The R22-million Makhuvha Sports Complex, opened for the public in December 2012 to host Premier Soccer League games, is today just a shadow of itself.
Located 15km outside Thohoyandou in Vhembe District, Limpopo, it has soccer grounds, a stadium and two swimming pools. But Thulamela Local Municipality has let the facility to go to ruin. The pitch is overgrown, the pools, which never operated, still have no water. The grounds have become an illegal dumping site..
“We were sold a dream when the facility was built years back, but now it is not benefiting us in any way,” saysNtsieni Sirwali, of Rotangana Foundation, an organisation involved in youth sports and education.
“It is so sad to see … Everything in Makhuvha is a mess and no one is prepared to take any responsibility and our kids are suffering.”
He said the local youth were supposed to take swimming lessons and play soccer, but the facility is in too poor a condition. Today the pools were a breeding ground for mosquitoes and bacteria.
Councillor Thelma Marole (DA) said the party had written letters of complaint to Thulamela Municipality about the state of the Makhuvha Sports Complex but never received a response.
He said it was a waste of limited municipal resources. He questioned whether the project had not been simply created to benefit certain companies at the time.
Thulamela Local Municipality spokesperson Nndwamato Tshiila acknowledged that “complaints had been received” and admitted that the Makhuvha Sport Complex “has unfortunately not been functioning properly”.
He said the electricity transformer at the stadium was stolen in 2023.
This meant the swimming pool pumps, the pitch irrigation and the two boreholes that supply the complex could not operate.
He said the municipality is in the process of restoring electricity, refurbishing the toilets, maintaining the swimming pools “and other necessary upgrades”.
“We are working diligently to restore the stadium to full operational condition for the benefit of the community,” said Tshiila.
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Land reform issues: Disputes and challenges related to land ownership and redistribution.
boomerbox
Interview with a pirate:
There was a pirate who had agreed to do an interview with a local tv station. The reporter was very courteous and professional, giving a bit of background as to the pirate\’s business. She then began interviewing him.
\”So Mr. Longbeard, are there any risks to your business? I see you have a peg leg- how did that come about?\”
\”Well, y\’see I were sailing along the coast of South Africa, looking to plunder some locals when as I boarded the small boat from the ship, a great white shark came up and got my leg clean off. \’twas scary yes, but thus is the life of a pirate.\”
\”Wow, that is pretty scary- well, how about your hook? What happened to your hand with that?\”
\”Oh now that\’s quite the tale, y\’see I were fighting a rival pirate, and we had locked swords. We had been fighting for a few hours, and were both terribly fatigued. I had a bit of exhaustion and confusion, and when I went to block one of his sword blows, I met him with me hand instead of me sword. Took it right off, but it shocked him so much I managed to get him back pretty good and have him submit. So the hook hand was given as a replacement.\”
\”Wow. Simply fascinating. Now, what about your eye patch? How did that happen?\”
\”Well, one day, a seagull was flying overhead, and I looked up. It pooped right in me eye.\”
\”… Well wow. I must admit, I wouldn\’t think just seagull poop could damage the eye that badly.\”
\”Oh, I forgot to mention… it were me first day with the hook.\”
Biscuit Meg
Fun South African Fact: The world’s largest themed resort hotel in the world – The Palace of the Lost City – is found in South Africa. Surrounding the Palace is a 25 hectare manmade botanical jungle with almost 2 million plants, trees and shrubs.