SEBOKENG. – Once beautiful and adored by many, the Mphatlalatsane Theatre in Zone 14 is now a shadow of its former self.

The theatre, that once used to host regional, provincial, and at times national events, has been stripped bare.

Its windows are broken, chairs have been stripped from their original places, and cables have been stripped from their original places and sold for scrap.

It has been a couple of years now that the venue, which was once the pride of the Vaal, hosting, amongst others, theatrical plays, choir festivals, school debating competitions, and funerals for some of the ‘who’s who’ of the Vaal, has been neglected.

“This used to be the pride of Vaal; everyone knew that when they came to perform here, they were classified as the best. Many household names have performed here, huge and historical events have been held here, yet look at the place now. Our government is failing us. What will we have left as they destroy everything bit by bit? What will happen to our history?” a community member asked.

When Sedibeng Ster visited the place, there were a couple of security guards posted at the front entrance.

They told Sedibeng Ster that it has now been three months since they have been guarding this historical venue; before that, the place was “left to the dogs”.

It was a free-for-all as vandals stripped the venue of everything of importance.

Upon enquiry on the state of Mphatlalatsane Theatre, Emfuleni Local Municipality spokesperson, Chuchi Radebe, said that the facility was leased to Sedibeng District Municipality (SDM) from July 1, 2009 until June 30, 2012 through the properties department and that following the expiry of the lease, attempts to renew the agreement which formed part of a broader property portfolio arrangement were unsuccessful, and the matter was formally referred to their (ELM) legal department for further handling.

Radebe said that the SDM subsequently vacated the property and ceased rental payments.

“Over time, the facility became vulnerable to vandalism and unlawful activities, posing both asset-management and community safety risks. In response, the Sports, Recreation, Arts, Culture, Libraries and Information Services Department (SRACLIS) formally requested the deployment of 24-hour security at the site. This intervention was approved as part of the municipality’s asset protection and risk-mitigation measures.”

Radebe added that the municipality wishes to emphasise that the safeguarding and revitalisation of Mphatlalatsane Theatre is not treated as an isolated matter, but as part of a broader programme to strengthen local arts infrastructure, advance social cohesion, and stimulate the cultural and creative economy within Emfuleni.

The following institutional and intergovernmental steps have been undertaken:

• Intergovernmental Engagement: Ongoing communication has been initiated with the Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) to secure technical and financial support for the rehabilitation of the facility.
• Provincial Commitment: The matter received further impetus following a public pronouncement by MEC Matome Chiloane, who indicated during a media engagement that the refurbishment of the Mphatlalatsane Theatre forms part of Community Arts Centre rehabilitation development priorities.
• Integrated Development Planning (IDP) Process: During the 2025 IDP and Budget public participation process, organised arts stakeholders, represented by the Cultural and Creative Industries Federation of South Africa (CCIFSA), formally submitted inputs advocating for the theatre to be prioritised in the 2026/27 key performance areas.

Radebe said that these submissions form part of the municipality’s planning considerations.

“These measures collectively demonstrate a coordinated governance approach involving municipal departments, provincial stakeholders, and the creative sector. The objective is to restore the facility to full operational status in a manner that is compliant with planning frameworks, budget processes, and infrastructure development protocols. The municipality assures its oversight structures, the creative sector, and the broader community that the refurbishment of Mphatlalatsane Theatre remains a priority within the broader arts, culture, and community development agenda,” Radebe ended.

The ELM said that Mphatlalatsane remains a strategic community arts asset of the ELM and acknowledges and appreciates the surrounding community for their continued vigilance and civic activism in safeguarding the facility.