Northerns want the grandstands!
In August 2019, Jarvis received a reply from the SRAC regional executive manager stating that they had received an application from the Armstrong Sports Academy to lease the facility, hence the stands were no longer available.
The Benoni Sports Council Centre, based in Newlands Avenue and owned by the Ekurhuleni metro, has been abandoned for quite some time.
Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture (SRAC) representative for Ward 27 Ted Jarvis has been trying to acquire the grandstands at the centre as Northerns could do with the extra seating space.
“I have been an SRAC representative for eight years and have also been involved with Benoni Northerns for over 44 years,” he said.
“Frequently driving past the facility referred to, I had noticed the grandstands were not being used and both Northerns and Eastern Gauteng Hockey had a desperate need for them.
“I applied in March 2019, stating that we would arrange for the stands to be collected and taken where they were needed if we were allowed to take ownership of them.
“The collection would have been at no cost to the Council and the stands would have been restored.
“I also mentioned in my application that I had seen them deteriorate over time and there is a likelihood they would be stolen for scrap metal value.
“The basic framework, however, remains there to this date.”
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In August 2019, Jarvis received a reply from the SRAC regional executive manager stating that they had received an application from the Armstrong Sports Academy to lease the facility, hence the stands were no longer available.
“This was no problem if they are being used, but now we are in March 2021 and the facility is still run down and has deteriorated even further,” he said.
“The stands remain where they were, just worse than before.
“I have subsequently requested the stands again but to no avail; furthermore, the locality in Newlands Avenue cannot be considered to be conducive for a sporting facility unless it is beefed up in terms of safety and security.”
The centre was originally built for tennis, but the sport within the whole of Ekurhuleni, according to the Ekurhuleni metro, has seen a sharp decline in membership.
“Tennis, unfortunately, has lost popularity over recent years and most clubs have experienced declining memberships,” said Jarvis.
“Then of course next to Lake Club there is a magnificent tennis facility, which, I stand under correction, also appears to be underutilised.
“Many clubs have converted their tennis courts into football courts, such as those being completed at Lake Club.
“The problem with the Council as I see it is there is no overall strategic plan for sport and no consultation with those who are actively involved in the clubs and sporting bodies.
“Also, facilities need to be maintained in good condition.”
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Zweli Dlamini, spokesperson for the metro said:
“The City cannot provide the grandstands to the club (Northerns) or any entity at Newlands Avenue. The City has already embarked on a process to lease sports facilities to interested sports organisations. These organisations would need to use the same grandstands when they take over the facilities through lease agreements. The Armstrong Sports Academy had a stint occupation of the facility before the Covid-19 pandemic. They left the facility, having not used it for any community gain.
“The City assessed the facility for refurbishment in the 2021/22 financial year for a prospective lease agreement. It would be improper to grant the stands to another organisation while there is also a prospective lease agreement on the facility that would benefit the community of Benoni.”
