On Friday 28 February 2025 Sobambisana Community Developments handed over a new multi-purpose sports field to representatives from the Isilimela High School in Langa, including Principal Mrs T Dlali, teachers, scholars, the school governing body and community leaders. The Sobambisana Consortium, comprising ASLA Construction, ASLA Devo, Power Construction and the Khayelitsha Community Based Development Company, has shared premises with the school for approximately fifteen years while building residential infrastructure and housing in areas along the N2.
In her speech Principal Dlali said that sport plays a vital role in shaping individuals and communities. “This field is more than just a place to play. It is a space where teamwork, discipline and perseverance will be nurtured. This will be a ground where talent is discovered, friendships are formed and dreams are pursued. I have no doubt that it will serve as a source of inspiration and pride for generations to come,” she says.
ASLA Group CEO Werner Jerling referred to the occasion as a bittersweet one, as it was time for the consortium to leave the community, that has hosted it for almost fifteen years, to pursue other engagements elsewhere. “Building infrastructure and house in urban areas is one thing, however building communities is another – and this requires the construction or development of fixed social infrastructure, such as this sports field,” he says. “The ASLA Foundation is privileged to, together with Power Construction, to be a part of building communities, and I’d like to thank the site team here who did all the work on the field, and also to honour and recognise construction workers, the many local subcontractors and community members who were part of building the infrastructure and homes on this project.”
Power Construction’s CEO Cobus Snyman distributed the sports kits to the rugby and football team captains (both girls and boys), and Mandla Maxongo, from the Khayelitsha Community Based Development Company, shared the news that the physical office infrastructure, that had formed part of the consortium’s site office, was also being donated to serve as changing rooms and ablutions for the school’s teams.
The new sports field handover event was followed by a delicious finger lunch, enjoyed by everyone including the learners, before the first unofficial kick-off and some informal soccer play on the well-kept facility. “Congratulations to the team that has taken over the care of the sports fields and who have been feverishly watering and weeding this field – to have a field this green in the hot conditions we have been having, does take a lot of dedication and care!” says Jerling. “We can see how the sports field is going to unite people in the community, and we look forward to seeing some of South Africa’s next sporting heroes arise from here.”
