Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality

Photo: Facebook.

Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality defends ‘R15 million stadium’ [PICS]

The Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality said there’s more than what meets the eye when it comes to the ‘R15 million’ stadium in the Eastern Cape.

Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality

Photo: Facebook.

The Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality, the home of the now-infamous “R15 million” sports stadium said it wants to set the record straight after the big reveal of the Eastern Cape sporting facility was met with backlash from politicians and broader society.

ENOCH MGIJIMA LOCAL MUNICIPALITY TRIES TO SET RECORD STRAIGHT

The Lesseyton Sports Facility in the Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality near Komani in the Eastern Cape was officially opened on Monday, 4 October. When images of the facility, which reportedly cost R15 million to build, hit social media raised eyebrows quickly turned into raised fists – so to speak – as most people felt that the homely facility was not fitting for its price tag.

“The Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality is aware of concerns from members of the public on social media around the Lesseyton sports facility constructed near Komani,” said the municipality via its Facebook page on Tuesday.

The municipality added that it regretted the manner in which the initial post – which has since been deleted – was shared as it feels there were not enough details provided about what the R15 million entailed.

The municipality said construction work on the Lesseyton Sports Facility began in March 2020 following an environmental impact assessment approved by the Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDAT), which authorised the project.

“Further investigations were also conducted to determine the suitability of the site to be developed into a sports field with associated structures – which include survey, Geotechnical and Geohydrological tests.”

The R15 million was also spent on the erection of a 780-metre palisade fence; the construction of a rugby and soccer field, including site clearing and layering; rock blasting, as the area was reportedly mainly made of hard rock; excavation of the ground; importing base layers, soil and grass; an athletics track; 14 showers, eight showers and changing rooms; borehole drilling; a sewer system; electrical costs; a guardhouse and the steel grandstands.

“[The Lesseyton Sports Facility] is aimed at providing the community, especially youth, with a facility that will serve as a suitable playing ground to benefit over six villages. The community has a rich history in sport and has also produced a professional soccer player which the municipality prides itself on.

The Enoch Mgijima Local Municipality feels the expenditure on the project, which they see as an investment in the rural village is justified, whether the rest of the country agrees – after their explanation – remains to be seen.