When footballers in Kopanong, Tembisa heard their community topped the list of a global initiative to receive a sustainable pitch, supported by six-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi, they could not contain their excitement.
But a year later, they are fighting for space to play the beautiful game.
The soccer lovers are 2-0 down after the Lay’s pitch, made from reused empty chip packets, remains locked due to ongoing construction, while informal dwellers have erected shacks on a football pitch a stone’s throw away.
Dozens of one-bedroom tin shacks remain an eyesore for residents, players and coaches after being erected on what was once a football pitch used daily by young and old.
When the Sunday Times visited this week, 46 of the 68 shacks planned to be constructed on the field were already erected.
Describing himself as a leader of the “concerned community residents of Kopanong”, Tshepo Chidi, 34, insisted they were legal.
“We have been involved in a land dispute with the City of Ekurhuleni since 2016 and we recently won a court case against them, so they are not allowed to remove us or dismantle our shacks.”
In 2019, Chidi and several other shack dwellers hauled the city to court over a plot of land (ERF 98/91), after suffering at the hands of the land invasion unit which continually dismantled their homes.
They would come here and fight with us and use vulgar words, but the court has granted it legal for us to be here
— Mac Mogoga, community leader
Chidi said the 68 families fighting for the land were residents of Kopanong and had a right to erect their shacks on the pitch, which had not been earmarked by the city for recreational or housing purposes.
The matter played out in the Gauteng High Court and, after several appearances, a court order was granted in favour of the shack dwellers on October 25, stipulating the city must refrain from interfering or dismantling their homes.
Adv Matome Sehunane, on behalf of the shack dwellers, said the city did not send a representative to court to oppose their initial application, which resulted in the court order being granted uncontested.
Mac Mogoga, 37, another leader of the shack dwellers, said the recent court order did not sit well with players who were using the pitch, especially at weekends for tournaments.
“They would come here and fight with us and use vulgar words, but the court has granted it legal for us to be here.”
Avid footballer Ayandile Mokwede, 34, said the players were not happy.
“It’s sad because I used to play there on weekends and we would have knockout tournaments. It isn’t the best ground but we would play and have fun. There are not many places we can go and train because most of the fields are full and you have to wait to train or play.”
Ward councillor Kgafela Francis said the shack dwellers should not have invaded the pitch.
“We can’t let people invade soccer pitches where youngsters play tournaments every weekend. Where do they think these kids should go? There are other spaces in the area where they could have put up their shacks.”
Andrew Mosesi, chair of the Community Police Board for Ekurhuleni North, described the situation as worrying.
“It is encouraging lawlessness and crime will increase. We find this where there is an informal settlement across the country. As a CPF it becomes difficult to profile people in an informal settlement. People come and go; we don’t know who stays there.
“The fact is this area has not been demarcated for housing. We are going to have more shacks mushrooming, which will result in unnecessary service delivery protests because people will start demanding services.”
Sinky Mnisi, chair of Tembisa United Football Association, said as much as he sympathised with the informal dwellers, he strongly disagreed with them erecting shacks on a football pitch.
Mnisi said the Lay’s pitch was being utilised by the community but was recently locked due to construction.
Tembisa United FC coach Peter Sithole said there is a perception that if there is an empty space people must occupy it.
“Most of the grounds in Tembisa have been occupied; there are only a few grounds left. A lot of our youth are no longer playing soccer. You find them in the car parks smoking weed and drinking alcohol. The future of our kids in this country is no longer safe because grounds for sporting codes are few and far between.”
But 64-year-old shack dweller Toko Moabi is just happy she has somewhere to lay her head.
She lives in one of the shacks on the pitch with four of her children, with mattresses on the floor to sleep on.
Moabi said her previous shack was destroyed by the city’s land invasion unit and her belongings removed.
“They took everything. The first day they came and took down the shack and the next day they returned and took all my blankets and pots."
Arthur Penny, 46, a contractor, said he was hired by the shack dwellers to erect the structures.
“ They are paying me R3,500 for my services for each shack.”
City of Ekurhuleni spokesperson Zweli Dlamini said the land was being used as a soccer field and for recreational activities, though it was never designated for that purpose.
“This constitutes illegal occupation. The City has filed an application for a rescission of the judgment and we have also filed a counterclaim for the eviction of applicants.”
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.