Durban - The Durban Metro Police Equestrian Unit is scrambling to find new stables for its horses after the city gave it an eviction notice.
The unit, which is responsible for crime prevention and patrolling the beachfront, has to vacate the premises so that a soccer academy can be built there.
Metro police spokesman, Senior Superintendent Eugene Msomi, said their equestrian staff and 15 horses had until September 1 to vacate the stables in Jacko Jackson Drive.
He said the unit had not yet been able to find new stables.
“Yes, we were given notice as well to find an alternative location and we are in the process of finding one, but nothing is finalised yet,” he said.
There are concerns that the metro police horses may have to relocate to new stables outside the city – the nearest are in Shongweni – and be carted to the city on horse trailers to perform their crime fighting duties.
The tenants at New Market Stables – also served with eviction notices by the eThekwini Municipality – vowed on Tuesday to fight the eviction in court.
Last year, the New Market Stables, with the flea market and Berea Rovers sports club, learnt through the media that they would have to vacate the premises that are part of the King’s Park Stadium node to make way for a soccer academy.
The city signed a 30-year lease agreement with Hoy Park Management to develop the area.
Nadine Parker, head coach at New Market Stables Equestrian Club, said it was an utter shame that the Metro Police Equestrian Unit was also being forced out of the stables.
“The unit doesn’t have the budget to cart the horses from Shongweni on a daily basis to patrol the areas in Durban that it currently patrols. It cannot be just a patrol unit for Hillcrest.
“This decision to evict the unit too is just ludicrous. It shows that this plan had not been thought out properly,” she said.
Parker said the tenants had sought legal advice and planned to oppose the eviction notice.
“We are not going down without a fight. We plan to challenge this through the courts,” she said.
“Our lawyers are looking into this and we will have a clearer picture next week on what our next step will be. We are not going to just roll over. They want us out by the end of August and that is just impossible,” Parker said.
“We have more than 50 horses here and we cannot find alternative accommodation so soon.”
50 horses
The New Market Stables has operated at the King’s Park precinct for more than a century. It is home to more than 50 horses belonging to various people who ride on weekends or allow children to learn to ride them.
Eighteen groomsmen face losing their jobs and six ageing horses, which belong to the club, would have to be put down if they are evicted.
Parker said they hoped the city would find a way to accommodate them in the new plans for a sporting precinct.
“They cannot just exclude us. The first prize will be for the municipality to come up with a solution for us. We are willing to negotiate.
“We, like the Metro Police Equestrian Unit, have had the sword of Damocles hanging over our heads for a long time. There have been threats to evict the horses from here since the ’70s. Every couple of years there is an attack by people who are after this land.
“Hopefully we can find a solution that can be beneficial to the public and the council and find a win-win in all of this. Hopefully council will talk to the stakeholders involved here,” she said.
Parker said she had been amazed by the support from the community.
“People are coming to us and donating funds and offering to help in so many other ways. It’s been really humbling,” she said.
eThekwini head of communications, Tozi Mthethwa, said the city and Hoy Park Management had met and decided that Hoy Park Management would facilitate discussions with current occupants about possible relocation or remaining on the existing site with the intention of partnering with the academy.
“Discussions were held with Savages Athletic Club, who successfully relocated to Morningside. Successful discussions also took place with Berea Rovers and KZN Cycling. The same approach was used with Newmarket Stables, and Hoy Park Management had engaged with various individuals and options were discussed.
“The finalisation of the lease is still in progress with Hoy Park Management, and the terms and conditions will be advertised in the press for any objections.
“Should any of the occupants given eviction notices refuse to vacate, the normal eviction process will apply.
“The Stables Market is part of a broader plan of the Sports Academy, including the construction of facilities to develop sports in the city,” Mthethwa said.
Daily News