Highvelder reached out to Msukaligwa Municipality’s spokesperson, Mandla Zwane, to discuss the current state of the Ermelo Sport-Inn and other sports facilities in town. Here’s what he had to say:
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Addressing the Ermelo Sport-Inn’s deterioration
Highvelder: What plans, if any, does the Msukaligwa Municipality have to address the ongoing deterioration of the Ermelo Sport-Inn and its facilities, particularly the damaged roof and unusable bathrooms?
Mandla Zwane: An assessment of the facility was done and included in the IDP. The municipality is in the process of sourcing funds from the national and provincial governments, as well as from strategic partners like mines, etc.
Highvelder: Can the municipality provide the scope of work and timeline, if possible, of what needs to be done and whether any dates have been set to carry this out?
Mandla Zwane: The scope includes, but is not limited to, the replacement of the roof, plumbing, electrical work, etc. Unfortunately, we do not have the timeline at this stage.
Highvelder: Is the municipality open to the proposal to privatise the Ermelo Sport-Inn to allow for better maintenance and regulated access to the facility? If not, what alternative solutions are being considered?
Mandla Zwane: The municipality is indeed open to a public-private partnership.
Highvelder: What is the municipality’s response to the suggestion that chairpersons of various sports clubs collaborate to address the current issues? Will the municipality support such an initiative?
Mandla Zwane: Yes, the municipality will support such an initiative. The initiative can be in the form of establishing a sports council or committee.
Supporting the Ermelo Rugby Club
Highvelder: The Ermelo Rugby Club has also in the past expressed concerns about the lack of official club grounds and not being allowed to use the AJ Swanepoel Stadium for training. Are there any plans to support the club in securing proper facilities for training and matches?
Mandla Zwane: The municipality has an open-door policy. The club is encouraged to visit the municipality to raise concerns and proposals.
Highvelder: How does the municipality plan to engage with local sports clubs and the community to develop a sustainable solution for maintaining and improving sports facilities in Ermelo?
Mandla Zwane: See above.
Refurbishment of the Ermelo swimming pool
Highvelder: Can you confirm whether the municipality has received any donations from Lotto or Lottoland specifically earmarked for the refurbishment of the Ermelo swimming pool? If so, how has this money been allocated?
Mandla Zwane: Yes, the municipality received money from the National Lottery. The amount was R700,000; however, it was not enough to reconstruct the swimming pool. The municipality has been disclosing this money in its financial statements for more than a decade.
Highvelder: Thank you, Mandla, for your time and detailed responses. Is there anything else you would like to add?
Mandla Zwane: The municipality apologises to the clientele who use these facilities for the inconvenience and the current state of these facilities. The municipality appeals to the public to safeguard these properties and not to vandalise them, as they are meant for community use.
