Ramhory Lutchman’s call in the 1970s to declare Curries Fountain a national monument forms part of the motivation to have the football ground declared a KwaZulu-Natal heritage site in 2025.

Curries Fountain Heritage Preservation Foundation President Maya Singh said that they had submitted a comprehensive document to the KwaZulu-Natal Amafa and Research Institute (The Institute) to have the sports ground declared a provincial heritage site.

The foundation referred to Lutchman’s statement as valuable information that would hopefully stand out in their lengthy and detailed submissions to the institute.

Lutchman was the former president of the Durban Indian Sports Ground Association, and at the time, commented in the Graphic newspaper after the size of the grounds decreased from 23 acres in 1925 to six acres in the late 1970s.

The sports fields had become earmarked for educational development, which later saw the establishment of St Augustine’s Primary School, Gandhi-Desai School, Orient Islamic School, and Durban University of Technology (DUT) M.L. Sultan Campus. 

The article further stated that Curries Fountain was made available for Indian sport in 1925 and later became a multiracial sporting facility. 

On Wednesday, during a Heritage Day gathering, a representative from the Institute, who did not want to be named, explained that the Institute has made a Grade 2 provincial heritage site application, which will be discussed at a council meeting in November.

Once a final decision is made, it will then have to be gazetted. She said the process could be finalised by February 2026. 

Singh expressed concern over a newspaper article discussing the expansion of a parking facility and the removal of part of the sand embankment, which prompted him to establish the foundation to prevent further erosion of Curries Fountain.

Singh said the foundation has already projected the future utility of the Curries Fountain heritage site, with the development of a museum, development of sports, among others, as priorities.

Dr Bhugwan Singh, also known as Bugsy Singh, one of the foundation members, described the grounds as a remarkable facility that held a special place in the hearts and minds of those aware of its contribution to sports and anti-apartheid rallies. 

“Curries Fountain will mean different things to different people, all will unanimously agree that with a history of over a century, a century that encapsulates our sporting history, our political challenges and resistance of local and national significance, the inherent heritage this remarkable site exudes, its recognition as a heritage site is apposite… and is overdue!” he said. 

Dr Bhugwan described Curries Fountain as a metaphor for the fight for non-racialism in South Africa.

“Starting as a sports field in the early 20th century, it transformed to become a go-to venue for the disadvantaged Black populations. The grounds held major political rallies from 1913. It has a richly deserved legendary status nationally and internationally,” he said. 

While football dominated the sports activities at Curries Fountain, other major sports events were held at this venue, including athletics meetings, cricket, boxing competitions, karate, cycling, motorbike racing, and golf competitions.

According to the Research of Curries and Surrounds (ROCS) project, the origin of Curries Fountain is rooted in the search for a dependable water supply for the burgeoning borough of Durban that was proclaimed in 1854. 

Water was sourced from several wells. According to ROCS, a drought and severe water shortage prompted Councillor HW Curries, in 1878, to sink an artesian well in the area below Botanic Gardens, with success; this well was named Curries Fountain and can be found at DUT’s sports ground at the Ritson campus. 

zainul.dawood@inl.co.za

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