Sports field toilets in a state
Residents say facilities are non-existent or poorly maintained and council can’t afford repairs
PHOENIX residents are ready to create a stink about “poorly maintained” ablution facilities in most sports fields in the area. Some have no toilets, showers or change rooms at all, while those that do are in a shabby state.
This has angered residents, who say they have raised the issue with councillors and municipal officials, to no avail.
Resident Nigel Barsar, who lives next to the Eastbury sports grounds, along Phoenix Highway, said there were many people who were using the fields but the ablution infrastructure was in a bad state. He said they were told that the city council leased the facility to the local football federation, but nothing was said about the maintenance.
“The change rooms were then painted in ANC colours without any consultation.
“I believe this is a public facility. As ratepayers we deserve some transparency.”
Another resident, Peter Moonsammy, said the city council did not provide adequate sports facilities for people living in Phoenix, with one playing ground recently given to property developers without proper community consultation. Many residents are objecting to this controversial development,” said Moonsammy. “But the city council does not care about ratepayers. Instead, they give the public space to a politically connected individual.”
Minority Front (MF) councillor Jonathan Anippen said the issue of vandalised change-rooms in Phoenix was a common feature in almost every sports field.
“Even those that are operational are in a very poor condition and cannot cater for the crowds that the sports ground ordinarily hosts.
“The officials responsible for this wing of parks and recreation have informed me that numerous requests have been made to address the matter but, as always, the municipality has budgetary constraints and cannot repair these facilities. “It was in an effort to reduce spending and ensure the maintenance of these sports grounds that the city decided to lease these facilities to sports federations and other non-governmental organisation.
“Unfortunately, these groups seem to only maintain their sports fixtures instead of the grounds. “I am engaging with insurance section of the council to find out when these ablution facilities will be repaired.
“Hopefully, the city council will invest in these projects as they are significant for social cohesion and curbing social ills,” he said.
DA ward councillor Tino Pillay said the city council leased the facilities to local football clubs because there were no funds for renovations.