UPDATE: North sports complex still in limbo
The sports complex was initially set to be completed in April 2018 after construction commenced in November 2017.
The construction of a brand new sports complex in The Orchards again appears to be stuck in limbo a year since it started.
Local councillor and mayoral committee member Ridge Pietersen said he had plans to approach the metro to assist with the greening of the area around the sports complex.
The greening was halted in February because developers, keen to green the complex by planting grass, expected the metro to install an irrigation system first.
Upon inquiring with the metro, Rekord learned that no municipal funds were allocated to the project although they [the Tshwane metro] endorsed the “privately-funded” project.
“We haven’t allocated any funding to it, but have endorsed the project,” Marius Redelinghuys, Tshwane metro senior executive support specialist in the community and social services department, said in 2018.
The completion of the sports complex has been marred by a series of delays since Pietersen announced the development in November 2017.
It was initially expected that it would be completed by April 2018.
Most recently, the multi-purpose netball, basketball and volleyball court was finished and painted while benches were installed.
ALSO READ: Young Pretoria golfer makes a national breakthrough
Locals have already started utilising the facilities to, among others, play soccer.
At the time of announcing the development, Pietersen said it was aimed at empowering the youth.
“We want to empower the youth by developing their skills,” Pietersen said.
Pietersen said the power of sport could be used to fight peer pressure and the scourge of crime and drug abuse among the youth. “The youth succumbs to abuse and drugs because they don’t have an alternative,” he said.
He said it was pointless to criticise the youth without providing alternatives.
Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114.
For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites:
Rekord East
Rekord North
Rekord Centurion
Rekord Moot
For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram
