Temporary facilities to be used following clubhouse’s vandalism
The clubhouse was damaged after residents of Joe Slovo informal settlement highlighted their frustrations about poor service delivery in the area and allegedly went on the rampage, setting the club house alight.
Temporary facilities will be used at the Reiger Park Sports Grounds following the vandalising of the clubhouse at the fields during the Joe Slovo protests late last year.
This was agreed upon during a meeting between East Rand United and the City of Ekurhuleni’s Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture on January 11.
A statement from United in conclusion of the meeting between the two parties read:
It was agreed that an alternative plan should be followed during the application process of the pending insurance claim (by the municipality) to support the community and the East Rand United Club to continue to operate from the sports grounds as home base.
It was agreed the temporary facilities from a third-party vendor (Abucus) should be explored and a procurement rental option explored for the next six months, to be reviewed on month five on the restoration and renovation of the damaged building of Ekurhuleni at the sports grounds.
The agenda points raised at the meeting were the status of insurance claim from the municipality; United’s participation in the South African Rugby Union (Saru) Gold Cup as a wild card draw; and other alternative plans that could be tapped into moving forward.
The Reiger Park Sports Grounds, which are also used for other sporting codes, are due to host United’s Gold Cup home matches. The tournament is scheduled to kick-off in March.
The meeting was held at Phakisa Holdings Group of Companies offices in Germiston – the main sponsor of United.
The temporary facilities are expected to include the following:
• Ablution facilities for members of public and/or spectators only during games.
• Restrooms for two rugby teams.
• Main space to run rugby, hockey and cricket operations from for the duration of the restorations of the building.
• Three storerooms for rugby, cricket and hockey.
• Public area: tuck shop space for sales of refreshments during rugby games.
• Large space for gym equipment (sponsored by a private company).
• Electricity connection with a separate meter to buildings and new electricity meter for the floodlights used for security due to the absence of public lighting in the area. Operational cost of these lights to be reallocated to roads department and public safety department and not the sole responsibility of one club entity using municipal grounds and facilities. Future operational costs from the facilities to be reviewed and placed under the correct department budget spend for future budgeting purposes.
• Children’s playground to be erected: jungle gym equipment to be installed close to these temporary buildings for the members of public to create an all-inclusive sports facility supporting the community and local neighbouring informal settlement.
• New expenditure: tarred parking lot at the entrance of sports grounds leading off the entrance road, with public lighting and security fence with two new gates to secure the damaged building and the renovations of the building, and to support the sports clubs operations from these grounds.
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