THE South African National School Sports Winter Championships got off to a smooth start on Monday, 1 July, with over 3000 learners from across the country’s nine provinces descending on Durban to partake in the sports development programme.

 

The week-long free entry championships are aimed at ensuring that South African learners are afforded an opportunity to participate in at least one sporting code. The programme is the brainchild of the Basic Education and Sports, Arts and Culture departments.

 

Acting eThekwini Mayor Fawzia Peer said the Municipality is proud to host the championships as part of government’s quest to promote mass participation and social cohesion.

 

“We want to thank Sports Minister Nathi Mthethwa for choosing us as the host city. The City of Durban continues to prove that it is a top sport and events arena by attracting national and international sporting events. We have provided the Sports Department with some of our state-of-the-arts facilities and human capital to ensure that the championship is a success. We have no doubt that this event will increase the pool of talented athletes that will feed to the national team and thereby increasing our international success,” said Councillor Peer, urging eThekwini residents to come out in their numbers to support the participating learners.

 

“I have no doubt that we as parents we will come out to cheer for our children. It is important that as parents we support these games as they help to identify talent from an early age,” she added.

 

The games will finish on 4 July where the champions in the various sporting codes will be crowned.

Sporting codes are as follows;

 

Chess - University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College (Gate7)

Football – Cato Manor Sport Grounds and University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College (Gate10)

Netball – Hoy Park Sport Complex

Hockey – Queensmead Stadium

Tennis – Westridge Stadium

Rugby – Kings Park Outer Fields

Volleyball - University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College (Gate10) and Durban University of Technology (Steve Biko Campus)

 

Members of the media are invited to cover the games. To RSVP please contact Simphiwe Dlamini on 061 433 0110 or simphiwe.dlamini@durban.gov.za

 

For media interviews and sound bites please contact Mickey Modisane on 082 992 0101

 

Ends

 

Issued by eThekwini Municipality’s Deputy Head of Communications, Mandla Nsele.

 

For more information contact Municipal Spokesman Msawakhe Mayisela on 060 966 4220 or msawakhe.mayisela@durban.gov.za