Secunda Stadium is deteriorating quickly

Many schools, athletic clubs and individuals have brought it to the Ridge Times’ attention that Secunda Stadium is falling apart.

According to schools and clubs that hire the stadium, they have to pay a lot of money.

Even after they have paid, the grass is not cut, weed has not been removed and dustbins are not emptied.

A concerned athlete and community member contacted the newspaper after they had to clean toilets, cut the grass, empty bins and clean the pavilion before an athletics meeting.

The bathrooms which officials use, are apparently life threatening.

According to Mpumalanga Athletics, an official got hurt so badly last year that the person had to go for surgery.

Six months after the incident the toilet has still not been fixed or removed.

The equipment is either missing, broken or in such a bad state that it can not be used.

The chairs on the pavilion are breaking one by one and cause a safety hazard for spectators.

Paint is peeling off and there are constant water leakages outside the store rooms that damage expensive equipment.

The hammer net has holes in it, making future public liability claims an inevitable reality.

Mpumalanga Athletics wrote a letter to Govan Mbeki Municipality in which they pleaded for them to give some attention to the stadium.

In the letter they say: “Secunda Stadium is the pearl of athletics in Mpumalanga.

“Unfortunately all the other tartan tracks, only two in our province, are in such a bad condition that no meetings can be staged there anymore.

“The condition of the Secunda Stadium is very concerning as the track is disintegrating to a level where it will not be safe for athletes to participate on.

“It is our guess that the track will only last one more season before we have to go to other provinces to host our own provincial championships and we would like to prevent that as far as possible.

“To prevent this from becoming a reality, we will also need the urgent assistance of the Gert Sibande District Municipality and the Mpumalanga Government.”

Mpumalanga Athletics said they will provide new equipment once the track is fixed.

The Ridge Times contacted the municipality on 2 February and asked them the following questions:

Enough time was given for them to respond.

Why was maintenance in, on and around the stadium not done?

How is it possible that the stadium could deteriorate into the state it is now?

Why has no plan been made to at least fix the bathrooms and maintain the track?

Why when people pay to use the facility, they have to cut the grass themselves and clean out bins?

Is it not important for the Govan Mbeki Municipality to look after something that helps to build the future of so many athletes and the future of Mpumalanga athletics?

Why, even after someone has been hurt so badly that they had to undergo surgery, has nothing been fixed?

What is the plan for the stadium?

How will it be repaired and will it ever be repaired?

The municipality only replied on 13 March.

“We are mindful of the fact that we have not yet responded and please allow us time to gather facts and we should respond in due course.”

After the first response, another response was received on 13 March from the municipality.

“The Govan Mbeki Municipality take cognizance of the state of the stadium, as well as other public facilities that are in a deteriorating state, however the limitation of maintenance budget due to the Eskom account having taken priority due to the impact that none payment might have an adverse effect on the entire community and the low tariffs charged for these facilities, does not match the cost to maintain and thus requires cross subsidisation from other revenue sources that are already compressed.

“However the municipality does not turn a blind eye to this matter, other avenues are considered,” said Mr Bheki Kubheka, municipal spokesman.

According to Mpumalanga Athletics, the South African Primary Schools want to host their National Championships in Mpumalanga in 2018, but the problem is the state of the track, the pavilion and the rest of the stadium.

Should Council be able to fix the infrastructure, the High Schools and Senior National Championships will also be able to be hosted here, providing income to Secunda for years to come.

“The future of Mpumalanga Athletes and athletics lie in the hands of Govan Mbeki Municipality that does not seem to realise the urgency or care,” a concerned athlete and athletics coach said.

Mpumalanga Athletics had several meetings with the municiplaity and said: “All the previous meetings that we had only led to more promises that were not kept.”