Sandton community demands answers over George Lea Park usage

Community representatives and Sandton Sports Club board members are seeking clarity from the Johannesburg Property Company (JPC) after receiving, what they describe as, conflicting information regarding the future use of the sports fields at George Lea Park. In a public meeting held at the park on April 16, JPC presented plans to allocate the cricket field located inside the park to the City of Johannesburg community development: Sports and recreation department. JPC presented the proposal as part of a legacy project in order to train the team for the upcoming 2027 Cricket World Cup.

JCPZ leasing management and sales general manager Sipho Mzobe told attendees that community development had formally requested control of the space to support cricket development. He reassured residents that existing users would retain access to other parts of the facility, including five-a-side soccer and tennis courts. “I know the community might be worried that this means there’s not going to be cricket in George Lea Park.

No, that would be incorrect. “There will still be cricket, it’s just that cricket will be run by community development, working together with Lions Cricket. This is going to be a shared space, but priority will be given to cricket.

[paywall]

We are not cancelling any sports that are currently happening on this site.” However, Ward 90 councillor Renate van Onselen and Parkmore Community Association manager and Sandton Sports Club board member Lori Klein said a different message emerged during the stakeholder meeting held on May 19. “At a public meeting, JPC and community development provided promises, hand-to-mouth, that this place was going to be shared and still usable by the community,” Van Onselen said. “However, at the meeting held on May 19 between community development, Sandton Sports Club, and some of the other sporting stakeholders, JPC was noticeably absent, but it was made 100% clear that there will be no sharing of the field. Cricket will use it 24/7, depending on the season.”

[/paywall]