The state of the track at Boksburg City Stadium left my body aching and my heart pounding – not from a track race, but from disappointment.

Potholes scar the surface. Patches tell stories of half-done repairs. Pools of water seep from beneath the tartan like a wound that has been ignored for far too long.

This is not just wear and tear; it is a visible, undeniable symbol of neglect.

I was attending my fifth Colgate Road Race on May 3 when the reality of it all hit me.

Standing there, looking at what should be a hub of community sport, I felt overwhelmed. How did we get here?

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How did we allow it to get this bad? And perhaps most troubling – why are we so silent while critical public infrastructure crumbles before our eyes?

My mind drifted to Nelson Mandela and a story from the early days of democracy.

When tasked with assembling a government, Thabo Mbeki presented a diverse and inclusive list of leaders.

But when concerns were raised about internal party processes, Mandela reportedly drew a line in the sand – he would not sacrifice competence for political loyalty.

That principle feels distant today.

What we see now, particularly in municipalities like the City of Ekurhuleni, is a system where loyalty often outweighs capability.

The consequences are not abstract – they are etched into the very surfaces athletes are forced to run on.

And yet, the contradiction is staggering.

Today, politicians are quick to celebrate Lythe Pillay and his teammates for raising the country’s flag high after their silver medals at the World Relays Championships in Botswana.

They praise the performance, share the glory and wrap themselves in the moment.

But they forget something fundamental.

They forget that the very tracks they are neglecting are the same ones that shaped athletes like Pillay – the same surfaces that helped Pillay produce that sensational 42.66 split in the 4x400m relay, the fastest ever recorded.

So the question becomes unavoidable: how many more Pillays are we losing?

How many future champions are being denied their chance because the spaces meant to nurture them are falling apart?

Imagine what a healthy, accessible and well-maintained Boksburg City Stadium could produce – not just one standout athlete, but generations.

Facilities like Boksburg City Stadium are more than just venues. They are breeding grounds for talent, safe spaces for youth, and pillars of community life.

When they fall into disrepair, it is not just infrastructure that fails – it is opportunity.

This is not about nostalgia or politics for its own sake. It is about accountability.

It is about recognising that neglect has a cost, and that cost is being paid by athletes, communities and the future of South African sport.

What I saw that day was more than a damaged track. It was a reflection of a broader failure – one that we can no longer afford to ignore.

The track needs immediate attention.

Because when neglect wins, sport loses.

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