ETHEKWINI Municipality says it is aware of the complaints of insufficient lighting at the Queensmead Astroturf and the general state of disrepair at the Queensmead Hockey Stadium which have been lodged by residents over more than a year.
As a result, the Parks, Recreation and Culture Unit has tasked a consulting engineer to undertake a structural assessment report on the facility which has since been provided to the City to implement.
Shane Demé, Chairman of Gongs Hockey Club and KwaZulu-Natal Masters Hockey Association, and a member on the board of the KwaZulu Natal Hockey Association, said he had been in contact with the municipality for more than a year regarding issues at the stadium.
“We have experienced major problems with the lighting and flood lights. One bank of lights fell off its mast due to severe corrosion and has not been replaced, which a more pressing concern is the distribution box on this light pole, which is hanging loose and could pose a danger, especially to youngsters who might be inquisitive,” he said.
Demé said in addition, many of the bulbs in other floodlights have ceased to work and as a result it has become extremely dangerous to practice at nights, which has affected INK, UKZN, Glenwood Mini Hockey, Gongs, KZN Masters and KZN Grand Masters as it is not possible to play matches in the late afternoons or early evenings. He said of the 40 lights at the stadium, only 13 were currently functional.
“Over the months I have been told that an insurance claim was done and funds were provided to fix the flood lights but that there were delays from the special light department to do the work. I received a response on 28 February stating a proforma had been sent to accounts for signing off, however no further update has been received. There are in excess of 30 KZN players who are preparing to take part in World Cup hockey tournaments to be hosted in Japan, England and Cape Town, and practicing in the evenings is compromised and dangerous due to the poor state of the floodlights. The KZN Hockey Association will commence with the outdoor hockey season within the next eight weeks which will require clubs and high performance and provincial squads to commence training at night within the next months,which is problematic with the poor quality of lights,” he said.
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Demé said another sad fact was that international sides coming to Durban for pre-world cup sessions would be playing at Riverside Sports Club rather than at the stadium, which is the supposed home of KZN hockey.
He said the problem with the lighting at the stadium was only one of the issues which plagued the stadium.
He said the roofing at the stadium was badly corroded and the media centre had been wrecked after leakages into the structure during the 2017 storm.
He said other concerns include lights which have broken and fallen off of the roof in the technical area where time keepers and score keepers are situated during hockey games.
“There was reportedly R3.4 million set aside last year to fix the roofing and lighting, however where this has gone, I don’t know,” he said.
eThekwini Municipality’s spokesperson Msawakhe Mayisela, confirmed the city was aware of the problems and that a report had been received from a consulting engineer.
“The full cost assessment report has been received and is currently being actioned. It cannot be indicated if it will be completed in this financial year, or after July in the new financial year for 2020/21, as it will need to go out to tender and follow the normal procurement procedures,” he said.
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