Curries Fountain aims for heritage status
DURBANITES have been urged to sign a petition that will support a campaign to have the Curries Fountain stadium declared a national heritage site.
From soccer to karate and political rallies, the venue has played host to thousands of activities over the past 100 years of its existence.
Maya Singh the president of the Curries Fountain Heritage Preservation Foundation said that petitions have been printed and circulated at various businesses, schools and other organisations while they’ve also had support from people as far away as Cape Town and Johannesburg. He said in one day alone this week he managed to secure over 200 signatures.
“We started with the petitions in December and we are targeting a minimum of 1500 signatures. We want to make it a Durban, provincial and national heritage site,” said Singh.
He said the Curries Fountain Heritage Preservation Foundation was constituted in October last year and was in charge of the preservation project.
In an effort to get as many signatures as possible, shopping malls would also be approached for permission for a space where members of the public would be allowed to put their support for the cause on paper, said Singh.
According to the documents prepared for submission to Amafa KZN Heritage Council,
Curries Fountain holds a special place in the hearts and minds of people who were aware that this “remarkable facility” meant “different things to different people”.
“... all will unanimously agree that with a history of over a century – a century that encapsulates our sporting history, our political challenges and resistance of local and national significance – the inherent heritage this remarkable site exudes, its recognition as a heritage site is apposite…and is overdue!”
The documents state that Curries Fountain was more than a physical venue, instead it was a place where people were allowed to “flaunt” their dignity, “showcase” their talents, develop their potential and “laud” their heroes with “unbridled confidence”.
“The history of Currie’s Fountain is therefore a metaphor for the fight for non racialism in South Africa. Starting as a sports field in the early 20th century for the Indian community in colonial Durban, Curries Fountain transformed to become a go to venue for the disadvantaged Black populations. For the hosting of sporting events, major political rallies (from 1913), many cultural events including music festivals and social support initiatives (like feeding schemes), celebration of historic events (100-year arrival of Indians to South Africa and the 1400th Anniversary of the Quran, 1968), Curries Fountain has a richly deserved legendary status nationally and internationally,” the document stated.
In the runup to its centenary in existence last year, the Independent on Saturday reported on the various political rallies, cultural events and sporting events that were held there.
This week Singh said that the Preservation Foundation was eager to see the venue being used to again serve as a place where future sport stars could be developed and the venue restored to its former glory.
Apart from Singh who was previously a school principal and SACOS member, the Curries Fountain Heritage Preservation Foundation includes former sports administrators and football legends like Jasper Vurdan, Ashwin Trikamjee, Ronnie Moodley, Daya Maistry, Prof Bhagwan Singh, Praneal Singh, Anand Jayrajh and Dhayalan Pillay. Curries Fountain also has a heritage chatline which can be reached at 067 205 2417.