Raw sewage is spilling onto the grounds of the former football field at the 'Football for Hope' Center in Khayelitsha. The situation is exacerbated by clogged and overflowing drainage, and the strong odor is forcing local residents to demand a permanent solution from the Cape Town City Council.
This facility, located in Khayelitsha, Harare, was opened as a heritage project linked to the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Previously a thriving youth development center, it is now in a severely dilapidated state and has fallen into disrepair.
During an IOL visit to the area on Tuesday, it was observed that sewage water was seeping onto what was once a football pitch.
The non-profit organization Grassroot Soccer was appointed as the manager of the Khayelitsha Center, which was established through the efforts of Grassroot Soccer, the Football for Hope movement, and the Khayelitsha Development Forum. Initially, the center was conceived as a safe, youth-friendly space where young people and their communities could develop and voice their opinions.
Ntiyiso Mahumani, Managing Director of Grassroot Soccer South Africa, stated that the organization handed over the facility to the Cape Town City Council around 2022. He noted: 'Due to operational difficulties we faced in Khayelitsha, we had to close our office there. We transferred the Football for Hope Center to the Cape Town City Council. When we handed over the site, the office building was still intact, but the five-a-side football pitch was already damaged by sewage. A sewer line ran next to the pitch. Once this was established, it became a serious problem.'
Mahumani added that Grassroot Soccer had been running youth development programs at the venue since 2010, working with young people from Harare and other areas of Khayelitsha.
Community leader and ANC ward councilor 98, Yanga Mjingwana, stated that the city needs to pump out the sewage daily if it cannot find a long-term solution. He emphasized: 'Frankly, this has become a serious problem. People here say they cannot even open their homes because of the smell coming from this clogged drainage. It is very sad because this was once a thriving football ground that benefited the residents of Khayelitsha. The city must solve this problem.'
ANC ward councilor 89, Anele Gabuza, stated that the City failed in its duty to care for the Football for Hope Center. She noted: 'The sewage has severely damaged the entire area. The City of Cape Town is simply indifferent, as they were supposed to manage this facility jointly with the municipal recovery program (MURP). The center has been in a state of neglect for decades. I have repeatedly raised the issue of overflowing drainage with the City, but they are not interested in resolving it. The problem of clogged drains exists throughout Khayelitsha. When we raise these issues, the City says people should move away from the sewer lines, but they do not want to allocate land for their construction.'
The City of Cape Town has stated that it will respond to questions directed by IOL Media. Their comment will be added upon receipt.