LIMPOPO – The long-stalled Section-E sports centre, which has made headlines for years due to its incomplete state, may soon be completed as the municipality announces plans to revive the project by appointing a contractor to finish the remaining work.

Initially intended to provide a vital recreational space for the community of Section E and the neighbouring sections, the centre has instead remained an abandoned structure, raising safety concerns and becoming a hotspot for criminal activities.
Over the years, residents have voiced their frustrations over the stalled project, highlighting issues such as vandalism and illegal activities within the premises, which had them worried that the place was now becoming a haven for criminals.

However, there is now renewed hope, as the municipality has confirmed that steps are being taken to ensure the project’s completion. Responding to questions from MPAC (Municipal Public Accounts Committee) on Tuesday, the municipal spokesperson, Duncan Vusi Khoza, confirmed that steps were being taken to resuscitate the sports centre.

According to him, a consultant was appointed in the current financial year to assess the outstanding work needed to finalise the facility.

“The assessment has been completed, and the municipality is preparing to go out on tender for implementation in the next financial year,” he said.

If successfully completed, the Section-E sports centre is expected to play a crucial role in promoting sports and youth development in the area, providing a safe space for training, competitions, and community events in the area. According to him, other sports centres that are in focus are Mavalani Indoor Sports and TP Khuvutlu Sports Centre, both of which have been stalled.

When asked to explain why the Mavalani Indoor Sports Centre remained unfinishe, despite years of construction, Khoza stated that an unforeseen issue arose during the project, requiring adjustments to the scope to accommodate additional costs for addressing the problem

“The delay in the completion of the Mavalani centre was caused by the discovery of underground water during the construction process. This unexpected issue required adjustments to the project scope to account for additional costs related to addressing groundwater,” he responded.

Khoza further explained that everything had been addressed and that the project was ongoing. “We expect it to be completed by the end of March this year,” he said.

Meanwhile, the TP Khuvutlu Sports Centre is also under consideration. After its renovation was abruptly stopped in 2017, the municipality is considering reviving it. However, they have to deal with the former contractor, whose contractor had been terminated in 2017.

“We are negotiating with the contractor to continue where he left off. Given the rise in costs since then, the initial quotation is no longer viable. However, we’re in negotiation with him to find a mutually beneficial solution. Once an agreement is reached, we will move forward with the implementation,” he said.