Swartklip Indoor Sports Centre to be demolished

The Swartklip Indoor Sports Centre will be demolished following years of structural failure, vandalism, and confirmed safety risks. 

Built in 2010 at a cost of R29 million, the facility was operational until approximately 2015.

According to IOL the building was constructed on land that was previously used as a dumping site. A recent geotechnical assessment revealed that landfill material lies just 2.1 metres beneath the surface, making the site unsuitable for long-term infrastructure.

Engineers concluded that any future construction on the same site would be high-risk and financially impractical, IOL reported.

According to sub-council 12 chairperson Solomon Philander, the building has experienced progressive structural damage, including flooring that has lifted due to rising groundwater and walls that have started to separate. 

Glass and its panes have also fallen from the building. Staff vacated the premises about three years ago after the site was declared a health and safety hazard, he said.

The facility once hosted various sporting codes, including netball and soccer, and was used for community events. Since it was vacated, the site has been subjected to repeated vandalism, including the removal of fencing and windows. Security personnel and guard dogs are stationed at the site, said ward 92 councillor Norman Adonis.

Despite security measures, the centre has been repeatedly vandalised. Windows and materials have been stripped, and guards have faced threats as people broke in through walls and fencing. “Everything we did to reinforce the place was undone,” Mr Adonis said.

He said a concept document is being prepared for a new facility to be developed near the adjacent stadium. The concept is being shaped through public participation processes and may include a revamped recreational facility or indoor centre, depending on community input and budget availability.

Community members who supported the demolition have repeatedly asked whether the centre will be replaced, said Mr Adonis.

“We must prioritise saving lives rather than holding on to unsafe structures,” he said, adding that it is about "building something that truly serves the people.”

Hazel Fortune, a former member of the Swartklip Sports Council and the Facility Management Committee (FMC), said she was involved in the early operations of the centre and also served on the original steering committee when the facility was being developed. 

She said the FMC worked with local sports codes, including soccer and netball, and also helped manage the adjacent sports field. Ms Fortune said structural issues were evident before the centre even opened, with cracks appearing in the walls and ramp, and visible swelling on parts of the surface. 

She said concerns were raised about the condition of the ground at the time and that erosion was suspected as the cause of the defects.

Leon Jacobs, a community activist, said the Swartklip Indoor Sports Centre has been inactive for several years and has suffered extensive vandalism. 

Bricks and other materials have been removed from the structure, and sand beneath parts of the site has been disturbed.

He said the centre has not been used by schools or local sports groups for an extended period and that the building has become structurally unsound. "They (ward councillors) described the current condition of the facility as a safety risk. My concern is that the structure could collapse if left unattended or exposed to further damage."

As the Swartklip Indoor Sports Centre prepares for demolition, the ward councillors have confirmed that any future development will take land conditions into account. A final decision on what will replace the facility will be subject to engineering guidance and further public consultation.