In a reply to OFM News’ enquiry, Fezile Dabi Municipality’s spokesperson, Tebello Lengoabala-Serunye, stated the municipality is not the owner of the stadium nor it is in control of it. The municipality had previous signed a funding agreement with the provincial Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation in respect of the construction of the stadium. The municipality was an implementing agent on behalf of the department  

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The municipality is denying any responsibility over the stadium comes after the department stated Fezile Dabi Stadium’s responsibility falls under the municipality. The municipality’s response further reads that their control over the stadium came to an end in June 2013.  

“The involvement of Fezile Dabi District Municipality in the construction of the stadium back in 2011 had nothing to do with the eventual ownership of the stadium by the municipality.”

In conclusion, the response states that the department has since further constructed and completed the stadium between March 2018 and May 2019 on its own without the involvement of the municipality.

The department previously explained to OFM News that they have spent at least R81 million on upgrading the stadium which is situated in Parys.

Allegations are that the stadium has turned into a white elephant, as it has never been utilised since the completion of the upgrade.

OFM News