Popular area for all, to park off, play and exercise
CULBERT Magadlela’s official job is that of caretaker, but on any given day he also takes on the role of policeman and child minder. The 45-year-old works at the NY110 Gugulethu Smart Park, one of the World Design Capital projects which opened in February after a R5.4 million upgrade by the City of Cape Town.
“The children sometimes give me a hard time but it’s part and parcel of the job and I don’t mind.”
One of the attractions of the park is an outdoor gym area for those 16 years and older, to which younger visitors are irresistibly drawn.
They have even scratched out the “16” on the noticeboard which instructs who can use the equipment, in the hope that it will make it “legal” for them to work out at the gym.
But Magadlela keeps an eagle eye out, not wanting to have to call an ambulance if things go pear-shaped.
“Lots of the children come here without parents so I have to watch them.”
He said people mostly used the equipment in the early morning before work or later in the evening.
“But we also have people with diabetes and high blood pressure coming to exercise for health reasons.”
Magadlela’s other duties are to ensure people follow the rules. Alcohol and drugs are out of bounds and so are dogs “because the children are frightened of them”.
“And I don’t allow fighting. If people want to fight they must go elsewhere.”
He lives just two minutes away and is at the park “365 days a year”.
The park is well utilised by the community, especially on weekends when people come to relax and picnic.
Magadlela said the community was given a say in the design of the park.
“The only thing we asked for and didn’t get were braai stands so people could go to places like Mzoli’s (a butchery in Gugulethu) and bring meat here to eat.”
Last week during school holidays and a day before storms lashed the city, the park was packed.
Local football teams Real Thembisa and Elite XV were practising on the two mini soccer fields that have artificial grass surfaces.
There is also a court where netball or basketball can be played.
Real Thembisa coach Sonwabo November said the team often played at the park.
“The guys also use the gym to keep in shape.”
November, who also coaches tennis at a number of schools, said it was a good pitch to practise on because the ball moved so quickly.
Player Lunga Goba said he played from Monday to Sunday. His only complaint was a lack of posts for scoring goals.
There is a “kick about” section for toddlers, and slides and a wooden jungle gym for older children.
Gugulethu resident Bulelwa Mfuku had brought her niece Anesipho Ndongeni, 9, to play.
“I like everything about this park. The children are safe because they aren’t playing in the street and the equipment is exciting for them.”
Louisa Tsolo, also a local, agreed, saying the safety aspect was a big plus.
“And there is always a caretaker to keep a watch.”
She roared with laughter when asked if she had tried out the gym equipment. “I haven’t used it yet, but maybe one of these days.”
One of the few negatives was a burglary a month after opening at the public ablution facility, which has remained shut after being damaged.
Councillor Xanthea Limberg, acting Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Special Projects, said the burglary was reported to the police and an insurance claim had been lodged with the City’s insurance section.
The ablution facility was managed by a private cleaning company.
Limberg said the city would be meeting with them to find out when it would be open again.
She said repairs that started in mid-April had been completed, so it was due to open soon.
It had also been better secured to prevent theft and vandalism in the future.