PAM Brink Stadium to become a Cemetery following the collapse of Sporting Facilities across the City
by Ald. Dean Stone — DA Spokesperson for Sports, Heritage, Arts and Culture
Date: 15 June 2023
Release: Immediate
Type: Media Statement
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Springs, Ekurhuleni, is concerned about the state of sporting facilities in the Springs, Brakpan and Nigel areas.
In 2020 the DA conducted an unannounced site visit at the historic landmark PAM Brink Stadium in Springs which was allowed to deteriorate under the then ANC-led administration. At the time of the site visit the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE) stated that it would cost approximately R30 million to fix the stadium and had not decided on the fate of the stadium as it was awaiting results from a survey/ study on the future use and/or development of the facility.
On the 25th of May 2023, Democratic Alliance (DA) Spokesperson for Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture (SHRAC), Ald. Dean Stone did a follow-up on the PAM Brink Multi-Use Stadium by asking Oral Questions in Council regarding the future state of the stadium as well as the future of the Olympia Park swimming pool located on the same precinct.
In response to the Oral Questions, the MMC for Infrastructure and Real Estate, Cllr. Kgopelo Hollo stated that a proposal has been put forward to have PAM Brink stadium demolished, the existing sports fields relocated to a portion of Erf 2125 Geduld, Ext 4, and have a private cemetery/ memorial park constructed on the property.
Concern was also raised during the Oral Questions session around the deterioration of the Olympia Park Swimming Pool. The MMC stated that he was aware of the current state of the swimming pool and that an assessment was conducted to determine if the swimming pool can be renovated or upgraded. The swimming pool will cost no less than R20 million to renovate/ upgrade, a mere R10 million cost difference to the PAM Brink Stadium which has since been left to deteriorate under the supervision of the department.
Like the PAM Brink Stadium, the department did not commit to renovating the swimming pool, stating that the upgrade of the swimming pool will depend on an allocation of funding in the multi-year capital. It is therefore safe to say that this swimming pool will suffer the same fate as PAM Brink Stadium and eventually face demolition.
This, even though the EFF MMC for Finance, Cllr. Nkululeko Dunga, alluded to plans to revive all arts, culture, and sporting events as a means to generate revenue from tourism in the City. More alarmingly, the MMC acknowledged the deteriorating state of our stadiums and sporting facilities, and the need to reprioritise funding as a result of the City having only spent R29.8 million of its R94.8 million budget in the last financial year on sporting infrastructure. Reviving sports and hosting tournaments are but a pipedream in the face of our deteriorating sporting facilities.
The PAM Brink Stadium and Olympia Park Swimming Pool/ Sporting Complex are only but two of many more sporting facilities across Ekurhuleni that have been left to deteriorate by the City. The introduction of costly market-related leases by the City over a year ago has resulted in many sporting clubs deserting sporting facilities. Sporting clubs who have opted to lease the City’s sporting facilities are not receiving any support from the City to maintain these facilities and have had to pay out of pocket to keep these facilities running despite having to pay market-related leases.
On the 6th of June 2023, Ald. Dean Stone conducted a final site visit at the PAM Brink Stadium and the Olympia Park Sporting Complex (Swimming Pool) to highlight the state of sporting facilities in the City. Ald. Stone was accompanied by several DA councillors and media members where he closed the chapter on the deteriorating sporting facility. The DA will be running an online petition as a final attempt to save this facility from being demolished. We urge all residents to give their support behind this initiative.
See video link below, taken on the 6th of June 2023, during the final/ closing site visit at the Pam Brink Stadium in Springs.
Video Link: https://www.facebook.com/DACityofEkurhuleni/videos/648163240125666
Media Enquiries
Ald. Dean Stone
DA Spokesperson, Sports, Heritage, Arts and Culture
082 806 4584
