The historic promotion of National First Division outfit Kruger United FC to the Betway Premiership has sparked celebration and anxiety inside the Mpumalanga legislature after it emerged that at least R15-million may be needed to secure the club a PSL-compliant home ground.
The Village Boys’ rise to South African football’s top flight has placed fresh pressure on the government to upgrade ageing sports infrastructure in rural municipalities, particularly the Thulamahashe Stadium in Bushbuckridge.
Away from the vuvuzelas and jubilant scenes surrounding the club’s promotion, Mpumalanga culture, sport and recreation MEC Leah Mabuza was answering questions in the provincial legislature over why Kruger United and fellow Motsepe Foundation Championship side Bees FC have been forced to use Kanyamazane Stadium, which is roughly 100km away.
“We are extremely excited that one of our teams in the province has been promoted and the province will have two teams in the PSL, which will go a long way to promote local talent and also benefit spin-offs in terms of local economic development,” said Mabuza.
“The department has made an effort to encourage the two municipalities to apply for a major upgrade in order to meet the PSLnorms and standards,” she said.
Lawmakers, however, wanted clarity on whether the provincial government itself had proactively engaged the clubs to assess their facility requirements.
“The department is consistently engaging the teams, however, it’s important that the local municipalities make a submission to the national department for these major infrastructure maintenance.”
EFF MPL Rhulani Qhibi intensified pressure on the MEC, questioning why relatively basic stadium upgrades appeared to require intervention from the national government.
“My understanding is that a stadium like Thulamahashe just needs a [demarcation] of VIP suites and [improvement of] the pitch.
That is quantified to almost R15-million. When the MEC says the municipality must apply, I want to check how they are assisting now.”
Mabuza defended the process, pointing out that the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) is allocated to municipalities through Treasury.
“When we say the municipality must apply to the national department of sport and culture, it is an extended grant that we have in the department. If a stadium needs something like R15-million, it will be dependent on whether the municipality can allocate that R15-million from their MIG,” she said.
“Some municipalities need more than R15-million, and when they apply, the national department will make its own determination whether the amount needed is a one-year budget allocation or a phased budget.” Bushbuckridge Local Municipality spokesperson Fhumulani Thovhakele did not respond to our questions.
- Kruger United FC, a National First Division team, has been promoted to the Betway Premiership.
- The promotion has triggered both celebration and concern within the Mpumalanga legislature.
- At least R15 million is estimated to be needed to upgrade or secure a PSL-compliant home stadium for the club.
- The funding challenge is crucial for the club to participate fully in the top-tier league.
- The full story is available via the Sunday World e-edition.
Away from the vuvuzelas and jubilant scenes surrounding the club’s promotion,
“We are extremely excited that one of our teams in the province has been promoted and the province will have two teams in the PSL, which will go a long way to promote local talent and also benefit spin-offs in terms of local economic development,” said Mabuza.
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Lawmakers, however, wanted clarity on whether the provincial government itself had proactively engaged the clubs to assess their facility requirements.
“
EFF MPL Rhulani Qhibi intensified pressure on the MEC, questioning why relatively basic stadium upgrades appeared to require intervention from the national government.
“My understanding is that a stadium like
Mabuza defended the process, pointing out that the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) is allocated to municipalities through Treasury.
“When we say the municipality must apply to the national department of sport and culture, it is an extended grant that we have in the department. If a stadium needs something like R15-million, it will be dependent on whether the municipality can allocate that R15-million from their MIG,” she said.
“Some municipalities need more than R15-million, and when they apply, the national department will make its own determination whether the amount needed is a one-year budget allocation or a phased budget.”
