DELAREYVILLE, Wednesday 14 October 2026 — The Democratic Alliance (DA) has raised concerns about expenditure on an unfinished sports facility in the ANC-governed Tswaing Local Municipality in North West, after a media investigation found that an ablution block allocated R6 million remained incomplete.
The municipality has acknowledged delays in the approximately R16 million project, attributing them to payment difficulties and adverse weather conditions.
The development has renewed scrutiny of municipal spending priorities ahead of the 4 November local government elections, particularly in communities experiencing electricity interruptions, deteriorating roads and other service-delivery challenges.
R6 million allocated for incomplete ablution facilities
The Delareyville Sports Facility is undergoing a two-phase upgrade intended to improve recreational infrastructure for surrounding communities.
According to DA councillor Soret Viljoen, the municipality initially allocated approximately R10 million towards improvements that included two netball courts and a grass playing surface.
A further R6 million was subsequently allocated for ablution facilities.
However, when The Citizen visited the facility in September, the ablution block remained incomplete.
The building had no roof, plumbing, doors or windows at the time of the visit.
Viljoen questioned whether the municipality was receiving adequate value from the project and raised concerns about the apparent absence of construction activity.
She also questioned the lack of information displayed at the site concerning the contractor and the project.
Municipality confirms delays and revised completion date
Tswaing municipal communications officer Osupile Tys confirmed that the facility was being upgraded through a project with an estimated overall cost of R16 million.
In a response provided to The Citizen on Tuesday, Tys said the first phase had been completed during the 2024/25 financial year.
A service provider was appointed for the second phase in December 2025.
The work was initially expected to be completed by July 2026.
However, Tys said payment challenges and adverse weather conditions had delayed construction.
The municipality has subsequently revised the completion date to November 2026.
According to Tys, the second phase was approximately 60% complete, with construction activities continuing.
The municipality maintains that the project will improve sporting infrastructure and provide additional recreational opportunities for residents.
Earlier parliamentary report raised concerns
The sports facility had previously attracted parliamentary scrutiny.
A Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture oversight report, tabled in Parliament in May 2025, raised concerns about delays and the financial implications of the project.
The report recorded an initial project allocation of R10 million and stated that costs had reached R16.9 million at the time of the committee’s assessment.
That figure differs from the municipality’s current description of an overall project cost estimated at R16 million.
The basis for the difference between the two reported amounts has not been established.
The parliamentary committee also raised concerns about the facility’s water supply, noting that it relied on boreholes.
It recommended that the municipality ensure the facility was connected to the municipal water network and had an additional water source.
The committee also requested supporting documentation concerning the project’s building plans and its contribution to local small businesses.
DA questions municipal spending priorities
Viljoen said the expenditure should be considered alongside the municipality’s wider infrastructure and service-delivery challenges.
She raised concerns about deteriorating roads, unreliable electricity infrastructure, streetlights and maintenance backlogs across Delareyville, Sannieshof and Ottosdal.
According to the councillor, only approximately R1.7 million had been budgeted for maintenance and upgrades across the three towns.
She questioned the decision to allocate substantial funding to the sports facility while other municipal infrastructure remained under pressure.
The DA has also raised concerns about the condition of the existing stadium and whether residents can make meaningful use of the upgraded facilities.
The municipality, however, maintains that the project is intended to support recreation, youth development and sporting activities.
Tys said the longer-term objective was to restore the complex as a multipurpose facility capable of accommodating several sporting codes.
Construction activity reportedly resumes
Following questions submitted to the municipality by The Citizen on Monday, Viljoen reported that workers had begun installing roofing on the ablution block on Tuesday.
The development suggests that work was taking place after the newspaper’s earlier visit.
However, the municipality has not provided a publicly verified breakdown of payments already made to contractors or the remaining expenditure required to complete the project.
The precise amount paid towards the R6 million ablution allocation therefore remains unclear.
Project under scrutiny ahead of elections
The dispute comes as Tswaing prepares for the municipal elections on 4 November.
The ANC currently controls the municipal council, while the DA is among the opposition parties contesting the elections.
The municipality has previously faced scrutiny over financial management, administrative appointments and the delivery of basic services.
The sports facility dispute adds to questions about how municipal infrastructure projects are planned, funded and monitored.
For residents, the immediate issue is whether the facility will be completed and become available for community use.
The municipality’s revised November completion target will provide a further opportunity to assess progress.
Outstanding questions include the final project cost, payments made to contractors and whether the completed facility will meet the requirements identified during earlier parliamentary oversight.
