The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Tokologo Local Municipality, which also includes Boshof and Dealesville, has raised concerns over the millions used to erect a half-done tennis court. 

Councillor Hismajesty Maqhubu said public funds were used to erect a single tennis court worth R2 million. He and his party are of the view that the construction of the tennis court is a textbook definition of mismanagement, incompetency, and economic traitor-ship of the public purse. 

According to Maqhubu, the decision to build the tennis court in question was taken in 2021 and construction began in the same year. “The DA conducted an oversight visit after its completion and found a half-completed project.”

Maqhubu further stated that the R2 million was for a single tennis court and not a combo court. He mentioned that the construction of a normal tennis court averages between R225 000 and R350 000, according to Tennis Courts South Africa. 

“The contractor was requested to fix the mess he had created and rubberize the surface before he could claim retention. He then went with a scraper truck, levelled the surface around the court, and called it a day,” Maqhubu stated. The party has since requested the Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) to oversee the project since it allegedly cost the municipality over R2 million.

An enquiry was sent to the spokesperson of the Tokologo Local Municipality for comment.

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In 2021, residents of Hertzogville were up in arms over the construction of this R2.1 million multi-purpose court in the town’s Malebogo township. The bone of contention at the time was not the erection of the multipurpose centre per se, but rather that the Tokologo Local Municipality deemed it befitting to splurge on a sports facility at a time when Hertzogville, Dealesville and Boshof’s roads were in tatters and service delivery was non-existent. 

A local businessman and contractor, Toller Faber, who at the time of the interview was attempting to temporarily fix the town’s main road at his own cost, said it isn’t just the roads that are problematic at the Tokologo Local Municipality.

He alleged that for most of August, the town didn’t really have a consistent water supply – equating to no water at all. When the municipality was probed on the issue, residents were informed the problem lay with a broken pump at the water treatment plant. Faber, who formed part of the construction of the water treatment plant in question which was unveiled at a glitzy ceremony in 2014, said there are reserve pumps at the plant. The problem is that the pumps are not adequately serviced and when one is broken, the municipality relies on the reserve pumps.

ALSO READ: North West tennis centre restored to former glory

In the North West, at least R60 million has been spent on restoring the Mmabatho Tennis Centre to its former glory, which consists of at least 14 tennis courts. The refurbishment was done by the Mahikeng Local Municipality and the formal handover to the provincial Department of Arts, Culture, Sport and Recreation will be done after the refurbishment has been fully completed. 

The spokesperson of the municipality, Elliot Moncho, said three phases of renovations need to be completed. Each phase had a budget of R20 million, with the entire cost of the project being R60 million. Currently, the municipality has completed the first two phases and is in the process of completing the last phase.

The municipality anticipates that by September of this year, the construction at the centre will be completed. By early 2024, they hope they will be able to inform the Minister of Sports that he can hand over the centre for the official use of the people of Mahikeng. Moncho further explained that after the Minister has officially handed over the centre, the relevant department within the municipality will be in charge of the maintenance.

OFM News