Metro ends wheelchair tennis sponsorship
Clr Mary Goby, Ward 28 councillor, has expressed her “total disgust” at the non-support by the metro for disabled sports in the region.
This follows the recent financial sponsorship termination by the metro for the Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) Gauteng Open.
The wheelchair tennis tournament takes place annually at the Gauteng East Tennis Complex, in Lakefield, ahead of the Acsa South African Open, which takes place at Ellis Park the following week.
In an email addressed to Karen Losch, manager of Wheelchair Tennis South Africa, Atwell Sijadu, divisional head of the metro’s sport and recreation department, stated that the division had amended its focus and strategic direction with regard to sport and recreation provision.
“This change will result in support being prioritised for sport and recreational projects and programmes that promote mass participation,” the correspondence reads.
“The above change resulted in a substantial decrease in our annual budget allocation for events.
“The effect is that we will not be able to support most of the events in which we were involved during the previous years.
“The City of Ekurhuleni will, therefore, not be able to give any financial support for the Gauteng Open during the 2015/16 financial year.”
“In all the years that this tournament has taken place in Benoni, not once did the mayor, MMC or any official from sports and recreation bother to attend and support the event which they were sponsoring,” said Goby.
“Less money should be spent on other events and they should really have another look at this.
“This is the only disabled sport that the metro used to support and now they don’t, but they are prepared to spend thousands on a golf tournament.
“What about uplifting the disabled? Is that not allowed?”
According to Losch, Wheelchair Tennis South Africa is obviously disappointed that the metro has decided to no longer support the tournament.
“As a smaller sports federation, the withdrawal of a sponsor does impact the quality of the tournament and the support provided,” she said.
She confirmed that they will continue to hold the tournament in Benoni, as the venue is well suited to an event of this nature and the players are all really satisfied with the facilities.
“Fortunately, our naming sponsor, Acsa, still firmly backs the tournament,” she added.
The tournament is scheduled to be held in Benoni from March 30 to April 3.
Further comment on the matter has been requested from the metro.
