Black and coloured cricket players say they are being refused entry at the Helderzicht Sports Grounds.
The sports ground is situated in Somerset West and belongs to the City of Cape Town.
It is being run by the local Municipal Facility Management Council (MFMC).
The MFMC is the regulating body for all sports activities at the venue and has the final say about who can or cannot use the facility.
An executive member of the Helderberg Cricket Club says players of colour have been denied entry at the field due to sour grapes by former executive members.
The man asked not to be named for fear of facing a lifetime ban if he speaks to the media without authorisation.
“This MFMC is driven by Marvin Roos who used to serve on the executive committee of Helderberg Cricket Club,” he explains.
“Since Mr. Marvin Roos and his close associates were ousted from the cricket club's executive committee, they used the MFMC as a platform to determine and dictate who they want and who they do not want on the CoCT sports grounds.”
He wanted players from Lwandle, Nomzamo, and Eerste River to also enjoy use of the facility.
“On 5 December 2020, I personally went to Lwandle to pick up five youngsters and drove them to Somerset College for an outreach programme, and as we passed our sports field, we noticed an organised game of cricket in progress.
“This is the same field where we were told is not accessible for our youth who are actual, registered members of the club. But, right there, in front of our eyes, white kids had the privilege of enjoying a game of cricket on our home ground.”
He says this was extremely painful to watch and the kids asked him, “coach, who are these people playing on our field, and why can't we play there?"
“I could not give my kids a straight answer and I was absolutely dumbfounded.”
On Saturday, when the Daily Voice visited the sports ground, a game was being played with only white players, while black players were sitting in a bakkie outside looking on.
Western Cape Cricket Association (WPCA) CEO Tennyson Botes confirmed that there are ongoing problems at Helderberg Cricket Club between the current chairman, David Poggenpoel, and a group of long-standing members associated with the previous chairman Marvin Roos.
“Each faction has made various accusations of maladministration and other malfeasance against the other,” says Botes.
“The WPCA has unsuccessfully attempted a number of interventions to resolve this issue over the last two years.
“Following a chaotic AGM in January 2021 and after further investigation, the WPCA board found that it had no option but to place Helderberg Cricket Club under administration.”
He added that as the fields concerned and the MFMC falls under the jurisdiction of the City of Cape Town, the complaint was referred to the City, but no response has been received.
Mayco member for Community Services and Health Zahid Badroodien said claims of racism and the exclusion of certain groups are being probed.
“The Recreation and Parks Department will investigate this matter with the MFMC to ensure that all matches played at the facility are authorised by management, and that access is granted according to the rules set out by City processes and national regulations,” he said.
Marvin Roos did not respond to calls or messages from the Daily Voice.