By: Zethu Gweva
The Department of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture (DSRAC) handed over close to three million rands worth of school sport equipment to 800 Eastern Cape schools in King Williams Town Head Office yesterday.
Speaking to Buffalo City Metro News DSRAC HOD Mzolisi Matutu said the handover forms part of the departments operational plan for 2018/19 and also to commemorate the late stalwarts Nelson Mandela and Albertina Sisulu as they both participated in sports.
“This was announced at the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature that we will be handing out school sports equipment to all hundred schools per district, since we are finalising the centenary of the two icons this forms part of celebrating their legacy,” said Matutu.
According to Matutu, the excitement of the day was the presence of School Governing Body members which indicated a positive working relationship with government. He explained that sports should not be confined within school premises but should be expanded into communities and develop sport clubs that pupils can participate in.
“Although parents are not as active when it comes to school sports, seeing them at this handover proves that they are indeed supportive and want to see progress not only academically but also in sports,” he said.
One of the school principals who received sports equipment for his school Nceba Vukuza from Kuyasa Senior Secondary School, Dimbaza in King Williams Town expressed his gratitude to the department for the sports equipment.
“The equipment we have received will add to what we already have. We have received balls, stopwatches and all the necessary equipment. Although I have not seen the kinds of balls we have received, we are indeed grateful for what the department has done for the school,” said Vukuza.
The School Governing Body Chairperson at Kuyasa Senior Secondary school, Xolani Slatsha said the equipment will motivate pupils to participate more in sports and will help do away with drug use.
Chairperson of the Eastern Cape Schools Athletics Mxolisi Sentse expressed his gratitude to the department and said sports equipment will assist in training all pupils who are active in sports like Sanele Zixunge who received a silver medal during the National Championship that took place in Port Elizabeth and was identified by TuksSports School in Pretoria which will train and pay all sportsmen monthly stipends.
“The stipends that these children receive helps their families because some of them come from disadvantaged backgrounds. We are grateful to the department for all the sports equipment, it will motivate other children to participate in sport,” said Sentse.