Netball tournament in Moletsane tackles social ills
The tournament was held to address societal concerns such as prostitution, GBV and the high crime rate among young women.
Eight Johannesburg District Youth Crime Prevention Desks (YCPD) netball teams battled it out during the netball tournament at the Moletsane Sport Complex on November 13.
The tournament was held to address societal concerns such as prostitution, GBV and the high crime rate among young women.
The Johannesburg YCPD District P.R.O Moses Seaga said through the tournament they are trying to encourage young girls to engage in sport rather than focusing on negative things.
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“We decided to hold this tournament because of the high rate of abuse of young women and the fact that we see young women engaging in activities that have negative consequences.
“The high unemployment rate is currently causing many young women to engage in prostitution, so we wanted young girls to see that there are many things they can do to keep their minds occupied while they wait for job opportunities.
“We are also ending the practice of young women selling their bodies through sports but most importantly, we are giving young ladies an opportunity to showcase their sports talents and enjoy themselves,” he said.
Seaga added that they intend to hold the competition on a quarterly basis of the year and ensure that all YCPD Districts participate.
Soweto Urban News spoke to two young women who participated in the tournament.
One of the young ladies from Protea Glen, Mmalehlohonolo Matshoho told Urban News that the tournament has empowered her to fight against GBV and advocate for women’s rights.
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“As a member of YCPD, I am dedicated to spreading the word and encouraging locals to host similar events to help address social ills in my community.
“I hope that all of the ladies who attended today’s tournament will use what they learned to positively impact the lives of young women in their communities,” she said.
Tumelo Buso from Lenasia South said, “Today was great because as the youth we were united, and we were encouraging one another to focus on positive things.
“Most of us here are unemployed. These activities reprimand us for participating in negative things. We are helping each other.”
