Cape Town: The Avonwood Sports Ground in Elsies River in Cape Town has now turned into a battleground for the rival gangs. The sports field was earlier used to play rugby and cricket and soccer.
Due to rampant crime increase in the area in recent years and subsequent neglect, it has ruined. Some of the cement slabs were used to fence the field which were stolen and made easily accessible to criminals. This made it more difficult for the schools and sports clubs to use the space safely.
Reportedly, the fencing was replaced, recently. Louisa Ourson – Member of the Community Policing Forum in Elsies River said that the situation at the sports field was very bad.
She said that the gangsters continuously steal copper and vandalise the facility. Even the little kids sometimes are sent to steal there. “We try and help with patrols there but the patrollers are also vulnerable because they only wear body vests to protect themselves,” said Ourson.
Ourson quoted that the ‘gang violence was out of hand’ in Elsies River. She added that there were a number of gang shootings in May Street and Betty Street which are near the field, between the G-Unit gang and the Terribles.
A lady – Lillian Fredericks, living next door to the field for more than 20 years, said that she has moved out to live with her sister because she is afraid of crime. The house was formerly of a caretaker.
Fredericks said that in 2021, she witnessed murder of someone in the sports field. She explained, the three guys climbed to the top of one of the high mast stadium lights, as they wanted to steal the lights.
“Later, we heard a commotion and ran out to see what was happening. They spotted us and started climbing back down but one guy fell to his death and the other two got away and were never found,” narrated the lady.
According to her, vandalism was a huge problem. As soon as the City of Cape Town fixes things, the vandals break them again.
However, the stadium is surrounded by a new fence but the windows inside are broken and rubbish is strewn around. Some of the metal benches are rusted.
When Ground-Up inspected, two security guards were sitting huddled over an open fire, next to it, used as changing rooms, where the windows are broken. The guards who did not want to be named, said that they did not feel safe working at the sports field.
Moreover, the guards were robbed at gun point while being on duty. One of the guards told an anecdote that a group of guys robbed them. They stole cell-phones, torches and other belongings. He said further that they are here just because they need jobs to feed their families.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Services and Health – Councillor Patricia Van der Ross said that the Parks Department of the City ‘Cape Town’ had spent more than R2.5 million on repair and maintenance of the Avonwood Sports Ground during the 2023-24 financial year.
Councillor Ross said that vandalism was a major challenge. The electricity box had been tampered with leaving the city with a huge electricity bill, recently.
Another Member of the Mayoral Committee for Human Settlements – Councillor Carl Pophaim said that the city carries out maintenance work in Avonwood and surrounding areas on a regular basis.