Pay up or get the boot

KNYSNA NEWS - The sports community in Knysna, especially those in lower-income areas, are up in arms over the enforcing of tariffs by the municipality for the use of public sport fields.

According to a statement sent to sport bodies and administrators, as of 1 November, access to municipal sport facilities will not be granted until seasonal tariffs are paid and proof of payment is provided.

However, several sporting bodies said they were not aware of sporting tariffs and have never paid to use the municipal sporting facilities in the past – let alone keep tabs on annual price hikes.

Said Titans Women's Rugby Academy coach Aschin Klein: "I have never had to pay a cent to use the fields for training, we were never told of any tariffs in the past. And even if they've had these tariffs in place, they've never enforced it on us," he said.

Many sport bodies in Knysna's lower-income communities do not charge membership fees, and even those that currently do, say they cannot expect their members to fork out more.

"We charge a very small membership fee – about R10/R20 per year – and this needs to go towards the little equipment we have for our players," said Knysna Jaguars Netball Club chair Lynn Kayster, who was also unaware of the existence of municipal tariffs for sports facilities. "Most of our members can't even pay us, but we cannot turn them away, because if we do, where will the children go? Back to the streets?" she asked.

Titans Women's Rugby Academy coach Aschin Klein with some of his players during a practice round at the Hornlee Sports Grounds.

Local basketball coach at Rim Dreams Basketball Association, Deswin Talmaggies, echoed these sentiments.

"A lot of my players come from some of Hornlee's 'red zones' where drugs and crime are rife," he said. "My players have gone from excitement at being able to play basketball again, to 'What must I do now, coach?'"

When questioned on the reasons for the implementation of the tariffs, as well as whether the municipality is aware of the impact the enforcement could have on sport in lower-income areas, municipal spokesperson Christopher Bezuidenhoudt stated: "All municipalities charge for the use of facilities. Every year the public is given the opportunity to make submissions on Council's tariff policies during the IDP & Budget process.

"We suggest these organisations make representations on these charges during the next IDP & Budget cycle. We have no further comment in this regard."

Titans Women's Rugby Academy coach Aschin Klein with some of his players during a practice round at the Hornlee Sports Grounds.

But according to Bitou Municipality spokesperson, Andile Namntu, and George Municipality communications officer, Debra Sauer, neither municipalities charge their local sporting bodies fees to make use of the fields in their respective sport seasons, and George only charges for the use of electricity.