Softball stadium: Green light for more funds

City council is expected to soon announce a budget allocation for construction to resume on the abandoned softball stadium project, located in the city’s sports precinct in the next financial year.

Being undertaken in 2020, the project was initially set for completion in August 2022 at a budget of R85m.

There has, however, been no progress since September 2022 after the contractor’s contract was terminated.

More funds were then requested in what was described as a shortfall of R11m caused by the escalating costs of material over time, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.

A total of R51m of the initial budget had been spent on the project, leaving the municipality with work to source a new contractor and draw up a revised budget.

The municipality’s Thipa Selala had also said vandalism of the construction site, suspension of work permits and extensive rainfall from November 2021 until March 2022 were reasons for the slow progress when the project was still active.

Earlier this month, the municipality presented a draft budget to city cluster locals outlining a proposal to set aside an addition of over R4m in the 2024/25 financial year. The appointment of a new contractor is imminent after the tender bid closed on March 25, it was learned during the next financial year’s Integrated Development

Plan budget consultations held at Jack Botes Hall on April 11.

The scope of work includes the construction of the softball pitch, fence, administration blocks with ablution facility, grand stands, parking and construction of soccer pitch and a fence, the document reads.

Budget finalisation should follow suit soon for the financial year starting in July before official adoption by council.

Last June, manager for sport and recreation at the municipality, Mantlako Sebaka told Polokwane Observer that Mayor John

Mpe was raising funds for the project’s resumption.

He also confirmed this week that the fundraising had been completed and the municipality would make pronouncements before the new financial year.

Five months after Mpe vowed to source funds, DA Polokwane ward councillor, Jacques Joubert said assessments to complete the stadium in a shorter period required an additional R184m which the DA requested cuts on to make room for other needs. He said that 84% of the contracted amount was paid while the project’s physical progress was only at 43%.

According to sources, construction came to a halt in January.

Sebaka said 80 people were employed at the construction site and would report for duty in June last year, and this has not happened.

In November, Joubert also confirmed that assessments to complete the stadium within the required scope required an additional R184m.