It is that time of the year again when the like minded organisations and individuals pull their resources together in the name of charity.

This will be done under the auspices of the Chatsworth Charity Relay. The initiative was started as a way of healing the community following the unfortunate Throb Night Club disaster of 2000 in which 12 youth lost their lives.  

The annual Chatsworth Charity Relay Association say the race will take place on Saturday, 30 August 2008. As it has become the norm, the centre of the activities will be the Chatsworth Stadium.

The MEC for Sport and Recreation, Mr. Amichand Rajbansi has officially announced that his Department has approved a sponsorship of R40 000 for the project.

Mr. Rajbansi said he was proud to be associated with this initiative once again. This will be the third year in a row.  Over the past two years, the Department’s sponsorship has included a number of wheel chairs.

According to the chairperson of the Charity Relay organization Professor Naidoo, the event is growing in stature each year.

Professor Naidoo says the event will again also cater for the differently challenged citizens. An event for the visually impaired people is being considered in addition to the customary wheelchair race.

Disabled participants are drawn from all areas including Umlazi, Lamontville and Phoenix.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE ALSO SPEAK TO PROFESSOR NAIDOO – 083 229 8876

The cricket development programme of the Department of Sport and Recreation reached new ground today with the handing over of cricket equipment to three more former disadvantaged areas by the Department.

The MEC for Sport and Recreation Mr. Amichand Rajbansi handed over 12 full playing kits to the KZN Cricket Union at a special event at the Sahara Kingsmead Cricket Grounds today.  The Kits were then distributed to the representatives of the newly formed township clubs of KwaDabeka, Clermont, Waterloo and Inanda. Each area will received four kits each.

Mr. Rajbansi is on record as saying poverty should not prevent talented individuals from participating in sport. This goes for all sport including those that were previously seen as being for the elite members of society.

Speaking at the handover function, Mr. Rajbansi re-iterated that the country can only prosper if “we hold our hands together in partnership between the private and the public sector.” “There is no way we can look into the future without developing our young stars” the MEC said

KZN Cricket Union officials said this kind of partnership with the Department was a source of encouragement for them to forge ahead with their programmes to bring cricket to all the areas.

In thanking the Department, the Chief Executive Officer for KZN Rugby Union, Mr. Cassim Docrat said the financial injection by the Department to development will assist the union to go the extra mile in reaching out to the previously disadvantaged communities.

“We want the townships to start playing club cricket in their own areas.“ he said.

Background to the Departments Cricket advancement programme 

The Department of Sport and Recreation is focused on the development of sport with priority being given to previously disadvantaged areas.  Cricket is one of the priority codes that needs special attention

In the 2005/2006 financial year, a partnership between DSR and KZN Cricket Union was formed with the express purpose of creating an awareness of cricket and talent identification in the following disadvantaged areas:     Kwa Mashu, Phoenix, Lamontville, Kwa Makutha, Hammersdale, 0verport, Newlands West

These areas received coaching from the KZN cricket union and 4 full playing kits from DSR.

Kwa-Dabeka, Waterloo and Ntuzuma have been identified for development in the 2008/09 financial year. Coaching of cricket at these areas will be provided by the KZN cricket union and DSR provides full playing kits (2 junior and 2 senior) and 20 match balls per area.

 Each kit comprises:                                

·         3 bats, 6 batting gloves, 3 helmets, 3 batting pads, 1 wicket-keeper gloves * inners * pads, 3 thigh guards, 3 groin guards, 3 arm guards, 1 set full stumps and a  kit bag

 

ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF SPORT AND RECREATION

For more information please contact Nishaan Sewkumar: 031 242 1761

The MEC for Sport and Recreation, Mr. Amichand Rajbansi attended a number of events in celebration of Women’s Day. He began the day by attending a women’s only athletics event at Chatsworth Stadium on Saturday morning. The event organised by the Flora Chatsworth Athletics Club comprised of a 5km and 10 km race to mark the important day

Speaking at the event Mr. Rajbansi said the government of the day was serious about the empowerment of women. He pointed out that in most government structures women and men were now at a 50:50 ratio. In the Department of Sport and Recreation, women employees comprised more than half of  the entire staff complement.

The Department of Sport and Recreation will be hosting an unusual sport event on the 16^th August 2008 at the Klipriver area, Ladysmith.

It’s unusual because there will be netball for boys, football for girls. There will also be cross country for both genders. All these activities will be held at primary school and secondary school levels.  Eighteen local schools will participate as this is an SSMPP Programme within the Klipriver Cluster of Uthukela District.

The following are partners in making the above event a tremendous success:

1.         The Department of Sport and Recreation – major funder and lead Department

2.         The Department of Education

3.         KRSSA – Klipriver School Sport Association

4.         ABI – Amalgamated Beverages Industry

5.         SAPS

The event is open to the public and entrance is free.

contact person for more info

Eneil D. Meyer              036-6314727 (Phone)

                                    036-6314728 (Fax)

                                    082 718 5959 (Cell)

The MEC for Sport & Recreation, Mr A. Rajbansi made a telling pass as his Department dotted down with major in-roads into rugby development. The fairytale story of Dolly Mavumengwana, who has once again gained Springbok colours to represent the female Boks in two tests against the Nomads (a mix of national players from Scotland, England, New Zealand and Australia) at Ellis Park on the 9 August and at Newlands on 16 August is one that should motivate a lot of our youth.

The MEC was ecstatic with his department’s programme of creating temporary employment for volunteers to run its numerous mass participation programmes. The MEC said that “Dolly was part of the department’s volunteer recruitment policy and he was overjoyed that her Springbok selection had proved that his department’s investment in females was going right through the posts.” This year the department has employed a phenomenal 1169 volunteers, each earning a monthly stipend and all receiving accredited training. Dolly Mavumegwana was employed by the Department as a volunteer with its Club Development programme since 2007. She has recently been appointed by the department on a permanent basis as a sports officer in the Umgungundlovu District.

Dolly started her rugby career in the Eastern Cape playing for Border between 2001 – 2006. Dolly’s towering stature makes her an obvious choice for lock, her favoured position on the park. She has played for the Springboks since 2005 and featured in the test against the Netherlands (2004), Springbok tour to Wales & England (2005) and the 2006 World Cup in Canada. When interviewed, I had to look up to this gentle giant of a girl and she was very thankful to the department for having given her overwhelming support. She remarked; “The MEC, Mr Rajbansi is a very inspirational man and we are always amazed in the department by his endless energy and steely resolve. I hope to carry some of these attributes into my game against the Nomads.”

The MEC remarked that; “Women’s rugby in this country is a far cry from the money spinning male dominated sport. A lack of sponsorship and media support for the female national team has seen them being relatively inactive over the last year. As a Sport and Recreation department we are endeavouring to break down stereotypes and the success of athletes of the caliber of Dolly will go a long way towards our drive for equity in sport. My department is in the process of transferring R100,000 to the KZN Rugby Union for the development of women’s rugby in the Province”

And by now the MEC had warmed up to his game and showed his pedigree as he lofted Dolly to tower above us all in the lineout …she caught the ball cleanly and made one of her trademark bullocking runs down the field with the Tiger in close support!