It will cost the City of Ekurhuleni over R600 000 to revamp the dilapidated sports and recreation facilities on Pienaar Street near the swimming pool.
The netball and tennis courts have been neglected for several years and can no longer be used.
The squash centre also closed its doors and the homeless and drug addicts roam around the facilities.
The once pristine courts had been vandalised, including palisade fences, copper pipes, aluminium sidings, courts and grandstands.
Ward councillor Jaco Terblanche said he was told by the City that the degeneration of the facilities was attributed to the invasion of vagrants, drug lords and prostitutes. Due to the neglect, the three clubs vacated the area as it became unsafe for club members to continue to use the facilities.
“The facilities were broken into twice, the alarm was stolen, the staff member staying on the property was stabbed and maintenance were threatened to such a degree that they refused to continue working there.
“During the second break-in they removed all the window and door frames, vandalised the properties and set it alight.
“Guards brought in to look after the facilities had since been moved to Birchleigh Tennis Club due to vandalism that started there. It was seen as fruitless expenditure to guard a burnt down facility,” Terblanche said the City told him.
The City submitted two insurance claims which were turned down due to the ongoing vandalism. The insurance company was not satisfied with the measures taken to secure the facility, although it had an alarm, palisade fence and security.
The facility has since been transferred back to real estate property management for disposal. No one has made any request to lease or use the property. The financial implication to revamp these facilities will be over R600 000.
Nearby Kieran Lottering said the police should implement more measures to ensure the safety of these facilities.
“The last three months I have seen the destruction of these once beautiful sports facility which has now turned into an eyesore. Theft and vandalism happen in broad daylight and continue througout the evening. They have absolutely no shame for their actions.”
Co-founder of The Spirit of Giving Foundation and Kempton resident Olebogeng Mothibi believes the starting point in addressing the matter would be for the municipality to revamp, maintain and protect the facilities.
“I urge the municipality to fix the centres and maintain them, and reintroduce programmes that will assist in crime reduction,” said Mothibi.
