Elka sports facility renovations underway

The Elka netball courts and soccer fields in Rockville are receiving a face lift.

The project started late last year as a result of an inspection that was conducted by Ward councillor Ronald Phamodi and his Ward Committee Members.

The team discovered that courts were cracked and the facilities of both the netball and soccer fields were not in good condition.

This prompted the team to submit a report and as a result the Department of Sports and Recreation committed itself to fixing the problems.

Community liaison officer of the project, Thabo Lelimo said so far all is on schedule.

“Before we started with the renovations, there were a lot of issues and as a result the netball people from this area were no longer using the courts but going to the Moletsane Sport Complex.

“We then had 21 people working here and among those, some were from the community while the rest came with the subcontractors.

“Everything has been going according to plan as most of the issues we had before have been fixed,” he said.

Lelimo said the showers were partially fixed last year October/November and the inside was painted, now the subcontractors are fixing netball courts and after that they will move onto the soccer field.

Plumbing was also done in the change rooms of both the netball courts and soccer field.

“There were burst pipes at the back where the showers are situated but some of that has been sorted out, leaving only a small amount of pipes and taps to be completed.

“The subcontractors for paving are done and the team fixing the courts are almost finished.

“We have also been asked to put new poles and nets on the courts,” he said.

When the renovations are done, there will be five courts for netball and two for basketball.

Lelimo said they will also be fixing the fence and the geyser which is currently leaking.

Cllr Phamodi said: “The oversight visits we started in 2013 helped us to discover these issues and helped renovations come to life.

“I am happy with the progress of the sports facilities and as soon as they are done, we will hand over the project to the relevant departments,” he said.

@TebohoSeabelo