Thohoyandou Stadium tariffs referred back to council
Thulamela Municipality's sports manager, Ronald Makhadi previously explained that the tariffs for using the stadium were set
LIMPOPO – The Thulamela Municipality must take a decision on the rent charged for the use of the Thohoyandou Stadium, after three soccer teams in the region last week indicated that they might be forced to use the Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane as an alternative to the high rates being charged.
The municipality’s sports manager, Ronald Makhadi, confirmed that the issue has been referred back to the council for a decision.
He previously explained that the tariffs for using the stadium were set and to try and accommodate the teams, they had already allowed a 36% discount.
Even with the discount, the rent for the stadium amounts to R27 795 per match. The Vhembe district currently has three teams competing in the GladAfrica Championship, namely Black Leopards, the Venda Football Academy (VFA) and Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila (TTM).
The three teams share the Thohoyandou Stadium as their home ground. Recently, all three teams indicated that they are looking at other options such as the Peter Mokaba Stadium where the rent amounts to R5 000 per match.
The teams feel that with Covid-19 restrictions in place, they have no avenues available to supplement their income and pay the rent.Black Leopards’ communication manager, Tshifhiwa Thidiela, said the Thulamela Municipality was overcharging the teams, knowing that they could not afford the fees.
“We have written numerous letters to the municipality, but received no response. The proper thing to do would be for the municipality to invite the teams to give their input on the matter before it was discussed by council.”
The interim spokesperson for TTM, Livhuwani Madzuhe, said they had no other option than to use the Thohoyandou Stadium to play their home matches. He said that they were waiting for the municipality to call them to attend a meeting to discuss the matter.
“Maybe they will come up with another tariff which suits all the teams.”
Madzuhe added that TTM did not have a sponsor at the moment and that the chairperson of the team must pay for the costs. Makhadi said the issue was now before council for a decision and that the decision would be communicated to the teams within 21 days.
TTM and VFA are currently using the Thohoyandou Stadium for their home matches, but Black Leopards have provisionally relocated to the Peter Mokaba Stadium.
