Contractor given 18 months to finish Polokwane Softball stadium

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29-07-2024
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Polokwane Review Observer
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The Polokwane Municipality indicated that the remaining tasks include completing concrete works, mechanical and electrical installations, and roofing the facility.

POLOKWANE – Polokwane’s half-finished softball stadium in the city’s sporting precinct will soon see renewed activity as Brunel Engineering has been appointed to complete the project.

This development was confirmed by Polokwane Municipality sport and recreation manager Mantlako Sebaka to Polokwane Observer on Tuesday.

An additional R184m has been allocated by the Polokwane council, supplementing the initial R90m that had been requested in phases from municipal funds since the project began in 2020. The project was halted two years ago due to budget constraints and other complications.

The new budget represents a significant increase from the R4m proposed in a draft budget to local stakeholders in May for the 2024/25 financial year. The contractor is expected to complete the facility within 18 months, starting next month.

Sebaka mentioned that the contractor is awaiting a work construction permit from the Department of Labour before appointing sub-contractors or other staff. “We expect to receive it before the end of this month so that works can begin in August,” he said.

The municipality indicated that the remaining tasks include completing concrete works, mechanical and electrical installations, and roofing the facility.

The initial contractor ceased operations after requesting additional money in September 2022 due to price escalations post-Covid-19. By then, R51m of the initial budget had been spent.

The site had also faced vandalism, permit suspensions, and heavy rainfall from November 2021 to March 2022, contributing to delays.

In June last year, Sebaka told Polokwane Observer that Mayor John Mpe was raising money for the project’s resumption.

This week, he confirmed the fundraising was successful, and official announcements will be made before the new financial year.

DA Polokwane ward councillor Jacques Joubert highlighted that assessments revealed an additional R184m was needed to complete the stadium.

The DA requested budget cuts to accommodate other needs, noting that while 84% of the contracted amount was paid, only 43% of the project was completed.

Construction halted in January, leaving 80 workers who were supposed to report for duty in June last year idle. In November, Joubert reiterated the need for the additional funds to meet the project’s scope requirements.

The municipality is now poised to move forward with Brunel Engineering to finally bring the stadium project to completion.