Metro to start showgrounds refurbishment in November

The Pretoria Showgrounds in the CBD will begin refurbishment operations next month.

The announcement by metro spokesperson Selby Bokaba came in response to an oversight visit to the grounds by the EFF on Monday (October 2).

EFF public representatives called out the metro for the poor state of the showgrounds with its Tshwane leader, Obakeng Ramabodu remarking that the ground’s condition is a “criminal act.”

“We are dealing with a facility that is a shadow of itself,” Ramabodu said.

“This is one of the most shocking oversight visits that we have conducted as EFF public representatives. The fact that the offices of the TMPD are so close makes the acts of vandalism and no maintenance even more egregious.”

Ramabodu said the metro should appoint a special committee to help it deal with the state of the showgrounds. He also called out the metro for hiring private security companies to guard the facility, yet it suffered infrastructure damage due to vandalism. Ramabodu believed the metro’s plans were all for nought and it intended to leave the showgrounds in disarray before selling it to a private organisation or resident.

Bokaba said the metro wanted to turn the showgrounds into a mixed-use commercial hub. Before this could happen, Bokaba stated that land preparation and contractor appointments needed to occur first.

“We have been in talks with various stakeholders that are interested in leasing part of the land, such as the IEC for next year’s national elections. We are finalising a five-year lease for next year’s elections and the 2026 local government elections,” Bokaba said.

Some of the additions under the refurbishment include a hotel, conferencing services, retail stores and small offices.

Bokaba said the metro council had approved short-term lessees for the land back in 2022.

“While the process for consolidation and rezoning is underway, vandals took advantage of the place being unoccupied and damaged some structures. In light of this, as a short-term measure, the city has resolved to get short-term leases in an effort to keep the asset running. Refurbishments will begin in earnest next month.”

Bokaba said once rezoning has taken place, developers would be contracted to conceptualise a vision for the precinct.

The property was home to the Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG), the controversial church led by self-proclaimed prophet Shepherd Bushiri, for several years before he fled the country in 2020.

Before that, it had been home to the IEC since the start of democracy, though concerns have been raised about its ability to host voters next year.

Watch here:

The place is in a state of collapse, with extensive damage throughout. Urgent action is needed to restore and preserve this once vibrant space for future generations.

Tshwane Show Ground.#EFFTurns10 pic.twitter.com/r7m0YI9VHd

— EFF Tshwane Region (@TshwaneEff) October 2, 2023

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