Tlakula tennis court dilemma continues

Kwa-Thema – The Tlakula tennis court has been smeared with controversy since the first phase of its construction was completed in 2018.

In June 2018 councillor Zanele Nyakale officially announced the three courts on the corner of Moshoeshoe and Shabangu streets were ready for use.
However, in February 2019 the courts had not been handed over to the community amid allegations of poor construction.

Also read: Tlakula tennis court restored and fully-functional

It was alleged the surface was uneven, making it difficult for players to enjoy their favourite sport.
In August last year, the ward councillor promised all that was wrong with the project had been fixed and players were allowed to use the facility. When all seemed to be well with the sporting facility and with the metro starting work on the second phase of the project, parts of the security
fence started vanishing into the night.
To date, half of the security fence is missing and one of the three tennis courts is exposed.
Tennis coach Moses Ngwenya said they are using the facility out of desperation because there
are no alternatives in the area.

Also read: Tennis court poorly constructed

“The security fence of the two courts are vandalised, there are no changing rooms and no water
connections.
“Our players are forced to bake in the sun because there is no shade nor grandstands,” he said.
Nyakale, however, blamed residents for not helping in making sure the sporting facility is not
vandalised.
“There is little we can do to make sure these facilities are not vandalised without the help of the community.
“The perpetrators are known and live within the community but they are not reported to the police,” she said.
Nyakale added that the second phase of the project is in the planning phase.
“We will be installing changing rooms, toilets and improving the grandstands,” she said.

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