Anger brewing over plans to redevelop Victoria Grounds
Plans to demolish the historic Victoria Sports Grounds in King William’s Town (KWT) are clouded, with vague talk about the development of a mall with sporting facilities.
The Buffalo City Metro Development Agency (BCMDA), facing the wrath of sporting bodies, would only say that the bidding process had begun and there was no clarity on what would be built.
BCMDA spokesperson Oyama Makalima said the specifications for the development were “open ended so as to allow for proposals to be creative and expansive as possible”.
He said they wanted a “sustainable” development “that sees the sporting needs of the community met” and “returns” for the developer.
“The path that the developer chooses is for them to decide — whether this includes a mall or any other services.”
He declined to name the bidders, saying: “At this stage we are testing the market.”
KWT and District Sports Association ’ s secretary Thembani Tom said they felt betrayed by the government.
Speaking after talks with BCMDA on Tuesday, he said: “Yes, the town needs development but not at the expense of sport.
“We feel betrayed by the government, as sport was one of the vehicles used to achieve the freedom that we have today.
“Victoria Grounds is a heritage site — we cannot destroy our history like that. We need to go back to the drawing board.”
He said many township schools were without sports grounds and the children needed to use the grounds as a springboard to greater things.
Tom said they had an alternative proposal to the shopping mall, which had very little relevance to the needs and interests of the community.
“We have proposals even down to security and suggestions on how we can eliminate poverty while creating jobs,” he said.
The municipal grounds are in a derelict state, with its palisade fencing ripped down.
Sport Heritage Institute (SHI) chair Zandisile Makina said the destruction of this major sports grounds was a backward step for sport development in the townships.
Makina said: “The SHI condemns the demolition of sports grounds. It is a destructive action that diminishes the struggle history of the area,” he said.
He said: “We regard this as a tangible cultural heritage site that is significant to our nation
— there’s a definite history that ’ s connected to it.
“Sports grounds are a physical monument, a wealth which must be preserved and maintained by the municipality.”
Public reaction on social media has been hostile to the mall, with many pointing out how, beside the great sport played there despite apartheid, the stadium hosted the mass funeral of Steve Biko.
BCMDA’s website states that its goal is to attract investments to the metro, increase growth in tourism and promote socioeconomic development.
In October, BCMDA advertised for an investor or developer to come up with a proposal to develop the land occupied by the sports grounds.
Makalima said zoning and planning and environmental impact studies had not been done.
“The facility will be part of our iconic contributions to heritage development.”
In September 2019, Makalima confirmed the mall plan but was at pains to say that sport would still be played on the ground but did not elaborate.
The stadium comprises three rugby fields, a soccer field, a cricket pitch and a netball court.