MSUNDUZI STANDS UP TO BE COUNTED WHEN IT COMES TO SPORTS
The State President doffs his hat to Msunduzi for being the home of sports at an international level
‘WHEN State President Cyril Matomela Ramaphosa is in town, there is no question or guessing about the stature of who has arrived: the big entourage, the security detail, the planning and the fanfare throughout the city. All of this hype was evident when the president arrived at the open the facility.
The president had a high-powered delegation in tow and it included the Minister of Sports Thokozile Xasa, her Deputy Minister Gert Oosthuizen, Minister of Higher Education Naledi Pandor, Transport Minister Blade Nzimande, KwaZulu-Natal’s
Acting Premier Sihle Zikalala, KZN MEC for Sports & Recreation Bongi MaSithole Moloi, Chairperson of the Provincial House of Traditional leaders iNkosi Phathisizwe Chiliza and Athletic South Africa’s Alex Sikhosana. They were all hosted by the City Mayor Themba Njilo, who was accompanied by the Council Speaker and other councillors.
Because there was a slight delay in the arrival of the President, the day kicked off with what has become a signature feature of the President’s trail, the Thuma Mina Walk. Not long after the march ended, the President arrived at the Athletics Track to the cheer of the attendees.
In his address, the President acknowledged the role Msunduzi has played in hosting events of international pedigree. “This city has become the home of sporting events and major ones include the Comrades Marathon, which I hope to be a part of in the near future, the Mandela Day Marathon, which I would also like to participate in, Para-cycling events and the city has also hosted the Duzi Canoe Marathon some 35 times. It warms my heart to see black people participating in the Duzi and the Duzi 2 Sani. On top of all these, the ‘cherry on top’ is this world-class Athletics Track,” said the president.
He also went on by taking his hat off for the Municipality and the province for making the city a leader in hosting major sporting events. “We hope that many games are going to be here in this world-class facility and we also hope that many meetings are going to be held here because where we built facilities nowadays, we build them so that they comply to global standards.
“Maritzburg College has committed to utilising the facility for training purposes all year round. I am glad that Athletics South Africa’s Sikhosana is present here today because they are the ones that are going to hold a range of meetings. When they do so, they will be doing so as custodians of athletics in this country,” said Ramaphosa.
Mayor says hip hip hooray
Commenting about the President’s visit to the city, the mayor said it is amazing that recently the municipality hosted all the province’s municipalities and now the president is in town. “This goes to show that it is not a lie sports. Underscoring this point is the fact that the President saw it if that we should come complex,” said Njilo who was visibly over the moon. Last month, the venue hosted the South African Local Government games and before then it hosted an athletics meeting at an African continent level.
Sports Minister Xasa committed to promoting an active lifestyle for people of Msunduzi as this has mental revitalisation Maritzburg College, the minister said this is a school that promotes sports and it is also of great assistance as there is hardly a facility that it does not possess. “By working in collaboration, our objective is to unearth sporting talent so that our children has an opportunity to thrive in sports. By building a sporting facility of this magnitude, this is to ensure that we do not spend a fortune taking our athletes to other countries in order to access world class facilities but it is to have such facilities right at our door step.”
In his remarks, Zikalala thanked the state president: “I am happy that such a facility was constructed in the area of Msunduzi as it is our capital city in KwaZulu-Natal. This town is the home of struggle stalwarts such as Moses Mabhida, Harry Gwala, Reggie Hadebe, Isiah Ntshangase and others,” he said.
Council’s Speaker Jabu Ngubo said: I am very happy about the walk as it will remind the people of Msunduzi the importance of healthy living.” Ziwelile Chonco, a resident of Msunduzi said she was encouraged that the president was in town and that when they go to health facilities, they are always told about living a healthy lifestyle. “I am happy that I was able to walk and cover a distance I never thought I could cover on foot, which is probably due to laziness on my part. Today, I was encouraged and going, I am going to turn this into a habit.”