Karabo gunning to be the second female president of Central Gauteng Athletics
Karabo Mabilo has raised her hand as a contestant in the race to become the next president of Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA).
Elections will be held on March 5 at Germiston Stadium.
Mabilo is an astute leader with a solid governance and administration background. Should she emerge victoriously, it means she will be the second female president in the history of Central Gauteng.
She is a runner who is passionate about athletics. Currently, she sits in CGA Exco as an additional board member, serves as Head of Women’s Committee in CGA and is a Trustee Board member of the Soweto Marathon Trust.
Her corporate and educational background puts her in good stead to provide sound leadership to take the province forward.
Karabo Mabilo holds an LLB Degree and a Higher Diploma – SA and international tax qualification and works as a specialist in Fiduciary in the financial sector.
She has identified some key issues for her election campaign, and these include:
Sponsorship injection and retention
Her view is that the new board would need to create an enabling environment to attract corporate sponsorship. It will be the duty of the new board to help identify companies that would have a keen interest in promoting the development of athletics through their brand.
The board, must interest corporates in the brand CGA and ensure that the relationships with sponsors are maintained and nurtured. Corporates can be certain be guaranteed maximum benefit on their return of investment.
Development and support and participation of female athletes
The development and support of athletes is a priority for CGA, because, without athletes, there is no CGA.
Karabo indicates that it is important to ensure that the administration makes inroads with the constituent members and stresses that the development of all athletes is a priority.
She states that the mandate of CGA is to identify and develop young talent. She envisages a different structure that would solidify the support and development for athletes by implementing a permanent athletes department that will focus primarily on athletes to ensure that there is continuous athlete wellness support, which also talks to financial and mental wellness.
Mabilo is passionate about programs that will help support athletes throughout the lifespan of their careers and beyond. She also believes that CGA must explore a mutually beneficial arrangement where retired athletes can contribute towards the development of upcoming elite athletes by way of coaching and mentoring.
Her view on this matter is that the CGA Board must ensure that strides are made to develop more female coaches and mentors.
Karabo would like to address the concern around the decline of participation of young girl athletes in athletics.
The number of girls dropping out of athletics from the ages of 16 is double in comparison to that of boys and this need to be addressed.
“Issues of safety and security that affect all females in athletics are top of her list of urgent matters. This cohort of athletes is faced with varying challenges, and we must provide stability to them,” she said.
“Through athletics, young girls can find solace and, therefore, we must impart important life skills to these young girls.”
The Women’s Committee, where she serves, has embarked on an initiative to ensure easy access to sanitary towels and necessary hygiene products for young girls at all sporting events.
This initiative was primarily launched to ensure that young girl athletes do not stay away from participating in athletics/sports even during their monthly menstrual cycle because of the lack of sanitary towels.
