OVER E70M SPENT ON SOMHLOLO

MBABANE – A new stadium of international standards is still a necessity despite the costs on refurbishing the Somhlolo National Stadium.

Government would need to spend at least over E1 billion to build an upmarket stadium like South Africa’s Mbombela Stadium or Peter Mokaba Stadium, which cost about E1.05 billion and E1.24 billion to build respectively. It has been established that at least over E100 million will be spent on the stadium by the time Phase III of the refurbishment is completed by end of the current fiscal year, which is by next year. The current budget estimates state that the expenditure under the Somhlolo National Stadium rehabilitation is E79 771 000, while the projected estimate for the whole project is E109 771 000.

Estimates

The over E79 million is for the period from March 31, 2021 to March 31, 2022. However, it is not explained in the estimates in good detail what the money was spent on.
It is the ministry’s performance report that only details the E15 million allocation, according to what each phase entails. The refurbishment started in 2019 after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) banned the stadium from hosting international matches, which explains why Royal Leopard are playing their home matches away in Mbombela Stadium in the CAF Confederation Cup. Even the national team Sihlangu Semnikati will host Somalia in South Africa.

“The figure is reflective of all rehabilitation work government has done on the Somhlolo National Stadium since it was constructed. It is not just a reflection of the current rehabilitation work, beginning in 2019, of which E25 million has been used so far,” responded the Sports Ministry’s Communications Officer Sibongiseni Zondi.

Clarify

Zondi had been asked to clarify the figures. Meanwhile, the report states that the work is on Phase II. This phase consists of the installation of the artificial turf, rehabilitation of the synthetic running track, construction of a media tribune and the upgrading  of the public address system. “The construction works are at an advanced stage. Delays in finishing the works on time was due to unavailability of materials from sources,” reads part of the report. The next phase, which will begin after the completion of this phase comprises of the construction of security wall fence, installation of crowd control system, refurbishment of royal box and upgrading of toilets and connection of sewer line to the public mains.

(Additional information by Chris Dlamini)

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