Construction of Makana's newest multi-purpose sport centre is well underway but there are other exciting plans to look forward to that could take off around the centre, like an Olympic-sized swimming pool and a shopping centre.
Construction of Makana's newest multi-purpose sport centre is well underway but there are other exciting plans to look forward to that could take off around the centre, like an Olympic-sized swimming pool and a shopping centre.
The R32 million centre in Ncame, Joza, (built next to the old one) is expected to be completed in November, and the municipality's director of local economic development, Riana Meiring said it is to be named the Node 2 Multi-purpose Sport Centre. “Apart from the sporting facilities that are provided, the building is designed in such a way that functions, meetings and performances could be held there,” she said.
The new building complex (see picture) will include a hall, admin block, training block, stage and backstage area. Meiring told italGrocott's Mail/ital that they hope to eventually add an Olympic-sized swimming pool to the centre, but only if they get more funding. The uses of the new centre don't stop at functions and sports, however and around it “we have identified a place where a shopping centre might go in future,” she said.
There are plans for the whole Ncame area to become a node of development, focusing on business and sporting facilities. Construction has already begun to stimulate the local economy, according to deputy director of technical infrastructural development, Phakama Booi, who reported that the project has provided employment for a number of locals.
“Although the contractors are allowed to bring outside people for the very technical jobs, for the general labour they are required to employ from the community,” she said. Caretaker of the old sports centre, Lennox Habana said he saw pictures of the new facility and he was delighted. “It will be much better than what we have now – a bigger conference centre and more sporting facilities,” he said.
According to Habana, around 40 children use the current sports centre each day on weekdays, and on weekends it's used for funerals and church services. The new centre's facilities will be available to all residents, Meiring said, and “the building will be managed like any other facility by the Directorate Corporate Services”. People wanting to use the centre will have to submit application forms to corporate services and pay a fee (yet to be decided) for the facility.
Nombulelo Secondary School sports teacher, Dan Jela, said that they will definitely be making use of the sports centre for sports such as netball, cricket and rugby.
