The controversial Potgieter Park development in Louis Trichardt appears to be nearing completion. The R16.53 million project aims to convert the dilapidated park in Rissik Street into an entertainment area, complete with an amphitheatre, outdoor gym and wedding garden.
Many residents have questioned the need for such expenditure on a park, particularly given the municipality's ongoing struggles to maintain existing infrastructure, such as the municipal swimming pool. The project has also more than doubled in cost, with numerous missed completion deadlines.
The Potgieter Park development first featured in the Makhado Municipality's 2022/23 budget, with R1 million allocated for the 2022/23 financial year and R5 million for 2023/24.
The tender for the development was awarded in 2023 to construction company Kumbatia, in a joint venture with 1 Daisy, with Rixongile Consulting Engineers as the engineers. Construction began in March 2024.
In the 2023/24 annual report, R7 million was budgeted for the project, funded from the council's own income. At the time, the project was reported to be 20% complete. In the budget for that year, projected costs for 2024/25 had increased to R10 million.
By the time the 2024/25 mid-year budget report was released, costs had escalated further. The budget was now stated as R12 million, with expenditure at that stage standing at R10.9 million. The project was said to be 91% complete.
When Makhado Mayor Dorcus Mboyi delivered her budget speech in June this year, the project was described as "90% complete and will soon stand as a proud public asset."
Municipal spokesperson Mpho Rathando later confirmed that R16.53 million had already been spent on the project. The initial completion date was set for 12 August 2024, but this was later revised to 16 May 2025.
The scope of work includes an outdoor gym, children's play area, 10 braai stands, 10 bomas, an amphitheatre, and a wedding garden. The development also features ablution facilities, an administration block, and a guardhouse. A borehole has been drilled to supply water to four 10,000-litre tanks that will be installed on-site. Parking for 122 vehicles will also be provided.
However, when Limpopo Mirror visited the site last month, the park remained unfinished, with several workers still on site. The contractor declined to comment and referred all queries to the municipality.
Nearby residents have welcomed the improvements, particularly the outdoor gym equipment. "We're glad that the park is finally being built as it had fallen into a very poor condition," said local resident Takalani Mbulaheni. "This park means a lot to us because it has outdoor gym equipment, which we'll use regularly to stay fit. Previously, we had to go all the way to the other park near the Information Centre, but that one is also not properly maintained."
While many residents support the upgrade, others have questioned the high cost and whether the park will be properly maintained in the long term. Some believe the funds would have been better spent addressing urgent service delivery issues, such as water shortages and deteriorating road infrastructure.
There are also concerns about the potential impact the park will have on the quiet residential area, particularly regarding noise, traffic and parking. Rathando said the municipality planned to address these concerns by implementing traffic-control measures and operational rules once the park became operational.
On Tuesday, 24 June, Rathando stated that the project was now expected to be completed by 30 June 2025. He blamed delays on material supply issues, rainfall and the theft of a fence.
Asked about measures to ensure construction quality and budget compliance, Rathando said a full-time, on-site engineer supervised the project and approved workmanship quality. Outstanding work includes electrification, plumbing, landscaping (currently underway), fencing and stormwater management.
Meanwhile, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Limpopo deputy chairperson Antony Matumba criticised the project, saying the municipality was unable to maintain existing infrastructure — including its own offices and a neglected park near Firefly, which he described as a crime hotspot.
He also questioned why another park was being developed while the town's multi-million-rand swimming pool remained incomplete, despite payments having already been made to the contractor.
"Those outdoor gym facilities could have been installed at the swimming pool. There's no water in town, yet over R16 million has been spent on this park — and the quality doesn't reflect that. Even R5 million would have been enough. The rest should have been channelled into completing the swimming pool and upgrading the park near the Information Centre," he said.