City's gaming tournament brings much joy to young gamers

18 June 2026

The City of Cape Town’s Smart Cape team hosted its first youth gaming tournament at various community libraries on Monday, 15 June 2026, to provide a fun and exciting experience for learners between the ages of 8 and 15 ahead of Youth Day. The City’s LAN Games tournament was hosted concurrently at the Fisantekraal, Hanover Park, Harare, Kuyasa, Kraaifontein and Mamre libraries.

‘I enjoyed seeing how the young participants excitedly took part in the LAN Games tournament at Fisantekraal Library. They surely showcased their gaming talent in this very competitive tournament. Our Smart Cape team provided the consoles and internet connection so they could enjoy themselves in a safe and supervised environment. Hosting events like this gaming tournament extends beyond entertainment, it assists the City in bridging the digital divide by introducing youth to technology in an accessible environment where young people can relax and engage with technology,’ said the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Corporate Services, Alderman Theresa Uys.

The City’s Smart Cape programme is focused on expanding digital access and enabling opportunities within communities. Gaming is one of the Smart Cape service offerings aimed at the youth, this pilot tournament therefore marks the beginning of a broader rollout of gaming activities aimed at engaging young people in safe, community-based digital environments.

The City believes that exposure to gaming and digital platforms can spark interest in broader technology fields and so this tournament is but the first in a series of planned gaming events. The Smart Cape team intends to expand the programme to additional communities in future.

The competition winners won exciting prizes, which included a Poly Voyager Focus2 Wireless Bluetooth Headset. The young participants had an opportunity to engage in a positive competitive environment and were treated to healthy snacks during the course of the day.

Caption 1: Pictured here is Alderman Theresa Uys and some of the young participants in the gaming tournament at Fisantekraal library.

Caption 2: Zanele Matshotyana, Smart Cape Project Coordinator with some of the young participants in the gaming tournament at Fisantekraal library.

End

Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office