Marburg’s crumbling sports complex an eyesore

The Marburg Sport Complex is in ruins due to a lack of maintenance and security by Ray Nkonyeni Municipality (RNM).

Furthermore, an ongoing battle to revive the grounds has fallen on deaf ears.

Marburg CPF chairperson Fathima Moosa said the complex is an eyesore. “When vandalism started some 20 years ago, officials did very little; now the grounds are a haven for drug users and for criminal activity where many are robbed. Criminals use the grounds for stripping of copper cables, which are sold to scrapyards. We have approached the municipality and held several meetings to fix the grounds, but nothing fruitful has happened. Businesses and residents need a solution now to revive and protect this beautiful grounds, which opened in 1994.”

The once sought-after facility was packed with sporting activities and also hosted major cultural events. The only sporting activities taking place now are soccer, volleyball and swimming.

The infrastructure has been vandalised and stripped of roof tiles, electrical wiring, taps, toilets, windows, doors and flood lights. The soccer changerooms, which were set alight several years ago, remain in a shocking state.

The stench of faeces and urine fills the air.

The entrance is overrun with garbage and sewage, and graffiti defaces the walls. Some sections of the precast fencing that surrounds the complex have been removed.

Both parking lots, which are currently used by learner drivers daily, are in a deplorable condition.

The grass on the grounds was cut last week; however, no other improvements were noted.

RNM was contacted for comment, but none was received at the time of going to press.

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