A multimillion-rand, multipurpose sporting facility in Nyakallong township, Free State, has been severely vandalised and stripped bare. The facility, located in the Matjhabeng local municipality's Lejweleputswa district, was once a pride of the community but now lies in ruins. Anything that could be removed was stolen, and what remained was smashed. The corrugated iron roof over the block housing ablution facilities, changing rooms, and cafeteria has disappeared, leaving only decaying wooden rafters.
The steel grandstands and goalposts are among the few substantial structures still standing. The tennis, basketball, and netball courts are now darkened patches on the ground, while other sporting facilities and outdoor exercise equipment have been ripped out and allegedly sold for scrap. The once-lush grass has vanished, and the area is now a dusty spot used by residents as a shortcut to the other side of the township. Young people hanging around the facility said it was once the pride and joy of the community.
Local resident Jonas Mathebula, 22, expressed his disappointment and frustration with the state of the facility. He said that over the past few years, they have watched helplessly as the stadium was stolen bit by bit and then vandalised. The facility used to host sporting tournaments and social community events, but now it is nothing but a shameful site. Mathebula also mentioned that thieves, who are local residents, are breaking down the walls and using the bricks for their houses.
According to Matjhabeng's 2023-24 integrated development plan records, the municipality had nine stadiums, of which six had been vandalised. The municipality had warned that provision needed to be made in the budget for the refurbishment and maintenance of vandalised stadiums. The municipality's own assessment acknowledged that vandalism posed one of the biggest risks to the sustainability of its sporting infrastructure.
The deterioration of the Nyakallong stadium raises questions about the history of investment in sporting infrastructure in the township. The township was established in the 1950s to house gold mine workers. Aaron Mbambo, the ANC ward councillor, said the facility was built in 2014. Mbambo, who was a councillor between 2011 and 2016, said that after his tenure, the municipality withdrew security from the facility, leaving it at the mercy of thieves and vandals.
Mbambo advocated for the construction of the sporting facility before he even became ward councillor. The project was finally approved in 2012 and completed in 2014. However, immediately after the end of his tenure, it was neglected and now stands as an example of the waste of public funds and shattered dreams. The estimated cost to refurbish the facility is around R10 million, which was identified as a priority by the municipality.
The current state of the Nyakallong stadium suggests that the risks identified in the municipality's planning documents have materialised on a devastating scale. The facility's condition has left the community with a sense of loss and disappointment.
Key points
- The vandalised facility was identified as a refurbishment priority with an estimated cost of R10 million.
- Six out of nine stadiums in the municipality have been vandalised.
- The facility's security was withdrawn after the councillor's tenure, leaving it vulnerable to thieves and vandals.
