NORTH WEST PROVINCE – Parliament has announced its intention to open a corruption case concerning the severe Motoro Sports Ground project delays involving the Mamusa Local Municipality, Unene Holdings, and Aobakwe Consulting. The Portfolio Committee took action after reviewing direct community alerts and media coverage regarding the stalled R10-million infrastructure upgrade, which has remained incomplete for nearly two years.
During a recent oversight visit to the site, lawmakers discovered a glaring disconnect between the funds disbursed and the actual physical progress. According to the Member of Parliament and committee spokesperson leading the oversight, the contractor has already received approximately R6.2 million. However, an on-site inspection revealed that the items billed for do not match the work completed, raising serious concerns about value for money.
The MP highlighted clear signs of collapsed governance and leadership within the local municipality. He noted a lack of political oversight, which should have held the administration accountable through monthly Section 71 reports and quarterly updates to the municipal council. These mechanisms are designed to allow the council to activate necessary clauses within the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) when problems arise.
The initial appointment process of the contractors has also come under scrutiny. The committee noted that the consultant was appointed for a six-month period and the contractor for eight months, yet almost two years have passed without project completion. Furthermore, reports from the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) department indicate that conditional grants intended to fund the sports ground’s completion were transferred to the municipality, but local officials appear unaware of how the funds were utilized.
Addressing a growing trend in the North West Province where infrastructure projects are turning into white elephants, the spokesperson pointed to an “unholy relationship” between contractors, consultants, and officials driven by a lack of accountability. He emphasized that an investment of over R10 million meant to develop grassroots sports and provide community entertainment spaces should not end up as a loss to the public.
To address the Motoro Sports Ground project delays, Parliament is demanding immediate corrective actions. The municipality has been instructed to invoke Section 116, subsection 2 of the MFMA to initiate legal action against both the contractor and the consultant to recover the lost public funds. Additionally, the matter must be referred to the Local Municipal Public Accounts Committee to invoke Section 32, which will independently verify whether the reported work was actually executed and if it delivered value for money.
The oversight session also revealed notable absences, as the Accounting Members of Council (AMCs) for Sports, Arts, and Culture, as well as Recreation in the North West Province, and the provincial COGTA representatives were unavailable. Consequently, the committee plans to continue engaging with these entities and will elevate the matter to the Office of the Premier in the North West Province to ensure accountability and proper resolution.
