Abandoned: Madibeng residents feel as neglected as the municipality’s failed projects

BRITS & MAHIKENG - At least three crucial multimillion-rand projects have fallen into a state of dilapidation after being neglected by the Madibeng Municipality, in the North West. 

These include a fire station in Letlhabile, a sports stadium in Mmakau, and an unfinished roads project in Hebron. 

With South Africa now poised for its 7th general elections, Eyewitness News has taken to the streets across the country, feeling the pulse of the nation as citizens prepare for the national and provincial polls.

This past week, Eyewitness News was in the North West, where Madibeng residents gave their accounts of what it is like to live in one of the country’s most poorly managed municipalities.

MISSED OPPORTUNITIES

These projects are examples of initiatives that could have greatly enhanced the quality of life for their respective communities, but have instead been left in ruins due to allegations of corruption or incompetence.

Between 2015 and 2022, the Madibeng Municipality bore the title of the worst-run municipality in the country, after receiving seven consecutive disclaimer audit opinions during that period. 

This is the worst opinion that can be given by the Auditor-General.

The mismanagement of the municipality’s finances has had a real-life impact on communities in the city.

FIRE STATION FAILS

One such community is Letlhabile, where residents have been calling for a fire station in their area for some time.

So, when one was eventually built and completed last year, there was joy in one of the city’s largest townships.

However, this joy would quickly turn into despair as the municipality did not have funds to capacitate the station with firefighters, administrative staff, and more crucially, security.

With the newly built station left unguarded, vagrants pounced on it, stripping it for parts.

Roof tiles, copper pipes, garage doors, toilets and anything metal or portable has been stolen from the station.

The freshly painted face bricks are the only reminder of the station’s young age.

The station is now a "drug den", according to community members. 

When Eyewitness News visited the station, it was occupied by young, homeless men who have cordoned off certain sections of the station with dirty drapes.

The station is in the middle of large field of uncut grass. The white walls have blackened due to fires, and there is strong stench of human feaces in the air.

Tsholo Khutoane, a public representative councillor from the Save Madibeng party, said the station could have made a huge difference in the community, aside from firefighting.

“The fire station could have made a lot of jobs, securities, people who clean the area, community members could have been employed in that fire station if it wasn't for the callousness of the municipality,” he said.

STADIUM OF RUIN

Not too far from Letlhabile, another multimillion-rand white elephant stands derelict.

The Mmakau sports facility, a collaboration between local and national governments, is now a grazing field for cows.

Completed in 2017, a lack of security and maintenance has seen the facility fall into ruin.

When Eyewitness News visited the stadium, a young herdsman was leading a large drove of cattle towards the grass - which used to form part of a soccer field.

The melodic sounds from bells hanging from a plumpy cow’s neck while it walks slowly around the facility, feasting on overgrown grass, breaks the eerie silence of a facility that should be bustling with activity.

The tennis and basketball courts have not fared much better, with thick sand covering the asphalt surfaces.

The multipurpose centre and change rooms have been stripped for parts, and smell like cow and human faeces.

Resident Lucas Malatji is an amateur footballer, whose local team used to play at the stadium.

He said the sorry state of the stadium cut deeply into the social fabric of the community.

“My brother, there was nothing we could do, because the community was part of the people who were vandalising the stadium; it was our community leaders stealing everything,’’ he said.

The goal posts, nets, flood lights, fence, and anything portable has been stripped from the facility.

Another resident, Bennett Serepa, said children in Mmakau had been robbed of recreational activities after school.

“The children can’t play here because it is no longer safe, they can’t play soccer because you see how messy it is. When the community wants to use the stadium for an activity, it can’t,” he said.

ROADS TO NOWHERE

Meanwhile, in Hebron, a much-needed roads project has turned into a nightmare for the area’s elderly population.

After digging large trenches in front of people’s yards, the contractor took their tools, left, and never returned.

And while young people in the area can easily navigate their way easily around the holes, the elderly say they feel trapped inside their homes.

One grandmother, who did not want to be named, explained her daily struggles as a result.

“When I have to do groceries or go to work, there is no way I can leave my house, [I] have to ask the people from next door to help me cross this hole. I hope the contractors really do come back and fix this, and do what they promised us in the first place,” she said.

DIRE FINANCIAL STRAITS

In an interview with Eyewitness News, Madibeng Mayor Douglas Maimane blamed previous administrations for the three failed projects. 

Maimane said while the municipality wanted to rebuild these projects, it was bogged down by financial constraints.

With a diminishing revenue base, Maimane said the municipality relied on grants from the National Treasury to fund its capital projects.