Sandiso Nomsobo paddling through reeds. Photo by Siyabonga Kalipa.
12 June 2014
What used to be a mugging haven for Makhaza Khayelitsha thugs has had a facelift. Officially opened late last year, ‘the park’ as it is known by people in the area, now comprises an outdoor gym and a play park for children, and there are canoeists in the dam.
The small pond used to be filled with garbage, furniture and even old bath tubs which residents would discard in the dam. There is still some litter, but the old ways of dumping are gone.
It’s thanks to youths in the area who are trying to protect the environment after being schooled at the Khayelitsha Canoe Club, a first of its kind in the township. Before every practice, club members gather and remove litter from the dam.
One of the club coaches, Siyanda Sopangisa, with rolled up sleeves and a paddle with which he lifts litter from the water, told GroundUp that he grew up swimming in the dam.
Sopangisa said, “People were robbed in this park all the time, and the dam was being polluted. After we were told how harmful the dam can be to our community when it’s not taken care of, we decided to start the canoe club.”
“Some of us got the privilege of being trained by the Century City Canoe Club so we can teach others.”
The Khayelitsha Canoe Club has been struggling. It only had two canoes until two weeks ago when ten more were donated.
Sopangiso said, “We are thankful for these boats but we still face the problem of not having the necessary gear like life jackets. We have been in talks with the Khayelitsha swimming pool so they can teach our members how to swim. In the meantime we are training the members outside the water.”
Akhona Sopangisa and Sandiso Nomsobo showing Khayelitsha Canoe Club members how to canoe. Photo by Siyabonga Kalipa.
18-year-old Sivuyile Plaatjie said, “I’m new to this sport, and I can’t wait to get into the water. Sport in general is not big in our area. My coach invited me to try canoeing out and I loved it.”
His mother thought it dangerous, but is happy he will be off the streets.
One parent from the area passing by, Nomveli Gebe, said, “I love what I’m seeing here, even though I never thought we would see such sport in our community. The reason I’m happy is that I know there’ll be people all the time here therefore crime will decrease in this park.”
Khayelitsha Canoe Club is hoping to introduce the sport to the whole township and to curb crime in the area.