LEPHALALE, Limpopo, October 9 — A multi-million rand sports stadium in Ga-Seleka Village, built to honour ANC activist Captain Jimmy Thulare, remains abandoned since its inauguration in 2014.
Democratic Alliance (DA) criticises Lephalale Mayor Aaron Mokgetle for excluding the community from using the facility.
The stadium, funded through a municipal infrastructure grant requiring 15% allocation to sports facilities was touted in 2014 as a hub for soccer, athletics, and other sports, with capacity for 3,500 spectators.
Images reveal rust corroding its steel grandstands, and its once lush pitch has turned to dust as years roll on without any organised events.
During its inauguration, former Limpopo Premier Stan Mathabatha highlighted its potential to steer youth away from crime and drugs.
Despite initial pledges for ongoing maintenance and community involvement, DA Councillor Esrom Setho described the stadium as a “decaying white elephant.”
” He emphasised the importance of the facility and criticised the ANC for its “political exclusivity,” noting that the latest event held there was for the mayor’s imbizo.
Local residents and sports clubs, forced to practice on dirt fields, are now demanding answers about the future of the stadium.
The DA is calling for immediate public access, a management plan, and accountability regarding the ongoing decay of the facility.
“This insults every child playing on barren grounds,” Setho stated.
The mayor has yet to respond to requests for information, as pressure mounts for transparency and action regarding the stadium’s fate.
Additional Reporting by Lephalale Express Archives.
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