Frisbee Match at the Stadium Grounds:

On Monday 15 March 2010, we executed our first attempt at an activation and intervention. For this, we decided to look at the notions of a ‘Public Open Space.’ According to the By-Laws document released by the Municipality (available for download at http://www.sa2010.gov.za/node/1846), ‘Public Open Space’ is defined as any land that it owned by an organ of the state, that the state has certain real rights over and/or any land that is controlled/managed by the municipality.

In turn it is also land that has been set aside for public recreational purposes, conservation and/or infrastructural/agricultural development. It encompasses land that has not yet been developed or set aside for specific purpose, and any land or space used for public recreational or cultural activities e.g. public gyms, sports fields, nature parks, botanical gardens, public swimming pools, etc. So, as you can probably deduce, it encompasses a fair amount of space that the general public frequent on a daily basis.

Now associated with this Public Open Space are a hefty set of restrictions and prohibitions. The 11 By-laws that I would like readers to pay attention to, and that we questioned with the Frisbee intervention, generally fall under the General Prohibition heading. The summarised list of eleven reads as such:

In a Public Open Space you may not (without the approval of the Municipality):

1. Cause a nuisance to other users of the Public Open Space
2. Obstruct any other person using or entering the space
3. Interfere with any works
4. Congregate in a manner that causes obstruction
5. Carry any object that could cause harm
6. Throw any object, of any nature onto or within the space
7. Bathe, wade or swim in any body of water near or within the space
8. Cause anything to be left or deposited
9. Affix, place, arrange or create advertisement of any kind
10. Restrict the enjoyment of others
11. Create an event



You may be thinking that these seem obvious enough, and that questioning the by-laws isn’t at the top of your priorities list. I would however, encourage you to perhaps spend the next few minutes pondering the following: what is a nuisance? According to the by-laws a nuisance can be as simple as someone affecting another person’s enjoyment of the public space. In my mind this is pretty subjective, and the whole ‘different strokes, for different folks,’ phrase could apply.

Throwing an object of any nature- so that would include tennis balls, soccer balls, bouncy balls, rugby balls, Frisbees etc. but surely if Public Open Space is most often set aside for recreation, then this law is a bit counter-intuitive?

If the depositing of any matter that may obstruct or cause danger to others is illegal, then why are there so few bins provided where the public activity is taking place? At the stadium, in the Sky Car circle there are a total of two bins; one hidden to the side of the Sky Car, and another that sits at the far edge of the large expanse of the concrete circle. When we visited the stadium the litter and debris was already evident on the floors, and tucked into various cracks or crevices. When the traffic flow increases around match days and during the Term of the World Cup, how will two bins suffice for a Stadium that can hold 70 000 people?

Another question that I would like to raise is why we are not allowed to create events in Public Open Spaces? And what constitutes an event? In the by-laws document there is a definition for a Special Event, but no mention of what ‘any event,’ may refer to?

With these questions, one can begin to query the other By-Laws that exist around 2010. I would really encourage everyone to interact with the laws, and perhaps begin to question the effect the laws will and can have on our everyday life.

For the Frisbee activation we wanted to draw attention to the restrictions of use of Public Open Space, we also wanted to open more doorways for communication around the restrictions. In hindsight, we felt that the activation could have been stronger through communicating the exact restrictions, rather than keeping the information vague (as we had chosen to do.) We hope to hold another activation or event of this type, and will keep blog visitors posted on when and where it is happening.

The one success that we did feel that we achieved was to excite and energise the rather dull and institution-like space. The stadium garden is quite harsh and quiet, and the brightly coloured Frisbees created a stark contrast to the existing space. There was a marked increase in movement and space utilisation, which we were pleased to have driven. One may question why the space isn’t more actively utilised by FIFA and the Municipality as a space for fun and educational activity?


- Posted by Kate

Ultimate Frisbee Activation Tomorrow 15.03.2010

Hello one and all,

Care to join us for a little bit of colourful chaos and disturbance?

We'll be playing a game of Frisbee in order to challenge the by-laws of the Public Open Space.

