Uniting against crime and promoting youth development, the Hankey Hub Festival brought together the Hankey Hub, the Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture (DSRAC), and the South African Police Services (SAPS) in Hankey for a memorable sports day on September 21, at Hankey Secondary School.
According to Xolani Mthana, Hankey Hub Co-ordinator, the Hub operates under the DSRAC’s recreation division, providing Hankey youth with diverse opportunities in sport, indigenous games, and leisure activities.
Promoting a passion for physical activity and teamwork, the trio recently organised the Hankey Hub Festival, featuring thrilling netball and soccer tournaments for u/19 teams, with five netball and eight soccer teams competing in exciting matches.
The Hankey Hub Festival’s netball tournament saw Hankey Town Netball Club emerge victorious, claiming first place, while Flying Birds Netball Club from Loerie secured second.
On the soccer front, Hankey Town Football Club took top honours, with B.Bafana Football Club finishing as runners-up.
To empower youth with knowledge and life skills, Hankey Hub welcomed Captain Gloria Melane and Sarah Baartman Municipality Executive Mayor, Deon de Vos, as guest speakers, focusing on crime prevention, violence reduction, and substance abuse awareness
To ensure inclusivity, Hankey Hub provided indigenous games and recreational activities for children not engaged in formal sports.
Mthana said that indigenous games are traditional recreational activities rooted in specific cultural groups or communities.
Hankey Hub offers Mraba-raba (board game), Gqaphu (referred to as Towtow in Afrikaans), Intonga (stick fighting), Puca, and Dibeke, preserving cultural heritage through play.
“It is important to include these games to keep the children busy. We try to accommodate all children, even those who are not involved in formal sporting activities. For this reason, we include indigenous games and other recreational activities,” said Mthana.
He further expressed gratitude to DSRAC, their primary sponsors, as well as Kouga Municipality, Sarah Baartman District Municipality, Hankey Secondary School, Kelston Cherry, Hankey SAPS, Hankey Community Policing Forum, Kouga Netball and Kouga Local Football Association.
He emphasised that the collective support from these organisations, players, and spectators was instrumental in making sure the event was a resounding success.
