Pretoria’s first public skatepark: Turning a problem into a promise of hope in Mamelodi township

What started as a simple Instagram message from Poelo Mofolo of Mamelodi Skate Club in Minister Dean MacPherson’s inbox has now turned into the allocation of land for Pretoria’s first public skatepark in Mamelodi.

Words by Carmen Gee. Photos by Richard Dick Smith.

On the morning of 30 July 2024, MacPherson, the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure and the City of Tshwane’s MMC of Human Settlements met with other governmental officials, members of the community and local skaters, to discuss the official decision to allocate land in Mamelodi.

Poelo, founder of the Mamelodi Skate Club, shared his story with the attendees to give a bit of background on what led him to send the Minister that Insta DM. 

Poelo’s Story

Poelo Mofolo grew up in a children’s home and received a skateboard from a friend as a gift. This was the moment that changed his life. Before long, Mofolo was being flown to Durban to skate in contests by his sponsor and was given clothing and shoes.

His passion for skating led him to begin giving skate lessons to children living in Mamelodi and in 2021, he founded Mamelodi Skate Club. The kids skate at flat ground spot called ‘Beer Hall’, with obstacles supplied by Skate Shack, but it has been a dream for Mofolo to provide them with the world-class skatepark they deserve.

Poelo Mofolo, founder of Mamelodi Skate Club, addresses the media at the new skatepark site.

Even though Mofolo secured private funding from a German foundation to build the park, he needed help to secure land. For years, Mofolo has jumped through bureaucratic hoops trying to get the right piece of land for the park, but with no luck.

Eventually, Mofolo decided that he didn’t have anything to lose by messaging the new Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure on Instagram to propose his idea. 

More Than Skating

The project is going to be about so much more than skating. Edupark is going to have an after-school homework facility, other sports facilities, and a learning centre for local children run by volunteers. Skateboarding will be used as a tool to create a positive impact for the community as a whole.

There is already a local skate scene thanks to the Mamelodi Skate Club, which attracts around 20 kids each session. These sessions are run by Mofolo, who already knows many of the local children.

Edupark is going to be an innovative, multi-faceted resource that has the opportunity to change the trajectory of many children’s lives.

Honourable Member: Dean MacPherson

39-year-old Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean MacPherson, assumed his position in June 2024, and the Mamelodi skate park is his first community project.

MacPherson opened his speech by saying that he had tried skateboarding once as a child but fell off the board and never skated again. “If this is the contribution I can make towards skateboarding and help even one child find their way out of hopelessness, then I’ll be happy,” he said. 

Mamelodi Skate Club founder, Poelo Mofolo, and Minister Dean MacPherson, take questions from the media.

A theme that McPhearson drove home throughout his speech was ‘public assets for public good’. He explained that unused land can become a problem for the local municipality, so it is important to ensure that public land is used correctly. “This project is an example of how we can turn a problem into a promise of hope,” he explained.

The Skatepark Site

After the official meeting, which took place at 227 Vamsanda Street, attendees drove in a police convoy to the site where Edupark will be built. The site is located in the heart of Mamelodi, alongside a soccer field. 

“This project is an example of how we can turn a problem into a promise of hope. We want to back community ideas and hopefully this project can serve as a pilot for any future projects we embark on.” – Minister Dean MacPherson.

Currently, the site is filled with illegal dumping and mounds of trash, but it is easy to envision the concrete curves of Edupark filling the space. Minister Dean MacPherson viewed the site before taking questions from the media. Mofolo also spoke to the media and took questions from the public.

Located in the heart of Mamelodi, the site for Edupark and skatepark.

Unfortunately there was a bit of grumbling from some in the local community, who had complaints about a broken traffic light and were concerned that the skatepark would be built on top of the soccer field (which it won’t). There is also an illegal carwash onsite and the owner was worried about having to leave the location and lose his income when development starts.

The Next Steps

Pretoria skateboarder Josh Beukes, from Skate Shack, has been given the important task of designing the park. He plans to finalise the design of the park within the next few weeks and things should start moving. The park is set to include a bowl and street section to meet competition standards.

Nkhothatseng Shiba shares the love of skateboarding in Mamelodi.

Minister MacPherson has committed to tying up any loose ends and having the land transferred by the end of August 2024 so the project can maintain its momentum. “We plan to finish this thing,” said the Minister. “We want to back community ideas and hopefully this project can serve as a pilot for any future projects we embark on.”

The blunt team was stoked to attend this official ceremony and looks forward to seeing the progress of this special project. Congratulations to Poelo for taking the initiative to make a positive impact in his community.

Minister Dean MacPherson and City of Tshwane’s MMC of Human Settlements, Ofentse Madzebatela, met with governmental officials, members of the community and local skaters to discuss the skatepark land allocation in Mamelodi.