A R30 million agricultural hub in Mpumalanga, envisioned as a catalyst for local farmers, has been stripped bare by vandals and thieves, leaving residents questioning the fate of the project and the continued allocation of funds for its security. The facility, a key initiative of the late Premier David Mabuza, now stands as a symbol of wasted investment and alleged mismanagement, according to reports and local accounts.
The Dr JS Moroka municipality continues to pay for four security guards per shift to protect the site, despite the fact that “there is now nothing left to steal,” as one resident place it. Recent incidents have seen the security personnel themselves targeted, with reports of guards being beaten and tied up by individuals seeking to steal copper cables. “Criminals carry guns and the guards have batons and a one-way radio,” a passerby told The Citizen.
Originally conceived as the Dr JS Moroka Fresh Produce Market in Moripe Gardens, the hub was intended to connect local farmers – both large and small-scale – to the Mpumalanga International Fresh Produce Market, facilitating access to broader distribution networks. However, the project has been plagued by delays and setbacks since construction began in August 2010. A land dispute halted work just a month after it commenced.
Construction resumed in May 2013, but the initial contractor was dismissed in September of the same year due to alleged poor performance. A subsequent contractor was appointed in April 2015, with a completion date of September 9, 2015, and a budget of R14 million. This contractor was also terminated for non-performance, leading to the appointment of another contractor at a cost of R6 million.
Residents report that the market was completed in 2020, with the adjacent agricultural site finalized the following year. However, the promise of a functioning agri-hub has not materialized. “Both the agricultural site and the market was supposed to be an agri-hub, where farmers could sell their produce, but money was stolen in phases,” said resident Thulani Sihlangu. He claims a cold room worth millions of rands was stolen within a week of its installation. “Everything has been stolen, all that is left is the walls. That is why I see no sense in paying security guards to guard nothing.”
The situation at the Dr JS Moroka hub mirrors issues at another agricultural project in the Mkhondo municipality, where at least R142 million has reportedly been spent on an incomplete facility, according to Democratic Alliance Member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL) Bosman Grobler. Like the Dr JS Moroka hub, the Mkhondo project aimed to provide local farmers with a formal collection and packaging point to access markets, but has remained unfinished for over a decade.
Local traditional leader Madolo III Mahlangu emphasized the importance of the agri-hub for the community, given the high unemployment rate and reliance on farming for livelihoods. “What we hope for is a resolution to this saga and get the facility working,” he said.
The Citizen contacted Dr JS Moroka municipality spokesperson Mmasabata Ramatsetse for comment, but only received an acknowledgment of receipt of the inquiry. The municipality has not yet provided further clarification on the stalled project or the ongoing expenditure on security.
