A proposal to upgrade the sport facilities in Kayamandi was met with enthusiasm, but also calls for consideration at the most recent Stellenbosch municipal council meeting.
Councillor Ndipiwe Olayi, Mayoral Committee member for Sport, Youth and Culture, presented a proposal by the Open Play Foundation, which hopes to enter into an agreement with the municipality to upgrade the area’s sport facilities to ultimately include two full-size artificial soccer pitches, a four-lane 400 m athletics track, a swimming pool and even a primary healthcare facility.
Olayi said the refurbishment project will be a catalyst for youth development in the neighbourhood and have minimal financial obligation for the municipality.
However, ANC councillor Jacobus Davids warned the municipality must consider the “bigger picture” for the proposal and the impact it could have as three of the erven included in the proposal are zoned for agriculture, education and private open space.
The education-zoned property is under the custodianship of the national Department of Public Works.
“We are dealing with certain obligations or expectations from Open Play towards the municipality in this partnership going forward,” Davids said.
“We don’t know if the municipality is empowered to grant these rezonings. As for the Public Works property, which is viewed as part of the development, what do we put in its place? Can we investigate that?”
ANC councillor Ayanda Tomose shared that the plans were for a world-class facility, raising his concerns about residents of the Zone A informal settlement at the entrance of the sport facility.
He urged municipal officials to be proactive and strategic if there is a need for the relocation of these residents, should the redevelopment of the facility get the nod.
The Open Play Foundation runs a host of programmes in Kayamandi, including a community coaches programme, which supplements the two primary schools’ coaching and sports-organisational capacity by coaching and/or engaging at learners on the Open Play facilities daily.
In the proposal the foundation states: “At Kayamandi Primary School, the GreenSource wastewater-management system has enabled Love to Give to grow its community garden, employing 100 community members per year. This programme is also supported by the IDC/GST. Love to Give and Open Play co-fund the salary of the garden manager and our collaboration illustrates [our] approach to partnerships: creating platforms that also enable other community organisations to grow their footprint and social impact.”
Funding for the upgrade project would be sourced through donor funding.
The Kayamandi Sport Council (KSC) is backing the proposal. “We strongly believe the development of such a world-class facility will bring significant benefits to Kayamandi,” wrote Kwezi Mfazweni, KSC secretary.
“Improved access to quality sports infrastructure will enhance talent development, provide a safe and structured environment for youth engagement and promote physical and social well-being. Furthermore, the multi-purpose nature of the facility will create opportunities beyond sports, fostering education, entrepreneurship and community cohesion.”
At the sitting, council granted permission to the municipality’s Community Services Department to conclude a draft agreement in terms of a memorandum of understanding, with the Open Play Foundation, which will be brought before council for approval.
