EAST LONDON NEWS – The Democratic Alliance (DA) has accused the ANC-led Eastern Cape government of failing the province's youth by neglecting the upkeep of sports infrastructure, and refusing to take responsibility for the oversight of grant spending intended for facility maintenance.
Leander Kruger, DA Shadow MEC for Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, raised the alarm during a recent sitting of the Eastern Cape Legislature, where he questioned MEC Sibulele Ngongo about her department's role in monitoring the expenditure of the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG).
The MIG is allocated to municipalities to maintain and upgrade public infrastructure, including sports facilities.
However, Ngongo declined Kruger's request for her department to monitor the spending and submit regular reports to the departmental standing committee.
She argued that overseeing MIG expenditure falls outside the scope of the Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture (DSRAC).
In response, Kruger has written to MEC Zolile Williams of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), calling for immediate intervention to ensure that municipalities are held accountable for how these funds are used.
"The department is shirking its responsibility to protect and support the infrastructure that our young people depend on," said Kruger.
"Sport is not just recreation - it is a powerful vehicle for upliftment and development."
Kruger’s criticism followed a site inspection of the Gompo Sport Field in East London, which he undertook after a parliamentary reply from Williams’ office claimed the facility was in “good condition.”
What Kruger encountered, he said, painted a different picture.
“The ticket booth is in ruins, the changing rooms have been vandalised, and essential fixtures like shower taps, toilets, and sinks have been stripped,” he said.
According to Kruger, the deterioration at Gompo is emblematic of a broader problem across the province, where many sports facilities lie in a state of neglect.
He warned that the lack of proper sporting venues is robbing the province’s youth of opportunities to train, compete, and dream.
The DA reiterated its commitment to holding the provincial government accountable and championing youth development through sports.
"We will continue to fight for proper oversight and the dignified spaces our young athletes deserve," said Kruger.
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