George Municipal commentary on the article in the George Herald of SWD-cricket move to George
Commentary on the Newspaper article: SWD-KRIEKET SKUIF NA GEORGE
Walter Hendricks, Director of Community Services, said in response to the SWD cricket article on the backpage of the George Herald newspaper of 29 October 2020,
“Recent media reports pertaining the relocation of SWD Cricket’s Head Office to George were met with surprise by the municipality. The Directorate Community Services does not normally provide comments on matters that still need to serve before Council, but we deem it necessary to provide factual context due to the obvious public interest in this matter.
The Directorate Community Services were approached by SWD Cricket with an application stating its intention to relocate its Head Quarters to George. Council subsequently resolved that SWD Cricket be engaged to explore the possibility of reaching a mutually beneficial agreement to serve before Council for decision. Clarification was sought, and the municipality is now awaiting a decision from CSA, as per SWD Cricket’s correspondence.
In the absence of the outstanding information no report could be presented to Council and therefore no final decision has been made. The George Municipality remains committed to creating opportunities for the town and its citizens and will continue to explore public and private partnerships in seeking to achieve this.”
Read the newspaper article that was posted online by George Herald below:
SWD-KRIEKET SKUIF NA GEORGE
Journalist Wyndham Ewerts | Thursday, 29 October 2020, 09:00
TUINROETE NUUS – Inwoners van Oudtshoorn het die afgelope naweek op sosiale media met ongeloof gereageer op die nuus dat SWD-krieket se hoofkantore na George skuif.
Hierdie aankondiging is verlede Donderdagaand tydens die Oudtshoorn-sakekamer se netwerkaand deur Albertus Kennedy (hoof- uitvoerende beampte van SWD-krieket) gemaak.
Volgens Kennedy sal dié beoogde skuif binne die volgende twee of drie jaar materialiseer afhangend van die voltooiing van SWD se nuwe krieketveld en nodige infrastruktuur in George en amptelike goedkeuring deur George-Munisipaliteit.
“Ons plaaslike munisipaliteit is reeds in kennis gestel en ek wil dit op rekord plaas dat ons vir die afgelope 16 jaar wonderlike werksverhoudinge op Oudtshoorn opgebou het.”
Kennedy sê dat hierdie besluit weens strategiese redes geneem is om die finansiële volhoubaarheid van SWD-krieket te verseker.
“Soos met enige besigheid moet ons selfonderhoudend wees sodat ons op die einde van die dag met die swaargewigte kan boks. Nie net vir die gekontrakteerde spelers se salarisse nie, maar ook om gehalte binnenshuise fasiliteite te bekom en te onderhou asook om kwaliteit personeelaanstellings te maak.
“Hierdie faktore het ons genoodsaak om na die groter prentjie te kyk en dus kan ek die publiek verseker dat hierdie besluit nie ligtelik geneem is nie,” het hy bygevoeg.
Intussen sal wedstryde en oefeninge steeds soos normaal voortgaan op Oudtshoorn.
Die volgende hoë-profielkrieketwedstryd by die Oudtshoorn-sportterrein (Rec) sal op 17 Januarie 2021 tussen die Warriors en Cape Cobras plaasvind.