The R230-million Mthatha Stadium has no full-time security and entrances to the facility stand open, allowing anyone access.
The stadium, built for the 2010 World Cup but not finished on time, has experienced several incidents of theft and vandalism in recent months.
The ticket office was vandalised and taps, turnstiles and fencing have been stolen.
A Daily Dispatch team visited the facility on Monday and saw no security guards.
An entrance on the east side was locked while the main entrance with the ticket office was open.
The ticket office was in the same condition as when a Dispatch team visited months ago – glass, lights and boards were broken and shattered.
KSD recently paid nearly R50000 to hire security for a soccer match as there was none.
A municipality-owned property in Sutherland Street – where the public pools are located – also has no security despite the body of a 22-year-old man being found at the bottom of the pool this year.
In 2014 the municipality ended its contracts with five security companies.
Council had complained that more than one security company was a waste of money.
The bill for all five companies was more than R8-million a year.
KSD has advertised for 60 security guards and six supervisors.
Municipal spokesman Sonwabo Mampoza said the recruitment process was “in progress”.
A municipal finance report shows that the municipality deviated from normal procurement procedures to replace the turnstiles and vandalised fencing around the stadium.
South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) representative Lwazi Madyibi said the union would not allow private security companies to return and that the municipality needed to employ more security guards. — abongilem@dispatch.co.za
Posh stadium falls into ruin as thieves take over facility
The stadium, built for the 2010 World Cup but not finished on time, has experienced several incidents of theft and vandalism in recent months.
The ticket office was vandalised and taps, turnstiles and fencing have been stolen.
A Daily Dispatch team visited the facility on Monday and saw no security guards.
An entrance on the east side was locked while the main entrance with the ticket office was open.
The ticket office was in the same condition as when a Dispatch team visited months ago – glass, lights and boards were broken and shattered.
KSD recently paid nearly R50000 to hire security for a soccer match as there was none.
A municipality-owned property in Sutherland Street – where the public pools are located – also has no security despite the body of a 22-year-old man being found at the bottom of the pool this year.
In 2014 the municipality ended its contracts with five security companies.
Council had complained that more than one security company was a waste of money.
The bill for all five companies was more than R8-million a year.
KSD has advertised for 60 security guards and six supervisors.
Municipal spokesman Sonwabo Mampoza said the recruitment process was “in progress”.
A municipal finance report shows that the municipality deviated from normal procurement procedures to replace the turnstiles and vandalised fencing around the stadium.
South African Municipal Workers’ Union (Samwu) representative Lwazi Madyibi said the union would not allow private security companies to return and that the municipality needed to employ more security guards. — abongilem@dispatch.co.za
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