Makhado Municipality has confirmed that the long-delayed Waterval Stadium outside Louis Trichardt has been completed and will soon be handed over to the community — but it continues to refuse to disclose how much public money was ultimately spent on the project.
Construction of the multi-million-rand stadium began in 2017. Over the following nine years, the project was plagued by repeated delays, changing contractors and missed completion dates, prompting complaints and protests from residents in Elim and surrounding villages, who had been promised jobs, opportunities for local sport and a modern facility that would become a source of community pride.
Municipal records show that R12.54 million had already been spent on the project by the 2021/22 financial year. The records also show that R28.4 million was allocated for phase three, with a further R2 million approved later. However, it remains unclear whether these figures represent the total cost of the project or only part of the overall expenditure.
On Monday, 6 July, Makhado municipal manager Kent Nemaname led an inspection of the stadium to assess the final touches ahead of its official handover. According to the municipality, the inspection formed part of efforts to ensure the facility meets the required standards before it is opened for community use. But while the municipality prepares to hand over the stadium, it has declined to reveal the project’s final cost or explain why the information is being withheld.
Limpopo Mirror has repeatedly asked the municipality over the past four years to disclose the total amount spent on the project, but despite several follow-up enquiries, the municipality has never provided the information. Although it has responded to other media enquiries during this period, questions relating to the stadium’s cost have consistently gone unanswered.
In April, members of the mayoral committee, led by Makhado mayor Dorcas Mboyi, visited the stadium as part of an oversight and monitoring programme for municipal infrastructure projects. During that visit, this newspaper again asked municipal spokesperson Mpho Rathando to explain the reasons for the delays, provide an update on the project’s status and disclose the total amount spent. Rathando said he was awaiting approval from senior municipal officials before responding. Despite repeated follow-ups, no response was received. Neither the April oversight visit nor this week’s inspection ahead of the handover was open to the media.
Elim 7 Stars chairperson Ivin Mhaluri welcomed the completion of the stadium but said the lengthy delays had deprived both the community and local businesses of opportunities.
“Looking at how long the project took, it delayed progress not only for footballers but also for local businesses, as many people would have benefited from the stadium. Another important thing is that the municipality should not simply hand it over and neglect it. A company should be appointed to maintain the facility and provide security. Finally, we are happy,” he said.
Fumani Mageza, spokesperson for the Elim to Shirley Community Development and Service Delivery Forum, said the delays had deprived children and local footballers of a proper place to play.
“Some of the children have resorted to drugs. What is painful is that millions of rand were spent, while security guards continued to be paid for years during the delays caused by the municipality and its contractors,” he said.