Access denied: Hout Bay Hurricanes basketball club outraged by suspension of programmes

The Hout Bay Hurricanes Basketball Club management says they are furious after all basketball and volleyball programmes at the Hangberg Sports and Recreation Centre were stopped. This has however been disputed by city officials which said communication was provided.

Club chairman, Roscoe Jacobs, alleged that their access was denied by the City of Cape Town without any communication.

"We strongly condemn the City of Cape Town’s decision to suspend the Basketball and Volleyball Recreational Hub Programmes at the Hangberg Sports and Recreation Centre without consultation, transparency, or prior engagement with affected community organisations," he said.

For more than five years, the club has operated from the recreation centre as part of the City’s Recreational Hub Programme, delivering after-school basketball activities, holiday programmes, and youth development initiatives for children and young people.

"These programmes have consistently provided safe spaces, mentorship, and positive alternatives to gangsterism, substance abuse, and other social ills," Jacobs said.

He said despite this long-standing partnership and contribution, the club was "abruptly" informed that the programme at the recreation centre no longer exists.

"To date, no formal explanation has been provided outlining why the programme was discontinued, when the decision was taken, or why community partners were excluded from the process,"  Jacobs said.

According to the basketball club, the City denied access to the facility based on a newly enforced booking process, but the club was not informed.

"This process was introduced without adequate communication, transition arrangements, or support for community organisations that had been operating in good faith under the Recreational Hub framework for several years," Jacobs said.

He added that the timing of this enforcement was "deeply troubling" as it followed engagement by the club and community members regarding the absence of holiday programmes.

Mary-Anne Phillips has two grandsons who participate in activities and said it was sad that the City did not take them seriously.

"Some of them use their sports to stay away from crime and drugs, but when incidents like these occur, they only know of one place to go," she said.

The City’s Recreation and Parks Department however disputed the claims.

In a response it said: "All users were engaged since 2025 with regards to the City Bookings requirements and the need to regularise the use of the facility by following due process.

"The City is aware of concerns raised relating to historical free usage of and access to the facility. These will be considered in the process of regularising the usage of the facility in line with City Policies.

"The need for good governance and regularisation was explained to all users of the facility, including the Basketball Club representatives. The required administrative process and forms to be completed were shared; however, these were not returned by the club.

 "There is no hesitation on the part of the City to assist the club in improving their understanding of what is required into reserving time  to practice their sport and/or to assist in a manner that enables all stakeholders and users of the Centre to practice their preferred activities in a structured and compliant facility usage arrangement."

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