West Rand wins gold in rugby at Soncini Games

One of the highlights of the OR Tambo-Soncini Social Cohesion Games (ORTSSCG) was when the West Rand men’s rugby team emerged victorious.

The provincial games that were held at the UJ Soweto Campus last month were an initiative of the Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation.

“Gauteng provincial government has signed an agreement with the Italian State of Reggio Ramagna with intergovernmental programmes which will seek to create exposure, economic expansion and cultural exchange for both economies,” explained Ketlareng Mokgothu from the West Rand District Municipality.

But this agreement has now spread to sports programmes as well with ORTSSCG being the flagship programme. The games are first held at a local level. Athletes are then chosen to represent their region at the provincial games.

The aim is to unite people in the province, create access to sports through community games and mass participation, identify and select talent, increase the number of participants, clubs and sporting codes in the area, and train and develop sports leaders, sports administrators and facilitator, contribute to nation-building and create opportunities for athletes and sports officials to develop and represent the province at regional, national and international level.

Joburg, Ekhuruleni, West Rand, Sedibeng, Tshwane, School Sports and Italy all competed in the games. The gold winners were the West Rand men’s rugby team, the Joburg men’s football team, the Tshwane women’s netball team, the Italian women’s volleyball team, the Joburg men’s volleyball team as well as both the Joburg men and women’s basketball teams.

Ketlareng added that the games were well attended by the community locally and internationally.

Municipalities in the West Rand District are unable to budget for such games, therefore, the provincial government are funding the games.