The City’s Sport and Recreation Department will be celebrating women in particular during August. A variety of events will be held throughout the month, particularly on Women’s Day, Tuesday, 9 August. These events include walks, aquatic sports, netball and softball, and offer residents the opportunity to participate in some of them, and support the athletes in others.

“These events serve as an opportunity for men, women, boys and girls, to celebrate and acknowledge Women’s Day in a fun and healthy way. Whilst I want to encourage women to participate, I also want to encourage men and boys to join the walk to express solidarity with women and girls on this public holiday dedicated to highlighting their contribution to our country and communities, and their struggle for equality,” commented Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services, Cllr Tandeka Gqada.

Only 11% of girls in South Africa play sport. This low percentage is the result of a number of social, cultural and political factors and reflects the attitudes that hold back gender equality and empowerment of girls and women. These scheduled events will illustrate that girls and women can empower themselves through sport.

Strand Beach Walk
A 5km beach walk that will start and end at the Strand Lifesaving Club in Beach Road. Entry is free, but a maximum of 500 participants will be allowed to enter.

• Date: Tuesday, 09 August
  
• Time: Participants will set-off at 10:00 and the cut-off time is 14:00. Entries and registration will be open until 09:30 on 09 August.
  
• Venue: Strand Lifesaving Club, Beach Road
  
• Contact: Ne-Ray Lubbe
  021 856 8040
  072 328 5934
  
  

Day of Aquatics for Women
Western Province Aquatics in partnership with Swim South Africa, the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, and the City of Cape Town will be hosting a Day of Aquatics for Women. The programme will include learning to swim and aqua aerobics classes.

• Date: Tuesday, 09 August
  
• Time: 09:00 to 13:00
  
• Venue: Blue Downs Swimming Pool
  
• Contact: Glen Goldman
  021 900 9904
  076 591 3832
  
  

Women’s Netball Tournament
The City’s Sport and Recreation Department in partnership with the District Sport Council will be hosting a Senior Netball Tournament. Teams from Factreton, Langa, Joe Slovo, Du Noon, Atlantis and Mamre will compete against each other.

• Date: Tuesday, 09 August
  
• Time: 10:00 to 16:00
  
• Venue: Robinvale Sports Field, Atlantis
  
• Contact: Lisle Lombard
  021 550 1220/1266/1163
  082 876 1714
  
  

Women’s 5km fun walk
A 5km fun walk depicting some of the stages that women experience in their lives. The themes for the various stages include a teenager going to school, a maturing woman, a woman getting married and the role that women play in society. The event is open for all girls and women.

• Date: Tuesday, 09 August
  
• Time: 08:00 to 12:00
  
• Venue: Khayelitsha Multi-purpose Centre to Mitchells Plain Family and Youth Centre, Tafelsig
  
• Contact: Sibongile Mlotywa
  021 370 3663
  072 851 7840
  
  

SA SPAR National Senior Women’s Netball Championships
This is an annual netball project of Netball South Africa. This year the hosting of the event has been allocated to the Western Province Netball Union (WPNU). WPNU last hosted this event over a decade ago in 2000.

The Senior Netball teams from 30 regions will take part – female and male. A total of 800 participants are expected.

• Date: 08 to 13 August 2011
  
• Time: 08:00 to 17:00
  
• Venue: Bellville Velodrome
  
• Contact: Nuhraan Davids
  021 400 3548
  084 478 4818
  
  

Junior World Women’s Softball Championships Launch
The City’s Sport and Recreation Department in partnership with Western Province Softball and Softball South Africa will be hosting the Junior World Women’s Softball Championships in December 2011. The official launch of this event will take place on Monday 08 August 2011.

• Date: Monday 08 August
  
• Time: 18:30 to 22:00
  
• Venue: Belthorn Hall, Turfhall
  
• Contact: Noore Nacerodien
  021 400 3373
  076 566 7774