Safe space for the community
DOUGLASDALE – Starting in January last year, a Douglasdale Police Station sergeant has revamped a piece of land where dumping took place to make an entertainment garden for the community.
A local sergeant has embraced the saying ‘to protect and serve’ since initiating the development of an entertainment centre in Kya Sand.
Douglasdale Police Station Seargeant Mayrol Shikwambana, who lives in Kya Sand, said he started renovating an old dumping site in January last year in order to develop the Masingita Entertainment Garden.
Shikwambana and his small group of employees recycled materials found at the old site, such as wood and car tyres, into various items like tables and chairs. “The guys who work here are also paid by me since there is a lot of unemployment in the area.”
Since starting, Shikwambana said more than R500 000 has gone into revamping the area after saving for five years. Apart from providing employment, the aim is also to promote local artists. “We also want to have nights were DJs perform for people.” The plans for the entertainment garden include two swimming pools for children of differing ages, a DJ stand, various seating areas and a playground for children. The sergeant, who has been with the police for the last 16 years, explained why he feels this development is so important.
“Especially for kids in the area, when they run in the street, they can get hurt or killed. This area used to have lots of bushes where people were robbed or killed. Having something like this here will hopefully reduce crime as well.”
The opening date and building progress of the centre was significantly impacted by the country-wide lockdown. “We were supposed to open the centre sometime last year, but due to Covid and the lockdown, we had to postpone opening everything.”
Developments are continuing in the centre, but Shikwambana is unsure when the garden will officially open as there is still much work to be done. “The community is very excited for the centre to open, some are getting angry that we are not opening yet,” he chuckled.
Looking to the future, he said he would like to perhaps add a butchery and restaurant as well as a building where people who are in danger or need help can seek the assistance they need.
