 | Drakenstein Municipality and sporting fraternity commit to upgrading various sports facilities
20 August 2025 | Press Releases |
20 August 2025
The positive outcome of a meeting held with sporting stakeholders in Paarl on Thursday, 14 August 2025, and led by Dr Johan Leibbrandt, City Manager of Drakenstein Municipality, is an agreement to the principle that the Faure Street Stadium in Paarl will remain publicly owned as well as undergo infrastructure upgrades in future years. These upgrades will not be limited to the Faure Street Stadium only, but will be extended to De Kraal (Paarl), the Dal Josaphat Stadium (Paarl) and other municipal sports facilities.
The local community radio station, KC 107.7, coordinated the rugby, cycling and athletics sporting codes, as well as schools and heritage advocates to meet with municipal leadership.
The Faure Street Stadium's century-old cycling track, home to the popular Boxing Day Race, will be rehabilitated under municipal supervision. The stadium's other facilities, including the pavilion, are in good condition and well maintained by the Municipality. A dedicated grass athletics training track at the Faure Street Stadium will ease the pressure on the Dal Josaphat Stadium's elite tartan track.
De Kraal, a rugby heritage site once home to Springbok legends, will see its first upgrades within the following months, including practice lighting, rugby poles, sprinklers, temporary ablutions and pavilion seating. The Dal Josaphat Stadium will retain its elite competition status, with accreditation renewal underway.
The Municipality is in the process of reviving sports forums and facility management committees, as well as reviewing the municipal sports policy for Council's consideration in September. These structures will give sporting codes direct access to decisionmakers.
Speakers at the meeting stressed that facilities such as the Faure Street Stadium and De Kraal are not just sports venues, but living heritage sites. The Faure Street Stadium's track has survived wars and political change while De Kraal, donated by local farmers, remains a symbol of Paarl's rugby legacy.
Dr Leibbrandt said: “The Faure Street Stadium belongs to our community, and it always will."
Dr Harlan Cloete, Chairman of KC 107.7, added: “This is about access, equity and pride."
Councillor Laurichia van Niekerk, Mayoral Committee Member: Tourism, Sport and Recreation of the Municipality, noted: “Sport is heritage, health and unity. By restoring governance forums and working with local codes, we will keep facilities accessible to all."
Progress will be reported via municipal channels, local media and radio stations, with invitations for community input.
Yusuf Patel, a veteran community activist and former political detainee, summed it up: “Grassroots sport is a restorative conversation, blending heritage, opportunity and shared pride to strengthen facilities for the next generation."
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Issued by: Communication and Marketing, Drakenstein Municipality
