Unused sports facilities in Wedela raise questions
Residents of Wedela are questioning why several public sports facilities remain unused despite government investment. An unfinished complex behind the Wedela Community Hall and the abandoned Wedela swimming pool have stood idle for years, while the Merafong City Local Municipality has yet to complete or reopen them.
Although the government recently opened a new recreation facility at a primary school in Wedela, the services open to all residents are in a terrible state.
Last month, the Gauteng MEC of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Matome Chiloane, handed over a new Wedela Multipurpose Court at Wedela Primary School, one of the three schools in the town.
“This facility is a significant investment in our youth, providing a high-quality space for multi-coded sport. By bringing sporting infrastructure directly to our schools, we are nurturing the next generation of legends and promoting healthy, active lifestyles within the community,” said the MEC.
Within walking distance of the new facility, security guards funded by taxpayers are still stationed at another site that remains only half-built after the contractor appointed by the Merafong City Local Municipality failed to complete the project. This facility, located behind the Wedela Community Hall, has, however, remained unused since work on it began approximately four years ago. The facility is kept permanently locked, and no learners or sports teams have access to it.
Although the netball courts have been completed, no one can play on them because they have never been open to the public. There are also neat ablution facilities and a sturdy pavilion, but these are also unused.
According to an opposition party councillor, Welile Fihla, the facility was never opened because all the work on it was not completed by the contractor. The Auditor-General also pointed out this unfinished project during his report for the 2023/2024 financial year.
Since then, the municipality has not done anything to try to finish this facility. The grass is being cut from time to time.
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Meanwhile, the old Wedela swimming pool, another facility that could have offered much enjoyment to residents, is also still lying unused. Although there were, as far as could be determined, never problems with the swimming pool itself, the facility was left to go to ruin after a fire at a community centre next to it.
When asked about the facilities, the municipality’s communication and marketing manager, Temba Fezani, said that the recreation club by the swimming pool will soon be refurbished.
