At the official launch and draw for the 2013 Mayoral Games on Tuesday were (from left) deputy mayor Cllr Vera Gumbi, Mayor Elphas Mbatha, Department of Sport and Recreation’s Nonhlanhla Ndlela, City manager sports and recreation Dudu Ngidi, City Speaker Vuseni Mnqayi and Cllr Musawenkosi Mbokazi
PHOTO: Dave Savides
SPORT is one of the nation’s great unifiers and should be encouraged at every level.
That was the message at Tuesday’s official media launch and draw for the annual Mayoral Sports Day, which takes place on 14 September.
uMhlathuze City mayor, Cllr Elphas Mbatha, said through sport participants learn at an early age how to work together and not discriminate based on race or gender.
‘Lack of working together lies at the root of most of South Africa’s problems; even the current skills shortage is a result of past racial divisions,’ Mbatha told guests at the launch, held at the civic centre in Richards Bay.
‘Sport is a powerful mechanism to unite and build the nation and we are proud of all our achievers.
‘These games uncover talent and potential that must be supported.
‘This City boasts the likes of Siyabonga Sangweni from Dondotha who now plays for Bafana Bafana, and Bridgitte Hartley of Richards Bay who won a medal at the last Olympics.
‘It is imperative that local sports federations participate in the IDP stakeholder engagement programme so their needs are brought before council to develop sport in a structured way,’ said Mbatha.
The Mayoral Games, which began in 2007, will see teams representing the City’s wards compete, among others, in soccer, boxing, athletics, table tennis, karate, netball and volleyball.
Principal sports promotion officer for the Department of Sports and Recreation uThungulu Region, Nonhlanhla Ndlela, said it was well known that the City of uMhlathuze boasted the finest municipal sports facilities in the province at the Central Sports Complex and surrounding townships.
‘Through these games, skills levels will be raised and they will contribute to longevity through the promotion of health and fitness, as well as to physical conditioning and mental alertness.
‘Not only do they teach us to interact with each other, but sports like swimming also teach us to interact with the environment.’
