City of Johannesburg

Johannesburg Development Agency

No 3 Helen Joseph Street PO Box 61877 Tel +27(0) 11 688 7851 (O)
The Bus Factory Marshalltown Fax +27(0) 11 688 7899/63
Newtown 2107 E-mail: info@jda.org.za
Johannesburg, 2000

www.jda.org.za
www.joburg.org.za

To: All news editors

For immediate release
23 September 2020

JOBURG’S NEWEST, MODERN ARCHITECTURALLY DESIGNED FACILITY

A modern architecturally designed recreational facility, which will provide a safe space that
facilitates the development of fundamental skills like reading and writing, in conjunction with sport,
physical activity and health to stimulate growth and development in the community, has changed
the landscape of Ward 73 of Johannesburg.

As part of the City of Johannesburg’s strategy to meet this demand for new social infrastructure,
the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA), the City’s development agent, has completed the
construction of the Paterson Park Multi-Purpose Centre, which will benefit the community of
Norwood, Orchards, Orange Grove and adjacent neighbourhoods.

The clustering of social facilities represents a key strategy in providing a basis for growth and
densification within the Louis Botha Corridor, which is anchored by the Phase 1C BRT route linking
Alexandra to Sandton.

The land available for new social infrastructure within the Louis Botha Corridor, however, is limited
and therefore existing clusters have to be optimized for current and future use.

Directors
Directors
P Kganare (Chairperson) A Ngcezula (CEO) S Moonsamy (CFO) M Ntanga EV Magerman V Magale S Moichela Dr.M Makwarela M Hleko N Moiloa S Masango T Motloung T Mvundle
R Shirinda (Company Secretary)
Registration Number: 2001/005101/07
BALANCING PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES AND LEARNING

The Paterson Park Sports and Recreation facility is equipped with an Olympic-style swimming pool
and splash pool with a grandstand for spectators.

A full size soccer field, two smaller five-a-side fields, as well as two tennis courts, a multi court and
a basketball court, with a pavilion, offer a wider range of new programmes and activities. In addition,
the park offers an enclosed multi-functional sports hall with a fully equipped gym.

From a learning perspective, the Paterson Park Sports and Recreation facility offers learning
facilitation through a state-of-the-art library, a craft centre to facilitate artistic expression and growth,
and an amphitheatre for community-organised shows, presentations and recitals.

It includes an administrative building, security house and generator to ensure optimal functionality
at all times. The creation of adequate, safe and accessible adjacent parking has also been
implemented.

JDA CEO Mr Anthony T. Ngcezula and the City of Joburg’s MMC for Development Planning, Cllr
Lawrence Khoza recently conducted an oversight tour of the facility.

“The Paterson Park Sports and Recreation facility is the one of the latest completed projects by the
JDA, adding the facility to the more than 600 implemented projects across all administrative regions
of the City, in its 19 years of operation,” JDA CEO Mr Anthony T. Ngcezula said.

The JDA is led by the CoJ’s GDS 2040 strategies of focusing on systematically changing the spatial
landscape of the city, to give citizens more equitable access, increase economic activity, promote
sustainable livelihoods and reduce dependence on finite resources, in the context of building a
resilient, low-carbon economy.
COMMUNITY JOURNEY FROM CONSTRUCTION TO END USE

The JDA appointed the contractor – GVK Siya Zama in May 2019 for the construction of the facility.
While the project allowed community residents to have input into the development, it also uplifted
the community through job creation for local SMMEs in line with the local job creation principles.

Thirty percent of the construction contract was awarded to SMMEs in the ward, a total of 12 SMMEs
and 45 EPWP job opportunities were created during construction.

ARTMYJOZI CONTRIBUTES TO THE ENERGY AND APPEAL OF THE NEW CENTRE

In alignment to the JDA’s commitment to the continued roll-out of its Public Art Programme,
ArtMyJozi is a place-making through art initiative implemented along the transit-oriented
development corridors. Through this initiative a series of murals, artworks and urban furniture at the
Paterson Park Sports and Recreation facility were installed.

The artworks at the Paterson Park Sports and Recreation facility are inspired by the indigenous bird
life in Paterson Park, as well as workshops with the community artists and The Birds of the Grove
performance.

There was also an old club house in the Paterson Park upgrade area which was a heritage building.
It has been commemorated through a special mural on the side of the recreation centre, which
overlooks the site where the building once stood. This mural is inspired by the patterns in the original
pressed ceiling tiles.
“Over and above the importance of completing this project is ensuring that it is protected. A sense
of ownership from the community for this project will be important so that the facility is utilized even
for future generations,” MMC Khoza said.

Ends

Issued by:
Johannesburg Development Agency
Susan Monyai
Email: smonyai@jda.org.za