Residents of Makhaza in Khayelitsha will have much to celebrate when Councillor Tozama Nomsa Mlanjeni, Mayoral Committee Member for Health, Amenities and Sport turns the first sod on the R5.2 million Makhaza Sports Complex.  The complex is approximately 8 ha in size and will comprise of five playing fields, six hard surfaces for netball and basketball, a caretaker’s cottage, an entrance kiosk, automatic irrigation, perimeter fencing and possibly cloakrooms.

Councillor Mlanjeni said:  “This new sports complex demonstrates that we are a City on the move!  The facility symbolises hope and demonstrates the commitment of the City of Cape Town to improve the living conditions of the people of Makhaza”.

The sports complex forms part of the nodal development of Makhaza.  Shoprite/Checkers bought land adjacent to the complex for the development of a shopping centre and the proceeds of the sale, amounting to R1 253 000, went to the construction of a sports complex.  Additional funding of R1 million was sourced from the Buildings for Sport and Recreation Project, Sport and Recreation PAWC and a further R2 930 000 from Consolidated Municipal Infrastructure Programme (CMIP).  This is a City-owned project and the sports complex will fall under the Sport and Recreation Directorate.

A project management team was formed in March 2004 which consisted of members of Ward 96 Development Forum, Khayelitsha Development Forum, Khayelitsha Sport Council, the ward Councillor Maxon Ludidi, consultants Liebenberg and Stander and various City officials.

The project was divided into two phases.  Phase one went to tender in July 2004 and phase two will go to tender on 12 November 2004.  The appointment of the contractor for phase one will go before the Goods, Services and Property Committee on 12 November 2004.  It is envisaged that the contractor will be on site before the end of November 2004 with phase two construction expected to begin in April 2005.

Source: Cape Business News