The ANC built an illegal structure on a dilapidated netball court they should have maintained

The ANC is accused of building an illegal structure on a former netball court at a dilapidated sportsground in Louisvale, Upington.

The Democratic Alliance has called on the Municipal Manager of Dawid Kruiper Municipality, Elias Ntoba, to demolish and remove an illegal structure.

“Upington already has too few sporting and recreational facilities for young people,” the party said in a press statement.

“What little community infrastructure remains should be restored, protected and expanded, not unlawfully taken over for political purposes.”

The DA previously reported the matter to the municipal authorities. “Our complaints fell on deaf ears,” it said.

“Dawid Kruipers’ failure to act raises questions about whether municipal by-laws are being applied consistently and fairly to all residents and organisations.”

“This is especially concerning in a municipality with a growing track record of allegations of cadre deployment and cadre protection.”

The DA said it has requested that Ntoba ensure that action is taken and bylaws are enforced.

“The ANC cannot claim to put communities first while allowing scarce public infrastructure intended for children to be abused for political purposes,” it said.

The DA said it will hold the Dawid Kruiper Municipality accountable and fight to have their children’s netball court returned.

Criminal investigation into controversial name change

This is the latest controversy linked to the Dawid Kruiper Municipality, which has faced many problems in recent years.

The Mayor of the Dawid Kruiper Municipality, David Kazi, faces a criminal fraud case linked to a controversial name-change petition in Upington.

The case stems from allegations that the ANC submitted a fraudulent petition to support changing Schröder Street to Alfred Qayiso Gubula Street.

On 1 July 2026, the Municipal Advisory Committee of the Dawid Kruiper Municipal Council accepted the application to rename Schroder Street.

It started a public participation process which ran until 1 August 2025. As part of this petition, the ANC collected 1,317 names in favour of the name change.

Councillor Henk Opperman, the DA Whip in the Dawid Kruiper Municipality, said that the DA gathered 7,055 signatures against the name change.

Despite the opposition to the name change by thousands of Upington residents, the Dawid Kruiper Municipality approved it.

Opperman alleged that the community’s voices, especially those who opposed the name change, were ignored.

He added that the DA has found evidence that the ANC petition was fraudulent, as it contained the name of a deceased person known to the DA.

“The petition also unscrupulously contains manipulated data from DA forms, intended to serve as so-called signatures in favour of the name change.”

Opperman has now demanded a breakdown of all funds allocated and spent on the controversial Schröder Street name change.

“This name change happened while a criminal fraud case against Mayor David Kazi remains under investigation,” he said.

The SAPS investigation stems from allegations that the ANC submitted a fraudulent petition in support of the name change.

The investigation has dragged on for six months. However, there was some progress following the DA’s enquiries into the matter, which led to the docket resurfacing.

“What is concerning is that the municipality has continued spending public money on implementing the name change,” he said.

“In some places, painted curb markings have already been changed to Alfred Qayiso Gubela Street, with a few new street signs also already erected.”

“Public funds were also spent on the Heritage Day launch of the renamed street earlier this year.”

Opperman argued that it was irresponsible to proceed with the name change while the legitimacy of the process remains under criminal investigation.

“If the investigation exposes wrongdoing that led to the name-change, taxpayers could be left paying for a project that should never have gotten underway,” he said.

“The DA is therefore calling on the municipality to disclose every cent spent on the project,” said Opperman.

“This breakdown should include signage, road markings, launch events, administrative costs and any other related expenditure.”