A Parliamentarian is working to ensure that primary school sports in Gugulethu and Langa are given a boost.
National Assembly Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Sports, Arts and Culture Beauty Dlulane has embarked on a sport equipment donation programme to support skills development and training at the schools.
Donating rugby, soccer and netball kits including face masks and sanitisers at Bonga Primary School in Langa on Tuesday, Ms Dlulane said the partnership between her and the schools would play a pivotal role in boosting efforts to encourage young school going children to play sport.
“Last year I shared my birthday with this school. I then promised to adopt it,” she said.
“We all know that healthy minds work better. I used to play sport as a youngster and allow me to say sport people are disciplined, intellectual, and respectful.
“I bought that discipline here today. I am here to ignite interest in sport from both teachers and children,” she said.
She challenged the teachers to play an active role and motivate pupils to play sport, but acknowledged that many schools did not have proper training equipment.
“We need to produce Olympians and we can do that. It is possible that one day this school will produce such a high level person.
“I will be happy to come back here one day and tell a good story. But the fact that most schools have no proper fields and equipment delays us. We want to get there but we are not getting there. To address these challenges we need to all work together. Basic Education has funds for sport and they need to join the party,” she said.
School principal Anele Zita was delighted to receive the kit from Ms Dlulane to support the skills revolution in her school.
“She brought smiles to us in these hard times. This will unleash our pupils’ potential in many ways. When the school leagues start, we will be ready and motivated,” said Mr Zita.
He said he welcomed any kind of help and that many of his pupils came from families where the parents were not working.
“It is an open secret that most of our children are from informal settlements where we know very well that chances of employment are very few. Most parents are not working. So when we have visitors like Mam’uDlulane, we say thank you. She has done us proud. We will look good too,” he said.