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MEC Mbali Hlophe’s Gauteng Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation (SACR) is prepared to waste millions of rands to demolish the ruins of the HM Pitje Stadium in Mamelodi, Tshwane. This is very concerning as the estimated demolition costs are very high and money is now being taken from the department’s other programmes to ensure that this demolition takes place.

The initially estimated cost implications for the demolition was R69 751 997.00; the budget estimate submitted by the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development and Property Management (DID) as the implementing agent is R84 961 596.71 which includes the contract administration, inspection, demolition of the stadium, site clearing and fencing of the site. This money could be used for the rebuilding of the state-of-the-art stadium and ensure that children and the sporting clubs in Mamelodi and surrounding areas have access to a sporting facility.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) conducted an oversight inspection at the HM Pitje Stadium and was extremely disappointed to discover that only the concrete stands were left to be demolished.

The stadium infrastructure has been stripped bare and the steel bleachers have been dismantled. The demolition of the concrete stands and rubble removal cannot cost the millions that the department has estimated.

The photos of the stadium can be accessed here, here, here and here

Furthermore, according to the department’s adjustment budget for the 2021/22 financial year, R400 000 has been shifted from Programme Three to cater for the demolition of the HM Pitje stadium. Programme Three is responsible for the libraries and archival services, which means that our children will continue to suffer without the necessary reading materials.

While the DA supports the demolition of the stadium, we do not agree with the estimated cost as it is exorbitant, and a waste of the department’s budget based on the current state of the stadium.

For far too long, the DA has been calling on the department to reprioritize its budget to ensure that the money is allocated to render services for the benefit of our residents.

The department has not budgeted for the reconstruction of the stadium, yet they are aware that the communities are in dire need of proper sporting facilities such as this stadium, which will certainly nurture and develop young sporting talent from a grassroots level.

The DA is challenging MEC Hlophe to conduct an oversight inspection at the stadium to ascertain what is left to be demolished. We will not fold our hands and allow the department's coffers to be used in a project where there is no value for money.

We will continue to put pressure on MEC Hlophe to ensure that a proper assessment of the stadium is conducted in terms of the demolition process to save money for the reconstruction of the stadium.

Issued by DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation (SACR), Kingsol Chabalala MPL