Mitchells Plain scores upgraded netball facility
09 March 2021
The City’s Recreation and Parks Department, in partnership with the Western Cape Provincial Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, recently completed an upgrade to the netball facility at the Stephen Reagan Sports Complex in Mitchells Plain. The upgraded facility was officially opened at a handover ceremony yesterday. The combined funding amounted to almost to R1,1 million.
The existing netball facility at the Stephen Reagan Sports Complex now boasts two new prefab change rooms and an additional ablution block to the netball section. The Western Cape Provincial Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS) contributed toward the building material at a cost of R779 000 and the City contributed towards the installation and management of the project, valued at approximately R310 000. Construction, which started in December 2020, took three months to complete.
The need for the upgrade was identified by local clubs in Westridge, Mitchells Plain, whose members use the courts frequently for practice and matches. They are looking forward to using the new facilities after having resumed netball, following the opening of recreational facilities under the adjusted national lockdown regulations.
The upgrade of key facilities are critical components of sports development. Providing sport facilities create an enabling environment for local, district, regional, provincial, national and even international sports events to take place with the aim of developing talent.
‘The new netball facility will add value to the sporting code and will allow for quality practice sessions and create opportunities for young talent to hone their skills and to further empower netball as a mainstream sport. New facilities and the maintenance and upgrade of existing netball facilities are important in our preparation for the 2023 Netball World Cup. These new facilities will also contribute towards a sense of community pride and it is therefore important that the community take co-ownership of it. I would like to thank all of the role players, especially provincial government for their funding and partnership in making this possible,' said the Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Zahid Badroodien.
The City's Recreation and Parks Department work closely with communities and organised sporting codes to ensure that facilities are maintained and where possible, upgraded. In this regard, there are various Municipal Facilities Management Committees throughout the metropole, where members of the community together with representatives from the City oversee the management of sport facilities.
Representatives from Western Cape Netball, including the Chairperson, Marsha Wagenaar, also attended the ceremony and agreed that the upgrade will be beneficial for the community. The netball federation is a key partner in ensuring that the legacy projects and preparation for the Netball World Cup reaches the hearts of our communities. Their theme for the year #PromoteCapeTownNetball emphasises its importance.
‘We wholeheartedly thank our valued stakeholders in WP Netball, Netball South Africa and various municipalities, including the City of Cape Town, for collaboratively assisting us in realising our mission to encourage excellence and inclusiveness in sport through the effective, efficient and sustainable use of our resources. Together, I look forward to promoting accessible participation in sport and recreational activities for all, while optimising on the legacy projects that the 2023 Netball World Cup will afford. In this way, netball can flourish in terms of safe mass participation, skills development and talent identification to perform at higher levels of excellence,’ said the Western Cape Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Anroux Marais.
The facility is geared to become an ideal location for international teams to play practice games in preparation for the Netball World Cup, which will be held in Cape Town in 2023.
The event was also attended by Nocawe Mafu, National Deputy Minister of Sports and Recreation, Arts and Culture, who gave the keynote address.
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Published by:
City of Cape Town, Media Office
