Sputla, hands off historical Caledonian Stadium

18 May 2016

The DA condemns the decision by Mayor of Tshwane, Kgosientso Ramokgopa, to proceed with plans to evict the Arcadia Shepherds from Caledonian Stadium and demolish their home of 113 years. Not only will this leave the Shepherds without a home, but deprive hundreds of children from under-resourced schools from sporting facilities to develop their skills. This is a crime against the children of Tshwane.

Rebuttals by the Mayoral Spokesperson regarding the proposed vanity project of Mayor Ramokgopa on the Caledonian site are disingenuous and once again exhibit the Tshwane administration’s sheer disregard for the concerns of its residents. 

The Caledonian site development, and the process surrounding it, has been marred by secrecy and a lack of disclosure, showing that the ANC government does not believe in honest and open government.

The DA has confirmed with the Provincial Heritage Resources Authority – Gauteng (PHRA-G) that approval for the Mayor’s project has not been granted. The record of decision issued by the PHRA-G states that the application by the City for the new development has not been approved and that the City must restart its application. The Mayoral Spokesperson however defiantly proclaims that the project will continue.

While the City claims to have consulted with all stakeholders, the tenants of the stadium informed me at a meeting earlier this week that their concerns have not been taken seriously. Further to this, children from poor schools without sporting facilities who make use of the stadium for soccer practice and coaching, as well as the local Women’s Soccer Association, are on the record against the proposed development and the loss of the use of the stadium.

The DA will not sit idly by and see the most vulnerable residents in our City being traded off so that a select few can enrich themselves in another potentially corrupt Tshwane deal, like so many before it. 

The DA’s Manifesto for Change details our plan to replace the ANC with an honest government that will stop corruption, deliver better services, and most importantly, create jobs. A government that will not make empty promises but deliver results.

Change is desperately needed in Tshwane, and the DA is set on bringing change to Tshwane after this year’s elections to stop corruption, restore service delivery and create jobs. 

Issued by Motheo Mtimkulu, Media Manager, Tshwane Mayoral Campaign, 18 May 2016