The company that built the shoddy R15m Lesseyton stadium may be forced to repay monies received from the contract if the Enoch Mgijima Municipality acts on the recommendations of the probe into its construction.

A preliminary report into the awarding of the tender for the construction of the stadium, recommended that the municipality approach the High Court for the award of the contract to Thalami Civils to be set aside, reports DispatchLIVE.

The probe came after the municipality made national headlines last October when it handed over the incomplete sports facility.

The investigation, conducted by Wesley Pretorius & Associates Inc, found that the procurement process and award of the tender to Thalami had been marred by numerous irregularities.

Among other issues, the report found no proof had been provided that members of the various bid committees had been properly appointed.

Enoch Mgijima spokesperson Lonwabo Kowa said the municipality had taken no action against anyone, and would not do so until the report was tabled and debated at the next council meeting. 

Pretorius, who compiled the report, said the probe was undertaken in two phases, to firstly investigate the lawfulness of the procurement process, and then the validity of the award of the contract to Thalami Civils. 

Businessman and leader of The Independents in the Enoch Mgijima Council, Ken Clark, said at the next council meeting the party would push for the municipality to act on the report’s recommendations.

Full DispatchLIVE report