‘Lack of resources main factor for deteriorating SRAC facilities’

The City of Ekurhuleni has blamed its failure to maintain and repair sporting facilities around the metro on inadequate resources and financial constraints.

Responding to questions sent by the City Times, the municipality explained that a lack of adequate resources was the contributory factor for the deteriorating sports facilities. Furthermore, it said it was not deliberately neglecting these facilities as its finances were also negatively affected by Covid-19.

“The repairs and maintenance of all council buildings is the responsibility of the real estate department. This includes grass-cutting and garden maintenance. However, the maintenance of hardcourts, specialised sports turfs and swimming pools is the responsibility of the sports, recreation and arts and culture (SRAC) department.

“There is no facility that is purposely neglected as they are all built to serve a particular purpose. It is a matter of common course that our financial resources have been negatively affected by Covid-19 just like the rest of the country and the world; hence, the current status quo among others,” the metro said.

The paper wrote to the metro following grievances from concerned citizens about the neglect of sporting facilities in Benoni and Boksburg.

When asked about the lack of maintenance of the Daveyton Golf Course and Actonville Stadium, the municipality said the SRAC department could not effectively carry out repairs and maintenance because of inadequate resources.

“Because of a lack of adequate resources, machinery, human capital, service delivery vehicles and constrained repairs and maintenance budget, the SRAC department can’t effectively implement repairs and maintenance programmes in these facilities.”

The metro also said queries about the overgrown grass and vegetation on the outside of the Benoni Central Swimming Pool have been escalated to the parks division.

“The grass on the inside of the swimming pool is not overgrown, only on the pavement outside the swimming pool along the tennis court boundary wall fence.

“All the illegal dumping at the corner of Kimbolton Street and Kempston Avenue has since been removed. The vegetation and overgrown grass on the pavement and outside perimeter fence have been forwarded to the parks division for attention.”

In Boksburg, concerned coaches were alarmed by lack of lighting at the Prince George Park and Reiger Park Arena, which often host evening rugby and football matches. The metro told the paper that the problem was because of cable theft.

“The lighting in these facilities is mainly affected by perpetual cable theft. However, in Reiger Park, the situation is exacerbated by illegal connections from the nearby informal settlement.

“Both matters have been reported to energy and real estate departments for intervention and assistance and will be receiving attention in due course.”

The metro said it will continue to engage all the relevant departments to ensure more is done to change this situation.

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