The stadium that isn’t: An Eastern Cape village’s R15m ‘sport facility’ in a rural community that has no water

The bumpy, dusty roads with low lying bridges are a nightmare to drive on, especially on rainy days. Opposite the community hall is the R15-million Lesseyton Stadium, images of which were shared across social media this week. The stadium has no electricity or running water, a rough turf, broken goalposts and a half completed affair which resembles nothing close to an athletics track. Rocks hold the grandstands in place. 

A stone’s throw from the stadium, unemployed Lumko Mbenene stood in his home – a home without running water.

“I don’t know why they built this stadium knowing that the area has been without water for 15 years. Instead of building the stadium, they should have dug boreholes in the village, created jobs and fixed the bad roads,” Mbenene said.

He said the stadium was just a way of “stealing money” from the people of Enoch Mgijima.

“How are the players going to use the showers and the toilet when there is no water? There is no electricity which means no games will be played at night and only soccer will be played,” he said.

Mbenene said the goalposts broke the day they were installed.

Fellow resident Tembile Waxa said half of the R15-million that was budgeted for was never used.

“The stadium cost almost R3-million. Corruption, money laundering and price inflation are the causes of this low-standard stadium. The community is angry and wants answers from all those involved,” he said.

Independent Komani Residents Association spokesperson, Zolile Xalisa, called for a forensic investigation into the matter.

“We want to know where the money is and the forensic investigation will expose all those who are involved in this,” he said.

Congress of the People councillor, Nomazotsho Kopolo, said that when the project started in 2018, the costs were estimated at R22-million.

“The contractor, Thalami Civils, was appointed and then stopped working the same year. They wrote to the municipality saying they can’t do the job and withdrew,” she said.

Cogta MEC Xolile Nqatha, Enoch Mgijima Municipality chief whip Nombuyiselo Ndlebe, ward councillor Unathi Mlindazwe. (Photo: Tembile Sgqolana)

Lines drawn on a grass to mark the athletics track. (Photo: Tembile Sgqolana)

The DA's Helen Zille holding one of the stones put under the grandstands in the newly built R15-million stadium. (Photo: Tembile Sgqolana)

The R4-million Tsomo taxi rank built by Thalami Civils, the same company that built the Lesseyton Stadium. (Photo: Supplied)

• Erection of 780m palisade fencing;


• Construction of rugby and soccer field (site clearing, layering of grounds);


• Rock blasting – undertaken as the area comprised mainly hard rock which had to be removed to allow for construction;


• Earthworks – excavation and levelling of grounds;


• Layer works – G5 imported sub-base layer; 13mm crushed stone which is 75mm thick; top soil and transplanting of kikuyu grass;


• Athletics track – grassed track, layers of crushed stone, drainage system to ensure its viability;


• Ablution facilities (two blocks) – construction of 14 toilets and eight showers;


• Change rooms – showers and benches;


• Borehole drilling, equipping and water reticulation installation;


• Rainwater catchment tank, high-rise water main tank;


• Sewer system with septic tank;


• Electrical installation;


• Guard house;


• Steel grandstands