Frank Maponya

Frank Maponya

Construction work is well on track at the University of Limpopo's Turfloop campus, the venue for the ANC's national conference next month.

This became clear during on visit to the university by a Sowetan team yesterday.

Contracted workers were found busy working ahead of the much-awaited conference.

The university had earlier promised to build a hall that would accommodate more than 4000 delegates expected to attend the conference.

But due to the apparent lack of funds, the promise was a pipe dream.

Now the ANC has resorted to a private company to erect a huge marquee at the campus to accommodate the delegates.

The workers were found working round the clock at the site where the marquee will be erected. They want to ensure that the facility is ready before the start of the conference.

Cable lines were also set up to ensure telephone connectivity and other related facilities were in place.

A temporary structure was erected next to the main entrance to be used for dining purposes during the conference.

Even the property that was damaged during the recent students' riots has been renovated.

Asiboni Mbala, a Johannesburg-based company contracted to erect the marquee, has vowed to make certain everything was in order by December 15.

Company director Jameson Hlongwane confirmed yesterday that the workers were ready for the challenge.

University spokesman Kgalema Mohuba said they would surrender the campus to the ANC on December 10 to allow security measures to be put in place.

"The university will be closed to students and staff on December 7 in order to give the ANC ample time to work on their logistics."