‘We are being played’ by government: Mpumalanga’s R2bn ‘flagship’ food market yet to sprout

The Mpumalanga International Fresh Produce Market (MIFPM), a R2 billion flagship project of the provincial government, remains closed more than 18 months after completion, despite repeated promises of an imminent opening. Critics, including the Democratic Alliance (DA), accuse the government of misleading the public, with DA member Tersia Marshall stating, “We are being played” by officials who continue to announce opening dates that are later postponed.

Construction of the market in Mbombela was initially announced in November 2018, with an original completion date set for September 2020. However, the project has faced multiple delays and cost overruns. According to the DA, more than R2 billion has been spent on the facility, with approximately R1.8 billion allocated for construction and an additional R400 million or more made available for operational readiness, bringing the total expenditure well over R2 billion.

Premier Mandla Ndlovu had previously announced that the market would open at the complete of July 2025, but the Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs (Dardlea) postponed the launch, citing a technical administrative oversight during final preparations. A new official launch date has not yet been communicated, pending the completion of outstanding regulatory processes.

The DA has raised concerns about the lack of suppliers and farmers capable of meeting the market’s demand, questioning the feasibility of the project given the agricultural capacity in the province. Marshall emphasized that the scale of the facility does not align with current local supply capabilities, further undermining its viability.

Despite being described by Premier Ndlovu as the country’s first fresh produce market since liberation, the MIFPM has yet to begin operations, earning criticism as a white elephant project. The provincial government maintains that the delay is necessary to ensure the market opens in a sustainable and legally compliant manner.