George Lea Park users fear losing the space as city makes changes

Ward 90 residents and city officials gathered at George Lea Park on the evening of April 16 for the information-sharing session on the changes to be made at the Sandton Sports Club facility located within the park.

The Johannesburg Property Company (JPC) presented plans to allocate the cricket field to the City of Johannesburg’s Community Development: Sports and Recreation department as part of a legacy project linked to the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.

JPC leasing management and sales general manager Sipho Mzobe said Community Development had formally requested to use the property to support cricket development.

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“The Community Development came to JPC and said JPC, we need the property that is currently occupied by George Lea Park. We want to occupy it and run it as community development and a legacy project for the upcoming Cricket World Cup.”

Mzobe said after the negotiations between the city departments, a decision was reached to divide usage of the space rather than handing over the entire facility.

“We engaged with the department, and we said your interest is mainly in the fields. How about we then divide this section so that the people who are currently occupying it can still use the facility. And all the other sporting courts that are here can continue because the guys have established a good relationship with the community.

“Then there was a lot of back and forth with Community Development, but we finally settled on saying they’re going to get the cricket field on the other side, but that those fields are not only going to be used for cricket, they’re also going to be used for soccer. There is going to be a shared use.”

He emphasised that cricket and other sports would not be cancelled, adding that existing cricket activities would continue under Community Development in partnership with Lions Cricket.

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Mzobe also reassured residents that existing users would retain access to other parts of the facility, including five-a-side, soccer and tennis courts. However, the cricket field will primarily serve the legacy project, with Community Development holding priority access.

“The people who will have a primary right to use the field are Community Development for the Cricket World Cup project. I know people might be worried, but we are not cancelling any sports that are currently happening on this site.”

“It’s just that cricket will be run by Community Development, working together with the Lions Cricket. Kids and residents who want to be part of the cricket team will still liaise with them.”

Despite these assurances, residents expressed frustration over what they described as a lack of meaningful consultation.

Community member Relebohile Sefako criticised the process, saying the meeting felt one-sided. “This was supposed to be a sharing of information. We are on the ground and understand how the facility works daily. Instead, it felt like decisions were already made.”

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As a soccer player who regularly uses the ground, Sefako raised concerns about reduced access and the impact on informal and developmental sport.

“As soccer players, we’re trying to run away from this thing called ageing. So every Sunday we make sure that we play here… We bring our kids here, they see us play and learn.

“This cricket development is going to cut down on the activities because remember, the field will take so much activity. And I don’t understand why they want to have a legacy in an area or place that is already developed.”

Concerns also extended beyond access to broader issues around public land use. Some residents criticised JPC’s approach to valuing green spaces. Heather Oosthuzien argued that parks and sports grounds should not be treated as commercial assets.

“JPC continue to quantify our green spaces in terms of real estate value. This is a complete misunderstanding. Public parks and community sports grounds are supposed to be held in trust for human and ecological well-being – not for profit. The real estate value of Joburg’s green properties is irrelevant.

“Our rates and taxes are supposed to cover all the running costs of parks and community sports grounds like every other city in the world. JPC quantifying our green properties in terms of real estate value is a threat to the survival of all our parks and affordable community sports grounds.”

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