Note to editors: Please find attached English soundbite by Cllr Hismajesty Maqhubu and Sesotho soundbite from James Letuka MPL.
The Democratic Alliance in Tokologo Local Municipality is concerned with the wasteful expenditure of public funds to erect a single tennis court for R2 million. The construction of the ‘new’ tennis court in Malebogo, in Hertzogville Park, is a textbook definition of mismanagement, incompetency, and economic traitor-ship of the public purse.
The ANC-led municipality erected a tennis court in Malebogo in 2021. The DA conducted oversight on the project after its completion and found a half-completed project. Please see pictures here, here, here and here.
We raised our findings in the council and requested MPAC to oversee the project, which has cost the municipality over R2 million. It is also worth mentioning that this is for a single tennis court, not a combo court. According to Tennis Courts South Africa, the construction of a normal tennis court averages between R225 000 and R350 000.
This project is an insult to the community. The contractor was requested to fix the mess he had created and rubberize the surface before he could claim retention. He then went with a scraper truck, levelled the surface around the court, and called it a day.
During a Section 80 committee meeting, the DA submitted that the municipality takes responsibility for the extravagant amount paid for the incomplete tennis court. We urge the municipality to ensure good governance and appoint a contractor to rectify the identified defects. Additionally, we will raise questions in the council on why R2 million was spent on an incomplete project.