Sport, sewing organisations receive donations worth R600k
Call made for clubs, federations to use valuable equipment responsibly
The Eastern Cape department of sport, recreation, arts and culture (DSRAC) has handed over sport equipment to sporting codes in Chris Hani District Municipality (CHDM) and sewing machines, thread and fabrics to seamstresses in Cofimvaba.
The combined handovers was valued at R600,000.
Football, rugby, boxing, cricket and chess organisations received items at an event at the Thobi Kula Indoor Sports Centre.
DSRAC chief of staff, Wongama Gela said: “We have come to CHDM to show support to sport federations and clubs, and we were fortunate to also have three sewing projects from Intsika Yethu Local Municipality who will be benefiting as well. We are offering sport equipment which includes kits for clubs and referees.”
He said beneficiaries were from all over CHDM and that the department was motivating clubs to belong to federations, as it was easier to support clubs in a structured federation.
“However, DSRAC MEC Nonceba Kontsiwe is passionate about not only focusing on federated clubs as there are clubs that do not belong to federations from rural areas who are playing every weekend and need support,” Gela said.
Gela also stated that clubs and federations needed to submit their application to the department as this was the only way to support them with the available budget.
“The department prioritises those who have not been supported by the department before to avoid supporting the same federations and clubs.”
Chris Hani Sport Confederation secretary Mabuti Mapeyi said: “We are happy to receive this handover.”
He said it was important for clubs to belong to federations which would foster all round accountability, maintain equipment and make sure it was received and used as intended.
“As the confederation and the
department, we are able to confiscate the equipment from a club if it is not used and to hand it over to another club that needs it.”
Nophakamile Mandothi from Cofimvaba, who sews with different
kinds of fabrics and does bead work under her Hlumisa project, said: “We heard that we will receive sewing machines and I was happy because I did not have a proper working machine.
“I was using an old machine. “This make it easier to finish my orders. I will be able to sew more items faster.”
She said her old machine had not been working properly.