EThekwini Municipality launches sports lease committee

A FORMER Durban footballing administrator said it was up to communities to amalgamate and show that they could make their sports facilities sustainable in the long term.

- ZAINUL DAWOOD

Enzo Coppola, a former administrator at the South African Football Association (SAFA) and Durban Central Football Association, was enthusiastic about the formation of a Sports Body Leases Working Committee, an ad hoc administrative committee, to approve new lease applications and terminations in the eThekwini Municipality.

The process for sports lease agreements is expected to be rolled out by June 2025. The municipality will approve 10-year lease agreements, but reviewable in three years

In February 2004, the municipality placed a moratorium on processing sports body leases to enable sufficient time to identify problematic areas and devise mechanisms aimed at addressing issues pertaining to the leases.

In a report presented in a council meeting on Thursday, the municipality stated that the committee comprised of representatives from the eThekwini Parks, Recreation and Culture Unit, the Real Estate Unit, and the Legal and Compliance Unit.

The municipality will also ensure equal accessibility to these facilities, in terms of lease agreements and club membership, accommodating the demographics of the eThekwini residents.