15 rural schools get kit

MEC hands over attire and equipment to promote sports

The Eastern Cape department of sport, recreation, arts & culture recently handed over sports equipment and attire worth R791,000 to 15 schools and 10 sporting hubs in the Chris Hani West region.

The equipment will help to support development and promote physical activity among youth in rural areas of the region.

The kit and equipment, consisting of balls, pumps, cones, netball poles, and chess sets, is for a variety of sports codes including netball, soccer, rugby, athletics and chess.

The handover took place at Lesseyton Stadium in Ndlovukazi on Friday.

Dsrac MEC Nonceba Kontsiwe said the handover was part of the department’s mandate to develop sports in rural areas.

She said the beneficiaries of the handover were from the Enoch Mgijima, Inxuba Yethemba and Emalahleni municipal areas.

“We gave the majority of the equipment to hubs because they are supporting more than ten clubs including federations.

“Today is an important day for the department to issue this equipment and sports attire to encourage youth to play sports

in their areas. Parents are complaining that children are getting involved in criminal activity, drugs and alcohol, “the MEC said.

She said playing sport also helped instil discipline, and promoted unity among the youth through playing in teams as well as competing in tournaments.

“The department has committed this financial year to targeting rural areas which have

been left out in the previous years. People from rural areas feel left out as they say the department only focuses on townships and urban areas.

“The schools which came here today are all from rural areas,” the MEC said.

She said the handover also served as part of a build-up programme ahead of Heritage Day.

Masizakhe Senior Primary School, from Qoqodala in

Emalahleni, was one of the schools which benefited from the handover.

School principal Vusumzi Dyasi said: “I am grateful for the sports equipment because when the pupils are not playing, crime increases.

“Our school received netball kit and seven balls, a pump and cones.

“Our school is also active in rugby, netball, soccer and volleyball.”

Picture: ABONGILE SOLUNDWANA YOUTH DEVELOPMENT: Excited Masizakhe Senior Primary School pupils from Qoqodala in Emalahleni, who are among the beneficiaries who received sports equipment and kit handed over by Eastern Cape sports, recreation, arts & culture MEC Nonceba Kontsiwe at Lesseyton Stadium on Friday.