The Corner Flag: Daveyton residents responsible for destruction of Sinaba Stadium
The facillity can hosts functions, football, netball, basketball and tennis matches, as well as athletics.
Having spent time in several parts of Ekurhuleni in the past few months, I didn’t believe the city had any decent multipurpose sports facilities until I went to Dries Niemandt Park in Kempton Park for the Valke Merlin League blockbuster finals.
Words really can’t describe the immaculate condition the facility is in. I don’t know if it’s because of the City of Ekurhuleni or private individuals but whoever it is, kudos to them.
The same can’t be said about Sinaba Multipurpose Stadium in Daveyton, however.
On August 25, the venue was host to the Daveyton Street Mile. The decay, littering and sheer neglect was hard to ignore.
I wonder what the throngs of visiting runners said to themselves seeing the mountains of litter in and outside the facility.
The Daveyton Hearts AC and others tried to hide this eyesore through a last-minute clean-up but the rubble couldn’t be hidden.
It’s disgraceful that the residents of Daveyton are allowing this iconic stadium to decay. After it was given a much-needed facelift, which brought lots of economic opportunities for community members because it was hosting professional football matches, residents should have shielded it from harm.
Also Read: THE CORNER FLAG: Fix Boksburg Stadium and stop denying athletes access
In as much as the upkeep of Sinaba Stadium is the responsibility of the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE), it’s their duty to safeguard it from vandalism, harm and any form of criminality.
The fact is that the people of Daveyton are responsible for the decay and destruction of Sinaba Stadium.
The municipality’s lax security is a tiny part of the problem but it’s not the CoE that damaged the tennis courts and stole the nets and steel posts.
It’s not council that allows footballers to play five-a-side matches on tennis and netball courts. It’s not the CoE that stole the TLB tyres and damaged parts of the main pavilion or uprooted some of the outdoor gym equipment.
It’s not the CoE that parks cars inside the old pavilion or allows sheep and goats to graze inside the facility. It’s not the municipality that damaged parts of the fence and opened footpaths to create ‘shortcuts’.
Most importantly, it’s not the CoE that unabatedly litters inside and outside the facility.
It’s you. You are responsible for this mess. You saw the non-existent security and took advantage.
You have allowed your children to use the facility as a hooking-up spot where they can ‘chill’ to have a joint.
You allow them to deface, mutilate and strip the facility of its dignity.
Your inaction and silence make you complicit in this destruction and you should hang your heads in shame.
Sport has the power to change lives and make careers. It seems the people of Daveyton disagree.
It’s no wonder substance abuse is wreaking havoc in the youth population in the community.
Responding to the politics surrounding the use of Boksburg Stadium in this column, one reader wrote on Facebook, “All they know is to destroy”.
I don’t need to remind the people of Daveyton or any township that allows the destruction of recreational amenities who this ‘they’ being referred to is.
Get your act together.
Also Read: The Corner Flag: Of walkie-talkies and bending the rules
