Local basketball team fights against gender-based violence

Sunnyside Basketball Club chairperson Mncedisi Khoza urged the Sunnyside youth to fight against all forms of gender-based violence (GBV).

“The issue of gender-based violence is a pandemic that needs, among other things, the youth involvement to eradicate it,” Khoza told Rekord at the annual Sunnyside Basketball Club tournament aimed at fight against GBV.

The event were attended by more than 100 people including players and parents was held at the Sunnyside Basketball Court last Saturday.

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The organisers of the event, scheduled to take place between 09:00 to 17:15, had to call it off midday owing to the rain.

As a result of the rain, the court became slippery which posed danger to the players. “For the safety of our players, we had to stop the matches,”

Khoza said, citing that at the stopping time half of the matches had already been played.”

The played matches include those of u.12, u.14, u.16, and u.19.

He however said although they called off the matches, they still managed to achieve the objective of the event which was to create GBV awareness. “The basketball tournament was not a once-off event. It is hosted annually for the purpose of fighting against GBV and we want to see it producing good results.” He said they were also in a plan to intensify their campaign against the GBV by embarking on the Sunnyside Basketball Club wellness programme that would involve coaches, players, parents and relevant stakeholders such as counsellors and police. “It cannot be business as usual when the GBV strives in our community. We are saying no to GBV.” He said the GBV was not good for the team as well as it can have a negative effect on players. “A player who is a victim of GBV can be demoralised and not perform to the best of his ability, leading the team to lose matches.” He said a GBV victim, who does not receive help, can have a low self-esteem ending up abusing alcohol and drugs. In attendance was also police who made the audience aware of the GBV and appropriate steps to be followed in fighting against it. One of the players, Magdelene Sadiki said he learnt that working with the police was important in fighting the scourge of GBV. “I was not really understanding gender-based violence before I attended today’s event,” Sadiki said. She said the information she received during the event was valuable and it would help her fight against GBV any time. Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to editorial@rekord.co.za or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord’s websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram