The Mkhondo Agri-Hub in Mpumalanga, which has cost more than R142 million since construction began in 2017, is in the spotlight following new revelations of structural flaws and mismanagement.
By Jasper Raats, senior journalist at African Farming and Landbouweekblad
Tersia Marshall, a member of the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature and DA spokesperson for agriculture, rural development, land and environmental affairs, has called on the Mpumalanga provincial government to halt all work at the facility until an independent structural and compliance audit has been carried out. She described the hub – originally intended as a collection point for local produce, a packaging facility and a wholesale trading centre – as “a monument to mismanagement and negligence”.
A newly appointed engineer undertook an oversight visit in September 2024, and reported several serious flaws: Roof trusses had been directly screwed into masonry walls, a fundamental structural error that has rendered the roof unstable. Foundation samples taken on-site showed the absence of steel reinforcement in critical foundation elements. And building plans were never approved by the Mkhondo Municipality, yet a temporary occupation certificate was issued, and the department later spent another R32 million on repairs without proper plans.
According to the DA, the project fails to meet national building regulations, occupational health and safety requirements, and basic construction standards. The party has called on the Hawks and the auditor-general to investigate, and wants contractors and officials who neglected their duties to be held accountable.
The DA’s response follows a feedback session by the Mpumalanga Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs about the Mkhondo Agri-Hub. The purpose of the visit was to assess the the hub’s functionality and its impact on the local agricultural community.
Farmers Demand Accountability
During the visit, Nobuhlobo Mafu, chief director of the provincial Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs, acknowledged that signs of poor workmanship had already been evident in 2022, when the building sustained severe storm damage. She noted that the department was now considering legal action against the contractors.
Local farmers voiced their frustration, however, insisting that the damage was the result of shoddy construction rather than the storm. They demanded that the contractors either refund the money or complete the repairs at their own expense. Committee members echoed the farmers’ concerns, criticising the department for slow progress and questionable appointments.
Marshall says the Agri-Hub stands as proof of how weak oversight, substandard workmanship and contradictory government decisions can drain taxpayers’ money without delivering tangible value to the community.
