EMM responds to Daveyton Golf Club issue

On Friday, March 18 the City Times published the article “Golf is dying in Daveyton” where the club’s executive committee aired their grievances regarding maintenance of the township course by the metro.

City Times sports journalist Logan Green sought clarity on the maintenance situation and posed a few questions with regards to the issue to Themba Gadebe, EMM spokesman.

Logan Green: What is the general situation with regards to the regular maintenance of Daveyton Golf Club by the metro?

Themba Gadebe: There has been continuous maintenance, but not that regular to provide optimum play at the golf course hence the department has devised a plan and agreed with the club to let a team maintain the course on Wednesdays and Thursdays. It must be noted that the team also has the responsibility to look after other facilities in and around Daveyton and Etwatwa.

LG: Who is supervising the workers? Is it acceptable that they leave the premises before noon on most days?

TG: It is extremely wrong for the workers to down tools as and when they wish. We have tightened up the supervision and will be ensuring that this does not happen. However, it must be noted that the team can leave before noon if they have other engagements in other parts of the area because they do not just look after the course.

LG: Will the metro liaise with the management committee and assist them with their concerns?

TG: Our sport, recreation, arts and culture (SRAC) department continuously meets the golf club management committee to discuss matters around the facility and other related issues. The last engagement we had with them was when we informed them of the supervision and maintenance changes on Wednesday, March 2.

LG: I was informed that the sports and recreation department in Daveyton is under-resourced, what is the status quo of this office in Daveyton?

TG: It is true that the department in Daveyton is under-resourced as far as the machinery and qualified personnel is concerned. However, this cannot be an excuse as we are committed to strive to provide the services needed, and where needs be we shall source the services of contractors.

LG: What is the metro’s approach in terms of developing sport in previously disadvantaged areas and is the metro taking this seriously?

TG: The metro is taking sport development seriously because we believe that it is critical for the social cohesion of any community. Who can forget the many instances where sport was critical towards reconciliation in this country, at the helm of which is the 1995 Rugby World Cup? We must, however, be the first to admit that we may have not been doing enough in sport development in some areas but this is receiving urgent attention. In the meantime, sport development is mainly done by giving support to recognised sporting codes available in different communities. This we further do by ensuring that clubs have access to sport and recreation facilities. We have also established the Ekurhuleni Sport Council with the intention of forming local sport council which will lead the development agenda of all sporting codes in an integrated manner in every town and township. Millions have also gone towards the refurbishment of numerous sporting facilities, including stadiums, in areas such as Actonville, KwaThema and Tsakane, which we have turned into multidisciplined sport facilities so that different sporting codes can thrive.

LG: Any further comment?

TG: As a city we believe in strategic partnerships because we know that we have limited resources. Our plan is to encourage communities to share their ideas so that we can look at possible partnerships.