'Neglect' robs local community

ALL REPAIRS TARGETED FOR COMPLETION BY THE END OF JUNE 2025

- NAMHLA MONAKALI

The Hout Bay Hurricanes Basketball Club has issued a scathing rebuke of the City of Cape Town, citing years of "neglect" at local sporting facilities that have now reached "crisis point", threatening both the safety and dignity of athletes and young residents.

This comes after sheets from the roof of the Hangberg Sport Centre were torn off during a recent storm and landed at the neighbouring Wavecrest Early Childhood Development (ECD) Centre.

Roscoe Jacobs, chair of the Hurricanes and community activist, says “the incident is just one example of the City’s failure to maintain vital infrastructure in the area”.

“It’s completely unacceptable that our youth and athletes are being sidelined due to the City’s failure to maintain key infrastructure,” said Jacobs. “These are basic needs, a roof over their heads and sanitary facilities. How is it that we have to beg for safety and dignity?”