DURBAN North residents are used to the uncertainty surrounding the future of Virginia Airport and the Beachwood Golf Course, which the municipality has already declared as being sought for development.

Now Northwood Crusaders Sports Club is also in a lease battle with the city. And according to reports the ‘prime’ piece of land could be used for upmarket residential or commercial property.

It’s been reported that Thembinkosi Ngcobo, the head of eThekwini parks and recreation, believes the club and other clubs need to ‘transform’ first.

Crusaders Sports Club caters for rugby, soccer, cricket, squash, bowling and is also used for weekly Rotary Club of Durban North meetings, as well as fundraising platform like the CPF Nite Run recently.

The club which celebrated its 50th anniversary this year declined to comment on the issue, instead saying it would be meeting with local councillor, Shaun Ryley, regarding the speculation and the reneging on the lease.

Ryley said it was a miracle that Crusaders and other clubs have operated on a month to month lease.

“Crusaders is part of the fabric of Durban North with a history as rich as any other sports club. The city’s position is that clubs need to transform, but in order to do so, they should be afforded a long term lease which will attract investment.

“This would allow them to undertake initiatives that lend themselves to transformation. The city should be promoting and assisting these clubs, but instead their efforts are stymied as they try to keep procedures running smoothly,” he said.