DA probes R47 million spent on deserted Manyane Game Lodge

Issued by Freddy Sonakile MPL – DA Constituency Head: Mahikeng Local Municipality
26 Jul 2022 in Press Statements

Note to Editors: Please find attached soundbite in English by Freddy Sonakile MPL.

The DA in North West demands answers about the R47 million spent on the development of the Manyane Game Lodge in Mahikeng, which is now abandoned. See image here.

Following an oversight inspection at the lodge yesterday, we were unable to identify the extent of the renovations that were supposed to be completed in November 2015.

The renovated buildings had been vandalized, and there are no security measures in place. One structure contained construction materials that have not been used. See images here, here, and here.

The Department of Tourism through its entity, the North West Parks & Tourism Board, reportedly spent R47 million on refurbishing the lodge in 2016 to promote local tourism. The Department indicated then that the project progress was at 90% completion on refurbishments by the appointed contractor, Re a Aga Infrastructure (Pty) Ltd.

The DA will table urgent questions to the MEC for Tourism, Kenetswe Mosenogi, to account for the dilapidated and dysfunctional state of the lodge despite the millions spent. It is evident, from our visit there yesterday that this was fruitless and wasteful expenditure.

In addition, we want to know what the Department of Tourism intends to do with the lodge, what budget allocations have been made, what will be done to secure the lodge, what game is currently on the property, the extent of the game fencing, when the lodge will become operational for the public and what current positions are filled, the details surrounding vacancies, and the annual salary bill.

The DA will also write to the Auditor-General to bring to her attention the incurred wasteful expenditure on Manyane Game Lodge and request a forensic investigation into the project.

At a time when economic development should be at the top of the government’s priority list, a lodge that could generate revenue for the province has been abandoned. The ANC government has once again demonstrated through this project that it was never interested in governing North West.