The fate of one of Ekurhuleni’s last remaining squash clubs appears to have come to a devastating conclusion after vandals reduced Boksburg Squash Club to a shell in a second wave of vandalism that has left the venue beyond repair.

Just months after the facility suffered a crippling break-in that prompted desperate appeals for assistance, the once-thriving community sports venue at Prince George Park has now been stripped of virtually everything of value – doors, window frames, plumbing, electrical wiring, ceilings, bathroom fittings, steam rooms, changing facilities, the bar, lounge, braai area, kitchen and offices.

Even sections of the squash courts themselves have been vandalised, with parts of the facility deliberately set alight.

The destruction has not only devastated a facility that once boasted six courts and served generations of players, but has also deprived the community of a major public sporting venue, leaving residents questioning why council-owned facilities are being left vulnerable to ongoing vandalism and decay in Boksburg and citywide.

Gone to the dogs
The destruction marks a tragic decline for the nearly 50-year-old club, which had already been struggling with declining membership, ageing infrastructure and ongoing vandalism.

In a previous interview with the Boksburg Advertiser, long-time member Ian Pearson warned that many sporting facilities across Ekurhuleni had ‘gone to the dogs’ due to neglect, vandalism and poor security.
He said the Boksburg Squash Club had survived largely because members remained active at the venue.

From the outside the building still appears intact, hiding the extensive damage and destruction inside.Once regarded as one of the province’s top squash facilities, the six-court venue featured steam rooms, a bar, a lounge and a braai area. Much of that infrastructure has now been destroyed or stripped away.
The club once accommodated about 600 members at its peak in the 1980s, but membership had declined to around 60 in recent years as interest shifted to other racquet sports such as padel.

Despite ongoing efforts to attract new members and keep the club afloat, the latest vandalism may have dealt the final blow to the historic council-owned facility.
‘No political will’
Residents, community leaders, and CPF members have expressed growing concern about the deterioration and vandalism of council-owned sporting facilities, warning that the loss of these spaces is negatively affecting communities and leaving young people without safe places for recreation and development.

Ward 32 Clr Marius de Vos blamed the destruction on poor security and what he described as ongoing municipal neglect. He said the problem extends beyond Parkdene, with similar facilities across Boksburg falling into disrepair due to a lack of maintenance and protection.

“It’s not just Boksburg – public facilities across the city are falling into decay,” said de Vos.

According to de Vos, repeated appeals to the metro to improve security around public infrastructure have yielded little response, while criminals continue stripping facilities of valuable materials such as furniture, building materials, and copper wiring, and selling them to local scrapyards.

He warned that nearby municipal properties, including the adjacent Tony Green Hall boxing club facility, could soon face the same fate if urgent action is not taken.
“If this continues, vandals will simply move on to the next building unless we stop it now,” he warned.

De Vos suggested that unused municipal properties should be repurposed through partnerships with private companies, NGOs or educational institutions to improve maintenance, security and community involvement.
Rising community fear
Parkdene resident and CPF member Lisa Jacobs said criminal activity around the abandoned facilities has left many residents fearful.
“We’re regularly called out at night because community members are scared,” she said.

She said learners attending nearby schools are also vulnerable, with reports of harassment by suspicious individuals around the site.
“Our children have nowhere safe to play anymore. There are no sports facilities left, and nothing is being done to protect what remains,” she said.

She criticised what she called poor coordination between law enforcement agencies, saying residents often struggle to get assistance.
“You call SAPS and they don’t respond, or they refer you elsewhere. It becomes a blame game,” she said.

Jacobs echoed de Vos’ sentiments that criminals repeatedly target facilities in search of copper and electrical wiring to sell for cash.
“We try to assist, but we are limited by safety concerns. We’re not armed, and these people can be dangerous. Security companies help, but they can’t be here all the time,” she said.

She added that the destruction is sending a harmful message to young people.
“These facilities were safe places for children to play sports and socialise. What is happening now sends the message that crime pays, and that is heartbreaking,” she said.

Safety concerns force relocation
Safety concerns have also forced educational programmes operating at the nearby boxing club facility to consider relocating.

Collins, who offers extra mathematics, science and accounting classes there, said the environment is no longer safe for learners due to increasing drug activity and crime in the area.
She said both educators and boxing coaches are concerned about exposing young people to violence, drugs and criminal behaviour.

“We’re trying to keep young people off the streets, but it’s difficult when they are exposed to these immoral behaviours,” she said.
She said even with private security, the situation remains unstable.
“We’re paying for security ourselves, but without permanent protection, it’s not enough,” she said.

Also Read: VIDEO: City leaves Parkdene tennis courts to rot