This is a speech extract from the Executive Mayor of Tshwane, Solly Msimanga’s remarks at the international cricket match between South Africa and India at Supersport Stadium in Centurion to mark International Cricket Day.
Programme Director,
Ladies and Gentlemen;
Good afternoon.
When this invitation arrived at my office, I was excited and prioritised it primarily because I wanted to rally behind our national team in this prestigious venue that that demonstrates that The City of Tshwane is the sporting destination of choice.
Why would I want to miss a match where the Captain of the Proteas is a son of the soil of Tshwane? Faf Du Plessis, Morne Morkel, are AB De Villiers are some of examples that show that the City of Tshwane is a city of stars.
A city that Ignites Excellence.
As such, it is an honour to be present here today.
Ladies and Gentlemen, being the sporting destination of choice, evident by the numerous sporting facilities such as the High Performance Centre; Loftus Versveldt; Pilditch athletics Stadium; Lucas “Masterpieces” Moripe Stadium; multiple top-flight golf courses; and this grand venue we are here today, the Supersport Park Cricket Club, we have taken it upon ourselves to continue to invest in sport because we believe that sport has enormous power to generate real social, economic and environmental change and contribute to sustainable development, social cohesion and even to challenge mind sets and prejudice.
The Titans Cricket Union started the Women’s Empowerment program two years ago to assist young, upcoming black female cricket players from previously disadvantaged areas to improve their lives and their future not only through cricket skills development but also through other aspects.
Why do we invest in such?
Firstly, sport has enormous potential to empower women and girls. Women in sport defy the misconception that they are incapable of competing professionally in any sporting code and drawing audiences.
Secondly, there is good evidence that participation in sports can help break-down gender stereotypes, improve girls’ and women’s self-esteem and contribute to the development of leadership skills as well as making a sustainable living and breaking the cycle of poverty that our people desperately need.
I was touched when told that there are currently six young ladies from a historically disadvantaged backgrounds who form part of the only women cricket empowerment program in South Africa.
That encouraged me to use the Mayoral Donations Fund to donate R50 000 towards the empowerment of these future stars.
These young ladies come from Hammanskraal and Soshanguve. The aim is to assist them to move from high school to pro cricket level. The programme assists them with food, transport and accommodation. The programme is also aimed at assisting the players to get their driver’s licences and provide them with additional education at an FET Tertiary education institution. This is while entering into a 2-year contract with the cricket union.
From the City of Tshwane, I would like to give credit to the Titans Cricket Union for this worthy initiative meant to address gender imbalances in the cricket world. It is by no fluke that they are one the best cricket franchises in the world.
Thank you.