The JZ Chess Junior Championships will be held in Inkandla on December 19 and 20. This tournament is a chance to play chess with the President, Jacob Zuma. The Uthukela Chess Foundation hosted the JZ Chess Junior Championship trials at Mnambithi FET College (Estcourt campus) on November 29 where the following representatives, five boys and five girls, were identified.

The boys are Ntokozo Hlongwane (Drakensberg Comprehensive), Thabani Dumisa, Yamkela Mazibuko and Mukela Mazibuko (Zola Primary School and Luyanda Ntoyi (Drakensberg Secondary School). The girls are Olwethu Mngadi, Amahle Mlambo and Ziyanda Mbatha (Zola Primary School), Nobuhle Mdlolo and Wendy Mngadi (Drakensberg Comprehensive).The Uthukela District Chess Federation formed by Bergville, Imbabazane, Estcourt and Ladysmith municipalities is a non-profit organisation and depends entirely on the Sports and Recreation Department, local municipalities and businesses for all its activities and projects.

The federation thanks all of its sponsors and extends its appreciation to the Uthukela District Municipality for initiating and including chess in the Mayoral Cup. Imbabazane Library has become the home of chess, as it is the only institution in Umtshezi with a chess court and hosted chess tournaments. Imbabazane is now open to all chess players and teams to come and exercise their minds with the beautiful game of chess. The federation wants to engage all libraries throughout KZN to become the home for chess as this will attract community members to utilise the library to the maximum.This will reduce the rate of crime and empower and educate the youth.