Johannesburg – At least R10 million has been wasted in an ambitious plan to renovate the iconic Bob van Reenen Stadium, 10 years after it was initially closed for upgrades.
Mogale City municipality’s plan was first announced in 2006, but more than 10 years later, the arena is dilapidating at a rapid pace.
In 2013, former Gauteng premier Nomvula Mokonyane announced ambitious plans to return the stadium to its former glory.
Construction company Tauris Garden Trading 500 (TGT) was at the time awarded a R10m contract for the work, but almost four years later the stadium remains closed.
In 2014, in his final budget speech, former Gauteng finance MEC Mandla Nkomfe set aside R314m to “implement the archive project and the final phase of the renovation of the Bob van Reenen Stadium in Krugersdorp”.
The stadium was initially earmarked to be the home of football powerhouse Kaizer Chiefs, but plans later collapsed.
It was then set to be a multipurpose sports hub and a high-performance training centre. But in 2015, the stadium upgrade was fingered for financial irregularities by the auditor-general after budget overruns.
Gauteng sport and recreation spokesperson Nomazwe Ntlokwana confirmed that budgets had previously been set aside for the project, but couldn’t confirm the amounts.
“Work done includes upgrading and fixing of the plumbing, electricity, and clearing of the rubble among others,” she told The Star.
When the stadium was closed, athletes had to use the Johanna Botha Park Sports Complex, Azaadville Sports Complex, Kagiso Sports Complex, Lusaka Sports Complex, the Khoza Club and the Market Hall.
The Star visited the stadium and found it in a shambolic state, despite the recent upgrades. Electrical wires, taps, showers and other ablution infrastructure have been vandalised and stripped.
