Johannes Stegmann Theatre in Secunda, is it an R3m hot potato or the tip of the iceberg?
The Johannes Stegmann Theatre was built by Sasol in 1984 and donated to the former Secunda Town Council on the 6 of August 1986 after the Secunda Health Committee acquired the town council status on the 5th of November 1986. The theatre is now owned by Govan Mbeki Municipality.
It quickly became known as a world-class facility for hosting performances from all over South Africa. But to everyone’s surprise, the theatre fell into disuse.
In 2015 Govan Mbeki Municipality (GMM) reported that the status of the theatre has since proven to be cumbersome for the municipality to maintain and keep at a market standard that promotes its use by local, national and international patrons. The municipality does not have funding to purchase the productions and ensure good maintenance of the building on a regular basis.
Some meetings were held between the municipal officials and the Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation about the deteriorating state of the theatre.
An introductory meeting was on the 23rd of January 2015 at the Riverside Government Complex, Nelspruit, to discuss collaboration with the programme and maintenance of facilities.
A request for funding to purchase shows was also made to the department request.
In March 2016, a meeting was held by the Mpumalanga Department of Arts & Culture with the National Department of Arts & Culture and municipal theatres. A business plan was then prepared and submitted.
On the 9th of November 2016, a meeting convened, and the National Department conveyed the news that the business plan was approved and the allocation was R3 000 000,00. It was agreed that the MEGA would be the implementing agent.
The DA had on several occasions expressed their concerns regarding the Mpumalanga Economic Growth Agency (MEGA). Mega has been labelled as a cash cow for ANC activities through several irregular transactions, such as the rental of the MEGA office block in Mbombela where they (MEGA) currently rent this office from the Tender Cartel for an exorbitant amount of R1 459 631, plus facilities management fee of R193 553 per month.
This news is especially worrying if taken into consideration that MEGA were to manage the R3m that was to be used for the Theatre refurbishment.
The theatre has fallen into considerable disrepair and will need huge amounts of money to restore to its former glory.
In June 2023, the Democratic Alliance (DA) revealed that the municipality’s funding model request included purchasing the latest sound and lighting equipment, among other factors.
“The DA in Govan Mbeki has called on the HOD of Culture, Sports & Recreation, Godfrey Ntombela to institute an investigation into the alleged missing R3 million meant for refurbishments at Johannes Stegmann Theatre.” Read the June 2023 statement.
During an oversight at the theatre, the DA discovered the following:
- The lighting was not up to standard, in some rooms there was no lighting at all
- There are makeshift cables right across the audience centre
- Windows were removed in the sound booth
- The sound system is old and non-functional
- Water leaks in the basement
- Broken tiles in some of the bathrooms
- The electrical backup supply unit has been exposed to water
‘In their funding request to the department, the municipality emphasized that the theatre needed to be upgraded to ensure that there was a sustainable business operating model for creatives,’ the DA said in their June 2023 statement, “They also reiterated that it will help in restoring the dignity of this town.”
The minister of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie’s office will reportedly investigate the case of a ‘missing’ R3 million allocated for the maintenance of the Johannes Stegmann Theatre in Secunda.
This is good news for the GMM community as several groups have tried to revive the theatre only to run into a brick wall of red tape and the poor state of the theatre.
Residents have now resorted to using other venues to host their shows and functions. A golden opportunity was lost for the municipality.
It must be noted that the theatre poses features that can easily attract businesses, enhance tourism, create jobs and provide entertainment to the Govan Mbeki residents.
The DA raised the issue of funds that were meant for theatre refurbishments in the council. This turned out to be a futile exercise, none of the mayoral committee members, nor the mayor at the time were able to give a clear explanation.
