13 Jul 2021

The long-awaited Tsabong mini stadium project has finally taken off.

The mini stadium is one of 10 similar projects to be undertaken in various parts of the country, but others like those in Good Hope, Kanye and Tutume have not started due to land acquisition challenges, among other things. 

Speaking during a ground breaking ceremony in Tsabong on Monday, the Assistant Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Buti Billy, called on stakeholders to esnure that the mini stadium project was completed on time and within budget.

The Tsabong mini stadium, he said, would have a perimeter wall enclosing six hectares of land, change rooms, ablution block, kiosks, football pitch with artificial turf, athletics track as well as volleyball and netball courts.

He expressed hope that the development would also unearth sporting talent and help curb social ills by engaging young people in sporting activities. 

Assistant Minister Billy said the project would also add value to the Tsabong infrastructural landscape and thus attract investors to the district.

For his part, Kgalagadi District Council deputy secretary, Lentswe Lesenyegile, said the project, which was a joint venture between the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development and Kgalagadi District Council was delayed due to a number of challenges. 

He said the initial site, which was allocated for the project, was later discovered to belong to civil aviation authority and the stadium was moved to the current location. 

Lesenyegile said the council had to do earthworks and civil works at the current site since outsourcing it to the private sector would have been costly. 

Other challenges, he said, were securing mining rights to carry out the earth works as well as having to resolve bidding contractors’ queries on the boundary wall tender. 

He said more funds were needed to connect and reticulate water, install an electricity transformer and distribute electricity.    

Kgosi David Toto II welcomed the project, which he said would benefit Kgalagadi District and the sporting fraternity. 

He reiterated the need for the project to be completed on time.

The construction of ablution blocks wasn awarded to a local contractor, Better Plan Construction Company, who promised to deliver by August 25 this year while Desert Dollar Mark Construction Company was awarded the kiosk who also promised to deliver in August. Ends