By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
@GalloImages.
Gauteng Provincial government has revealed it will cost a whopping R84-million to demolish the remaining concrete stands of the HM Pitje stadium in Mamelodi, Pretoria.
Over the years the stadium has been vandalised and steel stands were stolen for their metal value, while some community members helped themselves to the wall and pavement bricks.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) says government is going to waste R84 million to demolish the stadium.
“It is exorbitant and a waste of the department’s budget based on the current state of the stadium,” said Kingsol Chabalala, the DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation.
His comments came after the DA held an oversight inspection at the stadium.
While initial estimated costs of the demolition were around R69-million, the budget estimate submitted by the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development and Property Management (DID) as R84 961 596.71.
The budget includes the contract administration, inspection, demolition of the stadium, site clearing and fencing of the site.
Chabalala accused Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation MEC Mbali Hlophe of wasting millions of rands.
He slammed the estimated costs to demolish the concrete stands and remove the rubble as extremely high citing the demolishing cannot cost that much.
“The money that will be used to demolish the stadium will be taken from the department’s other programmes, “Chabalala added.
“This money could be used for the rebuilding of the state-of-the-art stadium, and ensure that children and the sporting clubs in Mamelodi and surrounding areas have access to a sporting facility.”