NPO Chair calls for community action to protect and restore Regents Hill Club

The chairperson of the Southern Committed Community NPO, Seth Kutoane, urges people of the south to be proactive in guarding public properties.

He said the same properties can help the community. This is in the backdrop of Regents Hill Bowling Club (Edgecombe Road, The Hill) which he took over with a couple of people two years ago.

“Because of the vandalism of properties in the south, we see it fit to rescue this property. We stopped the vandalism already in progress here; some of the palisade fence pieces were stolen and electricity was also affected.

“We are fixing this place and want to repurpose it as fewer people play bowls around here.

“The demographics have changed in the south, hence the repurposing,” explained Kutoane.

He mentioned he worked with Ward 56 Clr Michael Crichton to secure the place.

“A foreign national wanted to take over this place, claiming he bought it. Crichton helped us to dispel what the man said about this property.

“Now we have done in-roads in fixing it, however, it proves to be a difficulty as we don’t have funds; we are doing it from our pockets. The place also needs painting and general repairs.

“Communities are not active. We need active citizenry, whether volunteering or otherwise. Things get destroyed on their watch; look at the tennis court in Regents Park, it is gone.

“Here we are trying to inspire other community members to follow suit. This is our responsibility and we must step in and do something. Don’t complain on social media about the state of the south and do nothing. We need to understand our role as a community,” he said.

Element of entrepreneurship

Kutoane said they have a hall which people can hire for functions and the venue also lends itself to host outdoor events. He conceded they are not busy, however, they appreciate the little they get from the community from hiring the place.

They also have fresh produce, including spinach, cabbage, and onions, which they sell to the public. He said two men are living on the property to guard it as there were break-ins before.

He also noted he is a man of many ideas and wants to share them with other people.

“I recently read in Southern Courier the story of Simphiwe Radebe. He is an amazing chap and I would like to work with him. I am also tech-savvy. For instance, we can have children playing with drones here.

Also, in farming, he recently created an automatic plant watering system that tackles the water wastage crisis by watering your plants only when the soil is dry. We can use that here.

“Communities need to have gardens in their yards and water is a problem, and that’s where Radebe’s invention comes in for irrigation. That’s the solution to water scarcity. I keep saying that the community needs to benefit from this place,” he said.

For more information on Regents Hill Bowling Club, contact Kutoane on 063 481 7939.