concrete grand stand for the main diamond, steel and timber grandstand for the other fields and other buildings in the precinct.
Like most municipalities in the country, Polokwane has also being fingered for its a tendency of abandoning sport facilities and let shady contractors to disappear with millions.
In spite of its financial muscles, the municipality has a litany of relinquished projects and the latest debacle on the softball stadium is the tip of an iceberg.
The municipality has come under fire for abandoning several sport facilities, notably the other ballpark in Mankweng township.
Other neglected sport facilities include football arenas in Seshego, Greenside and Ga-Molepo.
In one on the recent council meetings, it was resolved that: “Council approves the terms of reference of the independent investigator to probe the implementation of the Mankweng stadium project. Council approves the appointment of Maluks Attorneys and corporate law advisors to conduct a comprehensive investigation and submit a final report with recommendations to the accounting officer” the annexure read in parts.
LSA chairperson, Mokgadi Moswatsi says the fiasco over the stadium has robbed the province of hosting major events.
Many sports facilities in Polokwane have been abandoned