Meshack Khotha

Meshack Khotha

While South Africa is building and upgrading stadiums ahead of the 2010 World Cup, the Ekurhuleni Metro Council is going in the opposite direction.

The council will earn the wrath of Katlehong residents should they go ahead with their plans to build shops on the site of Botsotso ground.

The Katlehong Local Football Association's executive committee tabled a report back to members on the council's proposed plan.

At a council meeting which Sowetan attended at Tshabalala Primary School on Sunday a resolution was taken that the association present an official petition to the office of Ekurhuleni mayor Duma Nkosi.

Raymond Makhalima, deputy president of Kalfa, said they were invited by the Ward 49 councillor to the meeting on October 5.

"At that meeting, we were informed that the ground would no longer be available to the association because that site has been earmarked for a business complex which will be supplying building materials.

"They asked us to move to Hlahatsi ground [the former dump site which was converted into playing fields]. However, we totally refused to go there because the pitch is unplayable and the place has been neglected as well by the authorities," said Makhalima.

The next meeting is scheduled for Akanyang Primary School on Thursday at 6pm where further deliberation will take place.