EThekwini District dominate Provincial Indigenous Games

The MEC for Arts, Culture, Sport and Recreation, Mrs Bongi Sithole-Moloi has congratulated Team eThekwini for asserting their dominance of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Indigenous Games by retaining their Provincial title.

EThekwini again dominated the 12th edition of the Provincial Indigenous Games which were held at the Ugu Sport and Leisure in Margate, on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast, on Friday 26th to Sat 27th August.

This year’s event showed great improvement and great success despite an incident where a bus transporting players from uMgungundlovu District overturned on the way to games, injuring some to the players. The MEC responded by sending out a team led by the Head of Department and senior managers to attend to the needs of the injured most of whom were treated and discharged on the day.

The Indigenous Games form part of government’s effort to revive and preserve culture and heritage of the diverse communities of our country. The list of recognised indigenous games comprise no less than 11 codes and it is ever increasing. Among these are ingqathu (rope skipping), umlabalaba (the board game), dibeke, khokho, drie stokkies, amagende (stones), incuva, arigogo and induku (stick fighting).

EThekwini Metro were the overall winners after amassing 24 points. King Cetshwayo District (Formerly Uthungulu) followed close on 20 points and Amajuba Districts came third on 16 points.

The Games are organised by the Department of Sport and Recreation with the assistance of District Municipalities who provide transport and clothing for the teams. The Provincial Games also serve to select players who will form part of Team KZN to represent the Province in the National Indigenous Games competition to be held in Polokwane, Limpopo in September.

KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) are defending champions and they are set to continue their winning run and defend their title which they have not relinquished in five years.