The Portfolio Committee on Sport and Recreation has lauded KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng municipalities for their commitment to building and renovating sports and recreation facilities in their communities.
Last week, the committee visited the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng to assess the state of sports facilities built as part of the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup Legacy Programme. The visits focused on access, maintenance, security and mass participation of communities in sports activities using these facilities.
KwaZulu-Natal municipalities have built and upgraded sport and recreation hubs and centres to ensure development of the youth in sport. In the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, the Committee visited three sport and recreational facilities that are part of the 2010 FIFA World Cup legacy project.
These were the King Zwelithini Sport Hub in uMlazi, The Princess Magogo stadium in KwaMashu and the Claremont Indoor sport and recreation centre. The Committee also commended the work done by the Msinga Local Municipality. The rural municipality has managed to build an artificial turf in line with FIFA guidelines and with very minimal funding.
The Committee also visited the Westonaria Local Municipality in Gauteng. The rural municipality has built an artificial football turf that complies with FIFA guidelines. Isiqalo Artificial Turf is part of the 2010 FIFA World Cup legacy project and comprises of an artificial football turf, club house and change rooms.
The Committee expressed concerns at the lack of adequate sport and recreational facilities in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality in the Eastern Cape. This is despite the metro receiving an amount of R50 million to build and develop sport facilities as part of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Legacy Project.
But it has failed to comply with FIFA guidelines with regards to the development of the Sisa Dukashe stadium in Mdantsane and the Newlands Stadium in the Newlands rural community. These stadia also do not pass the FIFA upgrading test.
At Sisa Dukashe, the fencing is not suitable for the stadium and the surface of the turf is not flat. The lights are not working properly and consistently. The Newlands stadium is just a field that has also been incorrectly fenced. There is no irrigation, no water, no poles, no turf and no ablution facilities.
The committee has noted challenges faced by municipalities, especially those situated in rural areas.
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Faith Kwaza Ms
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