The four stadiums in question were built with the budget of the provincial Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation. 

The departmental spokesperson, Tankiso Zola, explained in a written response that the department was only responsible for the implementation of the four stadiums, namely the Dr Rantlai Petrus Molemela Stadium; the Fezile Dabi Stadium, the Sipho Mutsi Stadium, and the Charles Mopeli Stadium. However, maintenance lays within the responsibility of municipalities the stadiums fall under.

Dr Rantlai Petrus Molemela Stadium

The only stadium out of the four that was newly built was the Dr Rantlai Petrus Molemela Stadium in Bloemfontein, at a cost of R414 699 522. Although the stadium is often utilised for events more than sports, it remains unknown how much the Mangaung Metro Municipality spends on maintaining the stadium or how many times it gets utilised or booked. The metro had not replied to OFM News’ enquiry by the time of publishing.

(CLICK HERE TO SEE Dr Rantlai Petrus Molemela Stadium PHOTO GALLERY BELOW ARTICLE)

Fezile Dabi Stadium in Parys

The most expensive stadium the department upgraded is the Fezile Dabi Stadium in Parys, at a cost of R81 826 362, but it has now turned into a white elephant. Allegations are that the stadium has never been utilised since the completion of the upgrade. The municipality had not replied to enquiries by the time of publishing.

(CLICK HERE TO SEE Fezile Dabi Stadium PHOTO GALLERY BELOW ARTICLE)

Sipho Mutsi Stadium, Odendaalsrus

Another stadium that was upgraded to the tune of R34 530 266, is the Sipho Mutsi Stadium in Odendaalsrus, under the Matjhabeng Municipality. Allegations are the only time the stadium gets utilised is when schools in the township are having soccer tournaments. The municipal spokesperson, Kojane Matutle, explained that the responsibility of having to maintain the stadium had been taken away from them by the department. As it stands, the maintenance of the stadium is not within their budget.  

(CLICK HERE TO SEE Sipho Mutsi Stadium PHOTO GALLERY BELOW ARTICLE) 

Charles Mopeli Stadium

The other stadium that was upgraded was the Charles Mopeli Stadium in Qwaqwa, at a cost of R36 220 494. On behalf of the responsible municipality, the Maluti-A-Phofung's spokesperson, Thabo Kessah, stated that the municipality has a budget of R1 400 000 per year for the maintenance of facilities. He also stated that the stadium gets utilised weekly except when under maintenance like the last week of June and first two weeks of July, for top-dressing. When asked which other stadiums the municipality has spent money on, he replied:

• The Phuthaditjhaba Stadium was upgraded for R27 million;

• the Charles Mopeli Stadium was upgraded for R12 million, as per recommendation by the Professional Soccer League (PSL) around 2016/17;

• the Intabazwe Stadium was newly built for R27 million; and

• the Bluegumbosch Stadium was upgraded for R10 million.

DA Leader in the province, Roy Jankielsohn, has expressed that the more these stadiums are not utilised, the more money will be needed to repair them. “The stadiums were built to make our communities better, now the municipalities that are responsible for them are failing to maintain them and in some instances, they ask communities to pay in order to make use of them.”  

(CLICK HERE TO SEE Charles Mopeli Stadium PHOTO GALLERY BELOW ARTICLE) 

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