Following the recent announcement of Matsulu Stadium’s R44m upgrade, community members in the area are hoping their local facility, Masoyi Stadium, will receive the same attention before it rots.

The sports and entertainment venue, also known as the Clement Maphanga Stadium, is overdue for upgrades, they say.

This stadium has served the community in uplifting young athletes and is a central platform for events. It was the venue for the late former premier DD Mabuza’s provincial Women’s Day Commemoration in August 2009.

The stadium is currently unutilised and unmaintained. The field is overgrown with vegetation, windows are broken, pipes are exposed and ablution facilities have been stripped. Community members claim that a lack of security has led to criminal activities, with the facility being broken into and items stolen.

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A concerned community member, Tonny Nkosi, took to Facebook recently to voice his frustrations regarding the stadium: “We understand that the facility is not finished and phase two of the construction still needs to be done, but people were able to use it, especially the soccer field.”

He added that even the City of Mbombela (CoM) used it to host mayoral cups and sports screenings.

Nkosi said about two years ago the CoM told the community the stadium could no longer be used. “We were told they are preparing for phase two of the construction [upgrades] and we never received feedback on when the project will start and finish, or if there are issues with funds.”

He raised concerns regarding the lack of security to safeguard the infrastructure if left unattended for longer.

“The community can act as security if we are able to utilise it. We do not want it to be left to rot and end up with a similar situation as Elijah Mango College in KaBokweni, being vandalised and looted,” Nkosi said.

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On February 2, the spokesperson for the CoM, Joseph Ngala, said a contractor for Masoyi Stadium is appointed. “The process is in objection period and, once finalised, the site will be handed over, probably in three weeks’ time.”

He said the budget for the project is funded by a municipal infrastructure grant.