DA in South Africa pledges R100 million to renovate park — Daily Maverick

In Gqeberha, South Africa, Democratic Alliance (DA) mayoral candidate Retief Odendaal said the party would allocate R100 million to renovate St George’s Park and its facilities if it wins the upcoming local elections. Daily Maverick reports that party representatives visited the park and inspected its neglected sports and recreational facilities.

Odendaal said the park, located in a densely populated area of Nelson Mandela Bay, could become a safe public space for local residents and serve as Gqeberha’s equivalent of New York’s Central Park. According to him, schoolchildren, students, professionals and families live nearby.

Neglected facilities and swimming pool

St George’s Park opened in 1861. Its grounds include the Pearson Conservatory, which was brought from the United Kingdom and installed in 1882, as well as South Africa’s oldest cricket ground, opened in 1889. Bowling and tennis clubs, the Mannville open-air theatre, playgrounds, gardens and the Prince Alfred Memorial were later added.

One of the most damaged facilities is the St George’s public swimming pool, opened in 1937. Pipes and metal staircases leading to diving platforms were stolen from the complex, while equipment in the changing rooms and sanitary facilities was damaged. DA spokesperson for sport, recreation, arts and culture in Nelson Mandela Bay Sebezile Rafani said the city had allocated R900,000 for the pool, but, according to her, the money was never spent.

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Security and community initiatives

Municipal spokesperson Sithembiso Soyaya said the authorities are seeking a qualified contractor to professionally assess the scope and cost of restoration work at the pool. He also noted that repairs or a possible reconstruction are complicated by groundwater issues.

The municipality upgraded the fence around the park, strengthened access control and deployed security guards to patrol the area. The parks and cemeteries department carries out monthly grass cutting and general maintenance work.

The Friends of St George’s Park group has for three years been cleaning gardens and flowerbeds together with municipal services and the local MES homeless shelter. Activists have also organized a weekly Park Run, Silent Book Club events and an art exhibition at the Pearson Conservatory, which was attended by more than 1,500 people in December 2025.