ACTIVISM: Save Newmarket Stables, FleaMarket, Berea Rovers Rugby Club, and Cyril Geoghan Cycling Stadium

Join Save Newmarket Stables on Facebook and become involved in saving this venue and the other TWO clubs that will be affected. 

Newmarket Stables is over 95 yeas old and could indeed be as old as Greyville Race Course- 1897. 

Funds from the LIVERPOOL FOOTBALL CLUB, ETHEKWINI and HOY PARK are being used to close down Berea Rugby Club, a major contributory club to the KZN Sharks Rugby Team. Close down the NEWMARKET STABLES AND RIDING SCHOOL, a non-profit organisation and a heritage site, with over 100 years of history, catering to disabled riders and able bodied riders making is affordable for Durban and surrounding areas chilsdren to learn ride. 

We have over 90 children a week that come to the facility to learn to ride. This is the only facility in the Durban area. It is also the training centre for the Kwa-zulu Natal Pony club (affiliated to the British Pony Club) and it is also a venue for training and development shows including the South African Schools Equestrian Association which is a development organisation for Juniors, young riders and Pony Riders. 

Approximately 11 horses may need to be euthanized to make way for LIVERPOOLS SCORER PLAN, and more than 40 horse will be required to be sold, moved or euthanized. 

More than 15 black males will lose their jobs, some of which have worked for the Centre for more than 40 years. 

The Cyril Geoghan Cycling Stadium, a legacy and property, left to the municipality for the exclusive use of cycling / equestrian shows, will be ignored despite the intentions of Mr Cyril Geoghan (deceased). 

All this despite the fact that the NEW MOSES MABHIDA stadium, with all the required facilities and more, is 500m away and is barely used – this begs the question, were is the money really going? Whilst Liverpool pumps funds into a local municipality in order for them to, without discussion, investigation, consultation, unilaterally close three clubs of various sporting activities FOR SOCCER. 

Furthermore, the Metro Police mounted unit, based at the Newmarket Stables, will also be closed down (and the Friesian horses they use, moved no doubt out of the greater Durban). This unit patrols the greater Durban and surrounding areas were vehicle have limited and no access like our beaches and is much needed in a country where the crime rate is so high. 

Nelson Mandela said: "Sport has the power to change the world…it has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than government in breaking down racial barriers." So why now does some sport have more power than others...