THE city’s decision to close down the Newmarket Stables for a reported R30-million soccer academy will affect more than 250 families as well as the residents around Durban. Northglen News recently spoke to three of the longest serving groomsmen at the stables to find out about their concerns with regards to the decision. Derek Biyela (15 years of service at Newmarket), Enoch Letuka (24 years of service at Newmarket) and Wilfred Zimanda (30 years of service at Newmarket) said the eviction notice is going to leave them, as breadwinners without an income and will ultimately affect the future of their children

“I have three children, one in Grade R, another in Grade 2 and my eldest who is in Grade 9. I’m not sure how I’m going to pay their school fees next year. We all have the same problem. There are many other grounds around Moses Mabhida, why does the city want this one,” Biyela said.

City adding to unemployment stats

Their anger was also articulated by Yaser Nasef, who is on the committee for the flea market at the stables. He said the city’s decision was ‘unlawful’ and made ‘no sense’.

“We are talking about 300 families who are going to be left without jobs if they close us down. We are the only night market in KZN and this has infuriated me and the stall holders. There has been consultation with us, this decision was made without us. The city often talks about supporting small, medium and micro-sized enterprises (SMMEs) but it’s ironic that they are doing the opposite and adding to the unemployment in the country,” he said.

“This is disrespectful and irresponsible from the city. We were told initially the funds were made available for 2015/16 because of the challenges the city faced with regards to the location of the soccer academy. There are hundreds of grounds the city could look at,” Nasef said adamantly.

No consultation with tenants

According to our sister paper, Durban ward councillor Martin Meyer, expressed his concern saying processes were not being correctly followed.

“According to the decision taken last year, the city manager was mandated to advertise the city’s intention to lease the land to Hoy Park Management. The city manager was also mandated to engage with the current tenants. This too has not happened,” he said.

Meyer said the city had not offered suitable new premises to the tenants, which left them with one month to find new premises and move.

“The DA supports the development of a soccer academy in the city to the benefit to all residents, but it cannot be done at the cost of other existing sporting codes, or lead to the loss of income for many Durban families,” he said.