Sports clubs operating in Menlo Park and Waterkloof say they fear they could eventually lose access to facilities they have occupied and maintained for years as the Tshwane metro moves ahead with plans to review municipal sporting facilities in Region 3.

The clubs are currently operating on a month-to-month basis after their previous leases expired, leaving some organisations uncertain about whether they will be able to continue using the facilities in the long term.

According to metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo, the city council recently approved the leasing of municipal properties across Region 3, including the sporting facilities in question.

Mashigo said the approval allowed for leases of up to nine years and 11 months, but clubs would not automatically have their existing agreements renewed.

Metro introduces competitive application process

“All the leases have expired, and the clubs are currently occupying the facilities on a month-to-month basis,” said Mashigo.

“In line with council requirements, sports facilities must be allocated through a fair and competitive process. Consequently, no club will receive an automatic renewal of its lease, and all interested clubs will be required to submit applications.

“In due course, the city will issue an invitation to apply, affording all clubs a fair and equitable opportunity to apply for the use of sporting facilities,” he said.

Applications will then be subjected to an internal assessment and adjudication process before successful applicants are awarded leases.

Mashigo added that the metro did not intend to enter into agreements exceeding the maximum approved lease period of nine years and 11 months.

Clubs face financial risks on month-to-month terms

For clubs that have invested their own money into maintaining and improving municipal facilities, however, the uncertainty surrounding month-to-month agreements remains a concern.

Cobie Odendaal of Brooklyn Hockey said the club had continued maintaining and improving its facility despite not having the security of a long-term lease.

“We have been maintaining and improving the facility at Brooklyn Hockey at continuous risk, as Tshwane has only granted us annual contracts over the past seven years since we applied for a long-term, nine-year and 11-month contract,” said Odendaal.

“The plan is to develop the yard even more, but every dime we spend is a risky investment,” she said.

Odendaal said the club understood that the metro was reviewing 28 sporting facilities in the area, including theirs, but was concerned as there was no guarantee who the successful applicant would be and they were still waiting to hear what the proposed procedure would be.

According to Odendaal, the club was also concerned that changes to the management of the facilities could affect the metro’s responsibility to provide sporting opportunities and maintain municipal infrastructure.

Pretoria Shepherd Dog Club seeks operational certainty

Rudolf Peter Johan Verheijen, chairperson of the Pretoria Shepherd Dog Club, said the organisation was also accustomed to applying for leases and paying its rent, but wanted greater certainty about its future at the facility.

“We obviously are keeping up, we pay our rent in advance. So in that way, even though we are on a month-to-month, we should at least be paid up for the year,” said Verheijen.

Verheijen said the club would apply again when the city opened the process, but added that previous applications had not provided the long-term certainty the organisation was looking for.

For the Pretoria Shepherd Dog Club, the main concern is the inability to plan around a month-to-month arrangement.

“If we want to build the club, what we’re doing anyway, you want the security that you know that in a year’s time you’re still going to have a place where you’re going to be accommodating your community.”

“Any lease at this point in time would be great, other than month-to-month,” he said.

The club provides dog training facilities to members of the public and hosts training sessions and competitions.

The club also conducts tests such as good-citizen assessments, which can provide owners with certification for their dogs.

As the metro prepares to invite applications for the municipal sporting facilities, clubs now face the prospect of competing for spaces they have occupied and maintained for years.

Mashigo said there is no approved date for the application process.

He maintained that the process will be open to all interested applicants and that successful applicants will be considered through an assessment and adjudication process.

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