MATHEMATICS is a subject I have never been quite good at, or at least I did not put much effort into it while still in high school, which is why I scored a nine (ungraded) during my final Maths exams in 1995.
However, as much as I am poor at Mathematics, I know how to count money and have been in touch with a few engineers as I struggle to build my house on my very modest plot.
That is why I was shocked last week when Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Affairs Bongani Nzima braved the scorching heat and travelled all the way to Matsanjeni South to launch what he called an E8.85 million project for all 59 tinkhundla to construct sports grounds.
Reading the story further, a minimum of E150 000 to E180 000 will be spent on each inkhundla countrywide.
This is where, as a layman, I raised my eyebrows when it was detailed what these sports grounds would entail. It was revealed that the facilities would include netball and volleyball courts, toilets, an athletics track and standard football goal posts, among other features.
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I contacted one of my engineer friends and asked, in general, how much it would cost to clear a football field and at least level it. He said, depending on the slope, one would look at roughly E300 000, with no rock blasting allowed for.
I trust this guy because he has worked on several government projects, especially with microprojects. He got excited and started counting for me and said: 10 000m² × 0.65mm × E45 for a football field.
To be fair to the minister, football fields were not really counted in the story, but in order to have a running track, surely it needs to be around a football field for proper measurements.
There was also no mention of an administration block, which I believe is needed for the smooth running of these facilities.
As government normally does, I read that these sports centres would be built in phases. In the first phase under the Shiselweni region, Matsanjeni South, Hosea, Shiselweni II and Khubutha tinkhundla would be the first to benefit, starting within the current financial year which ends on March 31. These are expected to be completed before the start of the next financial year, and I wonder if they will have been completed by then.
It is a pity that I am not privy to the artist impressions of these sports centres; maybe it is achievable at that fee of E150 000-plus.
Just recently, we had storms that caused havoc at the Mkhuzweni Sports Facility. I can bet my next pay cheque that a majority of the things damaged during the storm have not been fixed except a few minor touch-ups, but we are now getting excited about the construction and upgrading of sports centres in all 59 tinkhundla. I personally think that is a big ask, Honourable Minister.
Back to the construction of these sports centres, I believe that a dozer is needed for about two days for the works, then a TLB for loading and a truck for disposal.
As much as I said I am not knowledgeable on the technical side of things, the numbers just do not add up.
It is a pity we were also not told how many toilets would be constructed because three toilets for each facility, in my opinion, are needed for both males and females. How much would that cost?
I remember back in 2013, the Hlatsi Sports Centre was built for roughly E3.5 million, and when one looks at the current date, 13 years later, such a facility would cost double.
I have since engaged my colleague who covered the event, and he said mostly there would be re-gravelling of the facility and the construction of toilets, so that money must be enough.
I did not ask if the place would need fencing, but in my layman opinion, every site needs to be fenced, and I cannot claim to know how much that would cost.
The ministry should not get me wrong — I am all for the construction of sports centres, especially because I am an athlete myself, and I think our future generations would benefit a lot.
However, I am just concerned that this project will be going to all 59 tinkhundla, and I am not sure what the projected timelines are. At the moment, we have several tinkhundla whose roads were badly damaged by the January rains, and those roads still need re-gravelling or reconstruction themselves.
Anyway, let me not be a doubting Thomas, and I hope that these sports centres will be a reality before the minister vacates office in 2028, or that the ministry will explain the programme in further detail.
Until next week, I wish you a great Valentine’s Day — and do not forget to be kind.
