Note to Broadcasters: Please find attached soundbites in English and Setswana by Nelio Nhacuangue
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Rustenburg has formally written to the Executive Mayor and the Municipal Manager following a DA site inspection at the unfinished Tlhabane West Sports Facility, which exposed serious neglect, weak security, and apparent abandonment despite the project not yet being completed or officially handed over.
During the inspection, the DA observed collapsed and damaged fencing (photo), open and uncontrolled access points, overgrown vegetation (photo), an unused guardhouse (photo), and no visible security presence. These conditions have left the facility vulnerable to unauthorised access, vandalism, and misuse, while neighbouring households are exposed to safety and privacy risks (see photos here, here, and here).
Residents living adjacent to the facility have reported people accessing the grandstands and surrounding areas after dark, with direct visibility into private homes, creating fear and distress among families in the area.
It is deeply concerning that a publicly funded facility, still in its pre-handover phase, is already showing signs of neglect and deterioration. Any municipal project that has not yet been completed must be properly secured, actively managed, and protected against unauthorised access. The current state of the Tlhabane West Sports Facility points to failures in project oversight, site safeguarding, and risk management.
In its correspondence to the Executive Mayor and the Municipal Manager, the DA has called for urgent intervention to:
- Secure the site and immediately restrict unauthorised access;
- Repair all damaged fencing and gates without delay;
- Deploy interim security measures as a matter of urgency; and
- Clear overgrown vegetation that increases safety and crime risks.
Public infrastructure must uplift communities and deliver value, not become unsafe and neglected before completion. The DA will continue to exercise strict oversight to ensure that municipal projects are responsibly managed, safeguarded, and delivered in a manner that protects residents and respects public funds.