Among the most painful legacies of apartheid is the chronic shortage of safe places for our children to play.
The apartheid government called the townships they built for people of colour “dormitory suburbs”. Dormitories are places people return to, to sleep – not to lead full lives.
In George, a Ward 6 community activist – Benmer Madumane – grew increasingly worried under lockdown that children were missing school and – just as importantly – their usual extra-curricular activities.
If they got out of the habit of playing sports, they ran the risk of getting dragged into gateway alcohol and drug abuse. Together with fellow activists, Jessica Swartz and Rubin Sauls, Benmer created a new sports initiative to occupy children while teaching them a set of positive values.
They have recruited close to a hundred kids and teenagers despite a chronic shortage of resources. Netball and soccer balls, and kits, are among the items needed to keep the program up and running.
Jessica Swartz is thinking big. She’d like to gift the girls under her wing a netball court. They presently borrow netball poles from neighbouring schools and draw lines in the sand to create their courts. She has thus far run the program out of her pocket.
A Heritage Day sports event was recently held with the assistance of community leaders and charitable businesses. GOOD Secretary-General – Brett Herron – was among the spectators:
“It was quite remarkable. Despite zero support from the George Municipality, they created a buzzing event. Municipalities should realise that we build strong and sustainable communities by supporting community initiatives such as this.”
A similar event is being planned for the end of November.
If you can help, please contact Benmer (074 993 9736) or Jessica (071 523 7812).
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