Sports day addresses social problems
KwaThema - A 21 km run, 10km fun walk and a soccer match were recently hosted in KwaThema by the ward 74 African National Congress (ANC) branch.
The purpose of the sports day was to raise awareness on social ills affecting the community and to promote healthy living within the community under the theme ‘sports against crime, drug abuse and police killings’.
A number of residents participated in the various sports and upon completion of the walk and run participants received medals.
Top performing children on the day included Boitumelo Mokone, Thulisile Nkutha and Sandile Tshabalala, top walkers were Jacky Shoma, Bongane Mavimbela and Sipho Maseko and the top runners were Lethabo Moropedi, Thabo ‘Pende’ Masina and Oscar Sixoka.
“I am happy with my performance as I entered the run to check the level of my fitness since on December 5 I will be going to participate in the 10km Hero’s Marathon in the Eastern Cape with Masina. We hope and believe that we will win as we will be representing the Kwatsaduza Athletics Club,” says Moropedi.
The leading walker, Shoma, says he was also happy with his performance.
“As the community we are touched by the continuous police killings, therefore it is imperative for us to work together with our police in combating the issue of crime and drugs. This will be an annual event hence we will need more people to support it. Thank you to the ward Cllr George Vilakazi and all who made this possible because we also want healthy minds and healthy bodies,” says chairperson of the ANC branch, Mathope Thobela.
The walk and run’s starting point was on a corner which is a gathering point for youngsters who use drugs, explains ward Cllr Vilakazi. He adds that they have therefore used this infamous corner as the starting point for the run and walk, so that they can show young people that there are other options for them instead of using drugs.
“In addition to the issues we have, there are children who are living with disabilities in the area, but their families keep them behind closed doors. We urge these parents with disabled children to let the children go out and be surrounded by other people within the community, especially when we have such events,” concludes Vilakazi.
