Ria’s rise at Safa applauded
Mazibuko punts gender parity
MEC for sport, arts, culture and recreation in Gauteng, Faith Mazibuko has praised the election of Ria Ledwaba as the first woman vice-president of the SA Football Association (Safa).
Ledwaba was voted in along with Xolile Nkompela and Gay Mokoena at a Safa council meeting last Sunday.
The former owner of Ria Stars has been touted to spearhead the establishment of a 16team women’s national league next year.
“Congratulations are due to Ria for her elevation to the position of vice-president,” Mazibuko said. “People must recognise that women are here to say. But I am still saddened because the executive is still not 50/50 in terms of women representation. It’s only her at the top and I don’t see women representation at the top structure. We are going to push this agenda of gender and we do not want any token appointments.”
Mazibuko yesterday officially opened the nomination process for the seventh Gauteng Sport Awards. The public have been invited to submit their nominations for their favourite athletes and sports personalities in the 19 categories where each winner will receive R15 000 and nominees will each get R7 500.
Even championship-winning clubs and stars do not get automatic nomination for the awards whose cut-off date is July 7.
“Even if you are a national champion you still have to submit a nomination form to be recognised,” Mazibuko added.
“So we hope that once again our contributors in sports in the province will be recognised for flying the flag high.”
In the past years, winners had complained about waiting for months to receive their prize monies but the councillor insists that those problems are a thing of the past.
The awards will take place on September 2 at a venue still to be confirmed.