Vhuilafuri Stadium still not finished and may not get grass

By Thembi Siaga and Kaizer Nengovhela

More than a year after a multimillion-rand sports facility, intended to serve Vhembe’s western villages, was due for completion, it remains unfinished. One of the reasons given is a lack of water to irrigate the grass soccer pitch. It is unclear when the project will be completed or if additional funds will be needed for what appears to be a bottomless pit.

The R37 million tender to build the Kutama Sinthumule Sports Facility was awarded in 2022 to Moswobi Building Construction and Property Developers. The Vhuilafuri Stadium, as it is also known, is about 20 km west of Louis Trichardt, in Madabani village. It was planned as a central sports complex for at least 17 villages in the Sinthumule and Kutama areas.

The owner of Moswobi Building Construction and Property Developers, Mr Harold Muswobi, is no stranger to controversy. In 2014, his company, Harold Muswobi Construction, was awarded a R500,000 tender (which later escalated to nearly R700,000) to repair the municipal swimming pool in Louis Trichardt. The project became a debacle, marred by allegations of poor workmanship and delays. Despite various assurances over the years, the pool remains closed to this day.

Whether the Vhuilafuri Stadium will follow the same fate is uncertain. When GroundUp visited the site two weeks ago, no workers were present, and the cleared areas were being overtaken by bush. The running track remained unfinished, and the site appeared dry and barren.

Concerns have also been raised regarding the contractor’s treatment of workers. Reports indicate that some workers were retrenched after being told only a small amount of work was left. One worker, speaking anonymously, said: “We haven’t been paid for six months. When we ask about our salaries, we get different excuses. The contractor claims he is waiting for the municipality to pay him.”

Local resident Rudzani Liswoga expressed disappointment at the delay: “We don’t have any proper stadium, and we expect this one to be completed. The youth need a place to gather as some have turned to alcohol and drugs due to a lack of entertainment.”

“I don’t see value for money”

On Wednesday, 16 October, the mayor of the Makhado Municipality, Dorcas Mboyi, conducted an oversight visit to assess the progress and quality of work on the sports facility. She and her entourage observed the incomplete work, which included a missing layer on the running track and the absence of protective fencing.

Local residents who attended the oversight visit suggested that the municipality terminate the contract. However, the municipal portfolio head, Rachel Raliphada, said the contract should not be terminated until they "see value for the money spent" on the project.

Raliphada stated that the municipality has applied for additional Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) funding to complete the project as the allocated funds have been exhausted. Residents also demanded that workers who were owed salaries ranging from R12,000 to R20,000 be paid.

The contractor, Mr Muswobi, was not present during this visit. A representative, Erick Tambo, assured those present that all outstanding payments would be settled by the end of October.

Addressing the community, the mayor acknowledged their concerns, saying: "When I arrived here, I could not see where R44 million was spent," referring to the incomplete stadium, overgrown bush, and other materials. She promised that there would be value for money in the project. “We don’t have a stadium we can be proud of, and here, I don't see value for money.”

How much has it cost already?

The mayor’s assertion that the project had escalated to R44 million may have been a misstatement, or she may have been pre-empting a request for additional funding.

Municipal documents indicate that construction of the stadium began in September 2022. The tender was awarded to Muswobi Building Construction at a total cost of R36,949,503.63. The project was scheduled for completion within 12 months, by 26 September 2023, and was funded via an MIG.

The construction plan includes a football/rugby field, an athletics track, combo courts, a 600-seat concrete grandstand, and facilities for traditional games. The contractor is also responsible for providing a borehole, an elevated tank, and establishing water, stormwater drainage, sewerage, and electrical infrastructure, along with fencing. Additionally, a guard house and ablution block are part of the scope.

When asked about the reasons for the project’s delay, Mr Muswobi declined to comment, stating that inquiries should be directed to the technical department of his “employer,” the Makhado Municipality.

The spokesperson for Makhado Municipality, Mpho Rathando, provided detailed responses, noting that some delays were caused by the ongoing water shortage, which disrupted essential construction processes. Local residents mentioned that three boreholes had been sunk, but none produced sufficient water.

Rathando also clarified the project’s finances, stating that the municipality had spent R32.35 million so far. The outstanding amount to be paid is almost R4.6 million, which will be disbursed upon project completion.

“Makhado Municipality has not applied for additional funding for this project as there has been no need for such an application,” he said.

Pitch may be artificial

During the mayor’s oversight visit, it was suggested that an artificial surface for the soccer pitch might be considered, given the water issues.

Rathando confirmed this, adding that the municipality was revising the scope for maintenance due to the water problem. Without adequate water, a grass field cannot be maintained. The fence is to be installed after the running track is completed.

“The revised completion date will be communicated once the update process is finalised,” he said.

When asked about the delays in payments to workers, Rathando explained that the municipality pays the contractor for services rendered and does not interfere in the contractor’s internal matters.

Date:02 November 2024

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