E’tsho benefits again as Free State National Training Centre proves to be another “white elephant”

Issued by James Letuka – Chairperson of the Official Opposition in the Free State Legislature
14 Jan 2020 in Press Statements

Over two years ago, on 13 October 2017, confirmation was given by the Head of the Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation to the Central University of Technology (CUT) that the Free State Provincial Government approved an offer of R112 million and that the necessary processes can therefore commence to legalise a land exchange required to develop what was to be called the Free State National Training Centre (NTC). To date there is nothing to show for efforts other than expensive consultants, task teams and steering committees.

In a recent question submitted by the DA Free State to the MEC for Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Ms Limakatso Mahasa, it became apparent that the intended purpose of the NTC has changed from the initial concept, whereby the MEC indicated in her response that the envisioned purpose behind the NTC was, “to upgrade and utilize the already highly trained sport science personnel and facilities at the FSSSI’s High performance facilities to host the NTC for national training camps and support to APEX athletes”.

Furthermore the upgrades would be “to the benefit of Free State athletes to utilize this as an elite training facility”.

However, in a later response the MEC indicates that “the plan changed with the decision to construct an indoor swimming pool, and athletic track, to the amount of about R205 million”.

What is of further significance again is the nature of and inherent lack of research conducted in implementing the project, as the Free State MEC concedes in her response to the DA that, “no feasibility studies were conducted” and furthermore that a company called “E’thso” had been appointed as an implementing agent on the strength that “E’tsho was the most responsive hence it is FS recommended for appointment for implementation of Infrastructure Projects for the Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation”.

Recent history indicates that E’thso was also appointed as an implementing agent with so-called ”professional fees” of R1 million per month to manage the failed Gupta-linked Estina Vrede Dairy Project. This was after the Gupta’s allegedly siphoned millions of rands out of the Free State, funds were allegedly used for a Gupta family wedding. This begs the question why those in government would again opt to make use of a company, this time to implement a sports training centre, which was linked to the Vrede Dairy Project controversy.

While the Free State MEC indicates in her response that the National Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation will be responsible for, “maintenance, staff and day to day operation costs” of the NTC, the fact that this is already another failed Free State project, as can be evidenced in her response where the MEC herself states that there are, “no measures in place to ensure that Free State Province will benefit economically”.

Despite these discrepancies – and after an estimated R50 million has so far been spent on the planning, design and documentation stages of the project – there remains nothing to show for the residents of the Free State. Projects such as the NTC serve to benefit the community of the Free State and therefore the DA Free State cannot afford to have another project held hostage through the deployment of ANC cadres.

It can never be acceptable and is contrary to proper supply-chain management prescripts that tenders are recommended to bidders purely on the basis of a company being “most responsive”, as subjective opinions are often persuaded by political affiliation.

It is clear that the NTC is yet another failed Free State project which can be likened to a white elephant similar to the failed R106 million Ramkraal Legislature Complex Project, since the Provincial Government cannot justify an expensive project with negligible use or value to the province.

The DA in the Free State Legislature shall consider its options with the view of potentially referring the matter to the Public Protector to ensure that the residents of the Free State benefit economically and in terms of the use of a world class sporting facility. It is high time the Free State prioritises economic development by placing the people first.