City invests R165 000 in Collegians RFC for facility upgrades

The City of Cape Town has invested R165 000 in Collegians Rugby Football Club (RFC) for the development and improvement of its sporting facility in Lentegeur.

The cheque was officially handed over on Tuesday, October 14, by representatives from the office of the mayor.

The funding will go toward critical infrastructure upgrades, including plumbing for the clubhouse, benches for visiting teams, and the installation of new rugby poles for the B-field. It will also cover other essential amenities aimed at improving the experience for both players and spectators, said ward 76 councillor Avron Plaatjies.

This investment forms part of a broader effort to restore and revitalise the Lentegeur Sports Ground, a process that began several years ago, said Mr Plaatjies.

In 2022, the City hosted a community jog to raise awareness about illegal dumping, followed by a court order and community protest against the illegal occupation of the field ("Lentegeur sports field gets revamp" Plainsman May 1 2024 and "Lentegeur sports field could be ‘gold mine’ for the community" Plainsman November 8 2023).

Since then, more than R12 million has been invested in improvements, including the construction of the Berlin precast wall, fencing of both the A and B fields, new grass for the B-field, and the restoration of the irrigation system.

Work is underway to install cables and overhead lights for the A-field, which will allow evening games and community events to take place safely.

Riedewaan Narker, vice-president of Collegians, said the club is grateful for the City’s support. “We have struggled with ablution and dugouts, especially when we have visitors, but now we can upgrade everything."

"The facility was affected by drought, Covid-19 and vandalism, so this assistance means a lot to our community. We are thankful to councillor Avron Plaatjies, Marvin Sampson from the mayor’s office, and Sipho Mabetha from the City, who have been the champions of this upgrade,” he said.

This year, the City is also focusing on reviving other sporting codes such as soccer, cricket, and netball, all discussed at last week’s Facility Management Committee meeting.

“When I first became councillor for ward 76, this field was nothing more than a dumping site,” said Mr Plaatjies. “Today, it stands as a symbol of hope and restoration. Rugby has returned, supporters are back, and soon, other codes will follow.”