Dreams for sport field put on hold
The ongoing housing battle in Hornlee, Knysna has now reached the point where it is affecting the local sports, as informal dwellers started occupying land that local rugby coach Aschin Klein had earmarked as a site for future rugby and sport development.
The open piece of veld at the top end of Harker Street is a few hundred metres from the main site of Hornlee's RDP housing project. "This field was originally supposed to be used for soccer and rugby back in the '80s, but no one really took to it at the time," Klein explained, adding that it has lain forlorn for as long as he can remember. Searching for practice space during lockdown, the potential of the piece of land was rekindled, and on 22 July Klein enquired at the municipality about the possibility of leasing the plot on a long-term basis. His e-mail was met with enthusiasm by Director of Community Services Eben Phillips, who replied, "I agree that the development of the open field … into a sports facility will make a valuable contribution towards combating the socioeconomic challenges that especially the youth of the area currently face."
The wheels were set in motion, and his application was set to be considered and put through the necessary checks and channels at town hall. But Klein's joy was short-lived as last month groups of illegal dwellers began erecting structures on the land.
This came after the suburb erupted into chaos on 20 September, when structures that the municipality deemed illegal were broken down in Hall Street, resulting in the community fighting back against the evictions. Knysna-Plett Herald reported widely on the protests at the time. Due to this, Klein feared the worst for his plans. "I was concerned that we wouldn't be able go ahead, because the municipality wouldn't be able to break down these structures," he told KPH.
His fears proved true, as according to municipal spokesperson Christopher Bezuidenhoudt, the municipality is aware that the Harker Street dwellers are there illegally and that it is "investigating alternative housing opportunities and typologies".
He said as yet there have been no attempts to acquire any court order for eviction in this regard. "I understand and respect their plight,'' Klein said about the illegal dwellers in the wake of the municipality's decision to reconsider its plans for the plot. ''But there are other places where they can land-grab if they wish to do so. Why here? Why on a piece of land that children play on in the afternoons? Why a piece of land that could be used to develop their children's sporting potential one day?" he said in frustration. Bezuidenhoudt said that they are in touch with Klein to find an amicable way forward and potentially identify an alternative site for his plans.
Why a piece of land that could be used to develop their children’s sporting potential one day?