Vandalism and theft are plaguing the R6 million Hout Bay Sports Complex, threatening further improvements there, says the City.
Damaged and stolen equipment, including an electricity meter box, floodlights and cabling, were repaired and replaced only to be vandalised or stolen again, says mayoral committee member for community services and health Patricia van der Ross
The municipal complex, which is across the road from the Hout Bay police station, was completed in June last year. It includes facilities for netball, basketball, soccer, hockey, skateboarding and more.
When development started in June 2021, ward councillor Roberto Quintas said it promised to be “world class”.
Ms Van Der Ross said that in the latest incident, in June, a floodlight and cabling were stolen.
In March, a City event was due to take place at the complex but had to be postponed following the theft of electrical cables and vandalism of the change rooms, according to Abdulla Parker, the City official responsible for convening the event.
Mr Quintas said the City was fighting an ongoing battle against cable theft.
“Residents, businesses and the public are robbed of electricity, productivity and public lighting. On top of the bleak daily struggle with load shedding, our community is now faced with ongoing outages caused by those who care for nothing other than stealing from the public purse, and plunging their community in to darkness and additional misery.
“The fact that this occurred across the road from SAPS shows the level of impunity in which they operate.”
Hout Bay police station commander Lieutenant Colonel Jerome Syster said copper cable theft in the area had increased and was mostly happening during load shedding.
Ms Van Der Ross said the vandalism and cable theft drained money from City projects that benefited the public, including further developments at the Hout Bay Sports Complex.
“This funding could be used to improve the facility and upgrade other areas in need,” she said.
A 2017 plan for the complex outlines its next phase of development. It includes an amphitheatre and a field that can be used for rugby during winter and cricket during summer.
FC Hout Bay committee member Lionel Nicholas said they used the complex for South African Football Association regional third-division soccer matches, but its broken fence meant people could run onto the field during matches.
“Last season, we had an incident where ‘supporters’ ran onto the field of play attacking match officials,” he said.
The damaged netball nets needed replacing and the floodlights should be replaced with new LED technology that used less electricity and were more efficient, he said.
The City should also consider providing more parking and building a bridge over the busy Hout Bay Main Road so children did not need to cross it to get to the complex, he said.
Mr Quintas said repairs, including for fencing and lighting, were planned for the facility in the current financial year running until June next year.
He said supporter and spectator management should be managed by marshals that should be present at matches.
Imizamo Yethu community leader Kenny Tokwe said any upgrades to the complex would be welcome.
“A child involved in sport is a child kept out of jail. Sport helps children identify their potential and is good for their health, both mentally and physically, and it is good discipline against drug addiction,” said Mr Tokwe. “The vandalism is heart breaking for the people, schools and many households in the community of IY.”
