A sporting chance

Seven sport federations in the Central Karoo district recently received a combined total of R785,000 from the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport to support their operations and development programmes. Western Cape Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Ricardo Mackenzie, handed over the cheques during a ceremony in Prince Albert on 15 May. Councillor Neville Claasen welcomed the Minister and his team.

Minister Mackenzie praised the dedication of those working at grassroots level: “Our continued support for sport federations is not just about funding – it’s about recognising the people behind the scenes who give their time and energy to grow sport in our province. Their commitment to good governance and compliance is exactly why the private sector is willing to partner with the Western Cape Government on initiatives that benefit our communities,” he said.

The funding will enable federations to run effective operations, host competitions, and advance transformation within their respective sporting codes. “Sport is more than just competition. It brings people together, builds communities, and creates opportunities – especially for our youth,” Minister Mackenzie added.

On 7 May 2025, the Prince Albert Municipality hosted a pivotal stakeholder engagement session, uniting representatives from all recognised sport codes across Prince Albert, Leeu-Gamka and Klaarstroom. The meeting aimed to bolster collaboration between the Municipality and the local sporting community, addressing critical barriers to sport development in the region.

Mr Charlton Jafta presented an overview of municipal sport facilities, highlighting their current condition, availability and accessibility across the three towns. Stakeholders discussed challenges as well as planned upgrades and long-term investment in sport infrastructure.

The inactivity of the Prince Albert Sport Council was addressed, underscoring the urgent need to re-establish a representative body to lead sport development. The re-established Sport Council will act as a coordinating body, promoting inclusivity and driving structured sport growth.

To achieve this, the interim Sport Council will launch an awareness and mobilisation campaign across the three towns. The goal is to establish a credible, community-endorsed Sport Council by 30 June 2025.