We NEED your help in doing so. Come be part of our activation at the Moses Mabhida Stadium 15 March 2010. (Sky Car side)

Bring your friends and family,

WIth thanks and a 'pretty please,'

From,

Brendan and Kate

Stadium Visit, 09 March 2010

Tuesday 9 March 2010 marked our first collective visit to the Moses Mabhida stadium. Some had visited the stadium in their individual capacity, but now it was time for the ten of us to experience it together. The initial intention was to do an educational tour through the stadium from 11am till noon. On arrival however, we were told that we didn’t qualify for the educational (free) tour, as we were not a school. We were a little confused by this given that we are university students completing an Honours degree. I really don’t know how much more educational one could get? We decided to boycott the tour of R75, and instead purchased tickets for the Sky Car.

Before embarking on the Sky Car trip the lecturer, Naretha, and I decided to make a quick trip to the “Public” toilet facilities in the stadium. I write “public” as the first sign that one is confronted with reads: “No Contractor’s Workers Allowed to Use This Facility.” So this means that the Contractor’s may use the bathrooms, but no person putting in all the work, time and effort may use the bathrooms. There is no indication of the alternate location for the ‘workers’ to use, but a few of us concurred that they were probably, and in all likelihood, substandard porta-potties*.
(* Individual toilet facilities that can be transported from place to place. Frequently found at field-hosted events such as concerts etc. They usually smell terrible, are poorly ventilated and have limited to no water supply.)

What was noted was that it is surprising, given our complicated past of segregation and discrimination, that we are still able to enforce segregated use of facilities, especially when they are deemed public. One questions why the people working for the contractors are any less deserving to use to toilet facilities, and what prejudices are held against these workers that make their use of the toilets ‘undesirable.’

In turn, it makes one question how Fifa and the stadium will begin to determine and restrict the notions of ‘public space.’ The by-laws already begin to speak of restrictions and the undesirables. There are areas referred to as Exclusion Zones, these are areas that are controlled and demarcated by the municipality, they exist around the outskirts of the stadium’s perimeter. These exclusion zones and controlled access zones create a sense of division.

Part of the reasoning behind going to stadium was to allow us to begin to question these restrictions and the space in general. In pairs we will be creating activations and interventions in different spaces around the city and stadium. Hopefully we will be able to document these through photographs, videos and written material for others to engage with.

- Kate

How a good World Cup can be GREAT!

As I sit here and type this first blog of mine I am unhappy and disappointed. Once again the Sharks have limped out of a tough match, beaten, for the fourth consecutive time this season. Now i know this is a Soccer World Cup blog but my mopy depression has relevance.

All sports fans out there in the world know the sinking feeling of defeat, it can be sickening right down to the core fibres of your soul. Losing brings out the worst in people and no matter what we say, it hurts every time. It lowers the entire mood and attitude of the environment in which the loss is experienced.

Bafana Bafana must win matches in the World Cup! They just must. It is the X-factor upon which the hosting of a truly successful World Cup is hinged. In order for the experience of our visitors to be a memorable one, we as hosts need to step up and take centre stage. A Grandmother won't serve her best tea and cakes if the neighbour's dog has been eating her cat's food all week, so how could we expect millions of South Africans to try be polite and welcoming if they have that sinking feeling of defeat on their minds??

We as South Africans are a very proud nation, and come the 11th June every person in this country should be behind our boys, willing them on to do what we could only dream of! Only 11 carefully selected players can be chosen to carry our nations pride and hopes. Which leads me on to my next point; the actual choosing of these 11 players. So far in our build up very few have stuck up their hand, our current (I only mention this because it is uncertain if he will in fact retain this status) captain Teko Modise is woefully out of form, our only flittering striker Katlego Mphela doesn't get quality enough ball up front to maximise his talent and we can't seem to settle on a first choice keeper or find a the right combinations at the back. Our coach intends to find the right mix of players and turn these "boys into men" over the next few months with camps planned in Brazil, Germany and then back at home. I believe we have the quality, time and drive to turn our recent form around and perform in the global arena as equals, and with a proud nation behind them Bafana Bafana can make this a World Cup to remember!

Now I'm certainly not saying we'll be bad hosts if we lose matches, no. What I am saying is just imagine the tea and cake our Grannies would serve if her cat was fat and happy! :)

Welcome!

Hi there,

Welcome to the Vega Honours' 2010 Blog spot where we will be investigating and documenting the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

We look forward to interacting with you on this topic.

Cheers,

Durban Crew