Failing facilities threaten metro’s winter games hosting bid

Buffalo City could lose out on hosting the Winter National School Sport Championships after national inspectors raised concerns aboutthe state of sporting facilitiesduring a site visit in East London this week. Members representing the national department of sport, recreation, arts and culture (DSRAC) conducted inspections on Tuesday to assess whether Eastern Cape venues were ready to host the July tournament. Instead, they flagged multiple shortcomings, particularly in soccer and volleyball, and ordered a second inspection before the end of April.

Unless suitable alternative venues are secured, the metro could forfeit hosting duties. The championships, scheduled for July 11 to 15, will feature hockey, rugby, volleyball and soccer, drawing about 3,000 athletes, technical officials and team managers from all nine provinces. The Eastern Cape and Limpopo submitted bids in 2025 to host the event.

National School Sport programmes representative Geubuza Mabuza said the Eastern Cape was favoured, partly because it offered more venues than Limpopo. East London was selected by provincial federations and school sport structures as the host city, although Gqeberha was also considered. That decision could now change.

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Volleyball facilities came under immediate scrutiny. Nutting Hall in Stirling and Hudson Park Primary School Hall, both proposed by the province, were questioned during a feedback session at the Osner Hotel after inspections. Hudson Park’s hall was deemed too small to accommodate two volleyball courts, while Nutting Hall’s low-hanging lights did not meet official height requirements.

Provincial volleyball representative Gordon Moyo acknowledged the concerns. “The stands at Hudson mean the hall is not spacious. We will take the suggestion to move the lighting cable at Nutting Hall up higher,” he said.

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