An aerial view of Curries Fountain in Durban. The Curries Fountain Heritage Preservation Foundation have made an application to the KwaZulu-Natal Amafa and Research Institute (The Institute) to have the sports ground declared a provincial heritage site.
Image: File
An application to declare Curries Fountain a protected heritage landmark will be tabled to the KwaZulu-Natal Amafa Council on Monday.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Curries Fountain Heritage Preservation Foundation, marks a vital step in recognising the important role that this site has played in the country's social and political landscape.
Mxolisi Dlamuka, CEO of the KwaZulu-Natal Amafa and Research Institute (The Institute) confirmed that the application will be tabled to council on March 23.
Amafa is the provincial heritage resources authority (PHRA) for KwaZulu-Natal.
The Curries Fountain Heritage Preservation Foundation formed in 2024 by a concerned group to take steps to declare it a heritage site.
Anand Jayrajh, an executive committee member for the foundation, said he has been spearheading the application to declare it a heritage site.
"Curries Fountain has played an important part in the history and heritage of South Africa and there is general consensus in the community that it should be declared a heritage site.
"Amafa has been considering the application and conducting necessary investigations. We are hoping for a response shortly. Whilst we await upon AMAFA to decide on the application, the Foundation has called up a meeting of owners or occupiers of neighbouring properties and the public to inform them of the initiative," said Jayrajh.
The meeting will take place on Sunday at 1.30pm for 2pm at Sastri College, Winterton Walk.
According to the Foundation, Curries Fountain, was the place where sport was weaponised as an instrument for political changes and pursuit of non-racialism.
Initially set aside as a sports field in the early 20th century for the Indian community in colonial Durban, Curries Fountain transformed to become a go to venue for the disadvantaged Black populations.
According to the Foundation, Curries Fountain hosted sporting events, major political rallies (from 1913), many cultural events including music festivals and social support initiatives (like feeding schemes), and observations of historic events (100-year arrival of Indians to South Africa and the 1400th Anniversary of the Quran, 1968), attaining a richly deserved legendary status nationally and internationally.
While football dominated the sports activities at Curries Fountain, other major sports events were held at this venue. These included athletics, cricket, boxing, karate, cycling, motor bike racing and golf tournaments.