METRO MEETS WITH SPORTS VETERANS OVER VICTORIA MXENGE GROUNDS
Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality Executive Mayor Councillor Princess Faku met with Qonce Sports Veterans on Tuesday, 30 July.

The meeting, attended by the Members of the Mayoral Committee, MMC Siwe Ntsasela and MMC Sangweni Matwele, ward councillors and senior BCMM officials was held at the Civic Centre Chambers.

Also in attendance was Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMDA) CEO Ayanda Gqoboka and his team.

In the meeting the Executive Mayor was told by the veterans that the main issue of the meeting was not about anti-development, but they were concern about the state of the Victoria Mxenge Grounds, which has deteriorated and turned into a home for vagrants.

They also had a concern that there was propaganda that was being spread about them to say they wanted nothing to do with development.

The veterans said they are still adamant that Victoria Mxenge Grounds should not be turned into a shopping mall.

They said all they wanted was for BCMM to make sure that the stadium, which was the funeral venue for Steve Biko in 1977 to be preserved as it was as heritage sight not for eQonce but the country.

The veterans said sports facilities must not be demolished for the sake of shopping centres, citing that this happened in other towns.

Responding to the concerns, the Executive Mayor said she was happy to be part of such a meeting with the veterans, citing that the plan was not to remove or demolish what is of value for the community of BCMM.

She said she came with her team to engage with the concerned veterans. “We are here to make sure that Qonce is developed. Look at the roads that are being built around this town; it tells you there’s a will to develop Qonce.

“Yes, there is still alot to be done is in terms of development...we need a fully developed Qonce, where they will be social housing, like in East London. Also, we need a development that will embrace heritage.”

She said public participation was important to deal with the issue of the Victoria Mxenge Grounds. She apologised for the initial poor consultation that led to the misunderstanding.

“We need to deal with the matter urgently and have monthly meetings to make sure that towards November, we have a proper public participation process to hear other views as well.”

BCMDA CEO Ayanda Gqoboka stated that there needed to be a recommencement of the process, saying there was a global practice of rationalisation and optimisation of sports facilities.

 

 

 

 

2024-07-31