POLOKWANE – It was a case of déjà vu for Limpopo secondary school athletes last week when they were nearly left stranded in the city while on their way to participate in the national championship at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg.
This fiasco was similar to that which occurred two weeks ago involving Limpopo primary school athletes, which Review reported on in its March 26 – April 1 edition.
Seemingly the first fiasco meant nothing to the department of education, as it was allowed to repeat itself.
The secondary school athletes were supposed to leave the city at 07:00 last Wednesday on buses to be arranged by the department, but no buses or accommodation had been arranged – yet again.
Kelsy-Ann Mostert, one of the athletes who waited for the bus, told Review that the buses were hours late. Two buses eventually arrived; one departed at 10:00 and the other an hour later. The athletes were told en route that they would be going straight to the stadium as no accommodation had been secured yet.
“The organising of the trip was very poor. We were really stressed, as we did not know what would happen and what not, and it was as if nobody knew anything about what was going to happen. The team managers were very nice, though,” Kelsey-Ann said.
“In the end the parents and participants were told at the stadium that there were no athletics attire or tracksuits available and we were to wear old clothes from previous years. Only a few of the participants walked in the parade, as the others did not have the right clothes. Only at the stadium were we told that accommodation had eventually been secured, and it was some 60km away from the stadium. We had to get up at 05:00 in the morning and eat breakfast. At 06:00 we were on our way to the stadium,” she said.
The participants received lunch boxes at the stadium, and ate dinner at the lodge where they were accommodated after 20:00 or 21:00 when they returned from the stadium.
“We were very tired, and two athletes from my school who usually do very well, did not do so well as they said they were tired from the travelling and late nights,” she said.
Kelsy-Ann won a gold medal for the girls u/19 javelin, despite all the challenges.
The team, despite the challenges, received one gold, two silver and nine bronze medals. The participants with special educational needs whose event was held at the same time, received four gold, eight silver and eight bronze medals. “Considering the circumstances, a wonderful feat,” Peter Maluleke, secretary of Limpopo Schools Athletics (Limsa), said.
He said Limsa was highly disappointed with the department of education, as they already had the necessary documents in February. “We could have fundraised to assist the athletes if we knew,” he said. “In terms of next year’s events we must think ahead and ensure things are arranged on time.”
He said he could not speak on behalf of the department of education, but the department’s spokesperson Paena Galane told Review, who requested an interview with the acting head of department (HOD), Martin Mashaba or the acting MEC, Jerry Ndou, that the request was declined.
“The MEC said he wanted an intervention strategy from the HOD to take the school sports unit out of the ‘intensive care unit’. He said the current people cannot plan and are incapable of organising and the department was not moving anywhere.”
