Cape Town’s sporting community has been brought into direct discussions with the City as officials move to strengthen cooperation around the use and management of municipal sports facilities, Cape {town} Etc reports.
A seminar held at the Council Chambers on Saturday, 18 April 2026, brought together Mayco Member Councillor Francine Higham, officials from the City’s Recreation and Parks Department, and representatives from Western Province rugby clubs.
The gathering marked the start of a planned series of engagements aimed at improving communication between the City and sporting bodies that rely on its facilities.
The initiative was designed as a platform for open discussion, with key topics including maintenance schedules, facility development plans, lease arrangements, management agreements and the processes involved in hosting events at City venues.
According to Councillor Higham, the session also formed part of a wider effort to build stronger working relationships with local sports organisations, with more meetings expected to follow across different sporting codes.
She noted that the idea for the seminar originated from the Western Province Rugby Union, which proposed it as a way to create more structured dialogue between the City and rugby stakeholders.
Higham said the engagement was intended to be the first in a broader programme of collaboration with clubs and users of City-run facilities, while also acknowledging that there are still challenges that need to be addressed.
‘I want to thank the Western Province Rugby Union for suggesting this seminar as a platform for open dialogue between the City and rugby clubs. The intention is that this is the first of many dedicated engagements with the various sporting codes that use City facilities,’ said Councillor Higham.
‘The event offered a chance to exchange ideas, and impart information about the City’s annual maintenance plans, facility development initiatives, lease and management agreements, and even event permitting processes.
‘And while this was a useful opportunity to build stronger bonds with our user groups, we understand that there are existing challenges and work to be done. As a City, we’re committed to walking this journey with the clubs and all users of City facilities.’
The City has indicated that further sessions will continue as part of its ongoing engagement strategy with sporting organisations across Cape Town.
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Picture: City of Cape Town / X
