The newly elected Reiger Park Sports Forum Executive has officially taken office, marking a vital step towards strengthening sports development and improving youth engagement in the community.
According to deputy president Shaune Baaitjies, the forum’s formation was driven by a growing need to offer young people safer and more positive alternatives.
“The idea to start and formalise a sports forum arose from our desire to provide our children with better options – positive alternatives to drugs and promiscuity,” he said.
Baaitjies added that sport remains a powerful tool to unite communities, build confidence and keep young people active and focused. Through the forum, the leaders aim to create safe spaces where youth can learn teamwork, develop purpose and stay out of harm’s way.
“The aim is to unite local clubs, coaches and community leaders to establish sustainable programmes that support and inspire young athletes, ensuring they have access to opportunities that can shape a brighter future,” she said.
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How the forum was formed
Baaitjies said the journey to establishing the Reiger Park Sports Forum dated back to November 2019, when the ward’s sports committee member and several local sporting codes first met to discuss forming a formal sports board.
“This initiative came after encouragement from the Boksburg Sports Confederation, which urged local wards to create their own structures. However, progress stalled when the country faced Covid-19 lockdowns and other disruptions, causing the early efforts to fade.
“The process was revived on March 28, 2022, when the local hockey group called for renewed steps to form a sports forum.”
She added that from that point, a small group of committed interim members and sporting codes continued to work to keep the idea alive.
“The persistence paid off on August 19, when the constitution of the Reiger Park Local Sports Forum was officially adopted. Following one final postponement, the long-awaited AGM was held on October 28, leading to the election of the forum’s first executive committee,” she said.
With the executive now in place, Baaitjies said the forum will move into a fact-finding phase. This includes identifying the needs of local clubs, assessing progress already made and developing strategies to support sports development across Reiger Park.
Executive committee:
President: Jackoline van Staade;
First deputy president: Shaune Baaitjies;
Second deputy president: Ramadhaan Johnson.
Additional members:
Jean Crotz, Owen Fransch, Shaun Johannes, Clyde Nelson, Justus Abrams and Marshall Hartzenberg.
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