Teboho Setena
The DA in the Mangaung Metro Municipality has questioned what they perceive to be the municipality’s decision to prioritise a Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (Cosafa) Cup tournament over critical basic service delivery towards residents. The metro’s commitment to the sporting event means the allocation of a whopping R6 million towards hosting it.
In the midst of the political storm, a poster confirming the trouble-ridden Mangaung Metro as the host of the tournament is doing the rounds.
The tournament is scheduled for 4 to 15 June and will be the Cosafa Cup 24th edition. South Africa has been confirmed as the host for the eighth consecutive year, with Angola serving as the defending champions.
The poster confirms the initial talks that started during the first round of the African Nations Championship (Chan) qualifier between South Africa and Egypt in Bloemfontein, early in March.
Kabelo Moreeng, DA councillor in Mangaung, said the party would write to Sello More, municipal manager, to request an explanation of how supporting a high-profile tournament can be reconciled with the ongoing neglect of the basic services that residents depend on every day.
He cited the latest Auditor-General’s (AG) report laying bare the worsening situation of the metro as one of the factors to consider in writing to the municipal manager.
“This is a deeply concerning decision by the municipality, to allocate R6 million to the Cosafa Cup tournament while everyday service delivery remains in crisis. At a time when fundamental infrastructure challenges such as pothole-riddled roads and poorly maintained gravel routes continue to affect daily life, this expenditure raises serious questions about budget priorities and governance. Unauthorised, irregular, and fruitless expenditures have constrained the funds available to meet essential service delivery targets across the metro,” said Moreeng.
The photo above of badly damaged tar road in Bloemfontein township, attest to widespread deteriorating road infrastructure in the Mangaung Metro Municipality.
Moreeng said because of the metro’s neglect, communities were regularly left with unmet health, sanitation and transport needs.
“Allocating millions for a sporting event while residents contend with infrastructure failures underscores a misplaced focus on budget allocation that cannot be justified, considering urgent community needs. Critics argue that the Cosafa Cup, while potentially advantageous for local economic or reputational gains, fails to address the immediate priorities that ensure residents’ safety and well-being.”
Moreeng pointed out that those much-needed essential services such as road maintenance, water delivery and waste management required proactive and sustained investments that are being sidelined.
“Local stakeholders call on the metro leadership to reallocate funds, review its expenditure strategy, and commit to a transparent, people-first budgeting process, prioritising immediate service delivery challenges over discretionary spending. Until then, we will be vigilant and prepared to hold decision-makers accountable for spending choices that compromise public welfare,” said Moreeng.
The venues where the Cosafa Cup matches will be played in the Mangaung Metro are yet to be announced.
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