Polokwane Municipality to fund soccer clubs with over R240m deal
Kaizer Chiefs, Sekhukhune United, Magesi and Polokwane City will each receive millions from Polokwane Municipality over two years.
POLOKWANE – The four major soccer clubs in the province are set to receive a total amount of more than R240m from the Polokwane Municipality for the 2025/26 and 2026/27 financial years in an effort to advance this sport and indirectly boost the economy of the city and surrounding communities.
This comes after the municipality recently resolved to enter into agreements with the soccer clubs that involve advancement of funds to the clubs as a quid pro quo for 100% of the gate takings at the home games that the clubs will host in the municipal area.
Magesi Football Club, Sekhukhune United Football Club, Kaizer Chiefs Football Club and Polokwane City Football Club will each receive R30m for the 2025/26 financial year and R31.6m for the 2026/27 financial year.
Read more: Kaizer Chiefs announce Polokwane as home away from home
In addition, the municipality will also stand in for the security, hospitality and emergency medical services at all the events.
The events will be hosted at the new Peter Mokaba Stadium with the old Peter Mokaba Stadium as an alternative as well as at the Seshego Stadium.
The Seshego Stadium was recently upgraded and has a safe capacity of 5 500 spectators. The stadium now complies with PSL standards and norms, according to the municipality.
The municipality motivates the initiative by explaining that, if used regularly, it will boost the economic activities of the local sphere in so far as attracting guests from other provinces, benefitting hospitality establishments, established businesses and malls, as well as small, medium, and macro enterprises.
The DA in the municipal council, however, had some reservations regarding the matter.
“The DA in Polokwane is concerned about the excessive amounts offered to these soccer clubs, although we understand full well that there will be economic benefits to the city, we received no report on previous ticket sale proceeds when the report was tabled. With that being said, the Peter Mokaba Stadium needs to be utilised as much as possible and we have previously challenged the mayor to get the city hosting rights to a Springbok rugby test,” DA spokesperson in the municipality, Jacques Joubert said.
Joubert assured that the DA will monitor the in and outflow of finances in this regard, and write to the city manager to receive regular finance reports on the matter.
