The Swartland Municipality recently held its first-ever Sport Summit as a way of bringing different sporting codes together.
Held on Saturday 4 March, it fulfilled a goal set by Executive Mayor of Swartland Alderman Harold Cleophas in his inauguration address in November 2021.
The purpose of the summit was to call all sports stakeholders of the Swartland together to begin discussions about establishing a united sports body to act in the interests of all sporting codes and to represent sport in general in the region.
Said Cleophas: “What we are trying to accomplish with this summit is to create a united voice, a united body to act in the interests of all sport, of all participants and to further the interest of our clubs and residents. Also, to grow the active participation in sport and give a fair and equal footing to all represented sporting codes regardless of how mainstream or small they are.”
Dr Lyndon Boah, Chief Director of Sport and Recreation in the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS), gave an overview of the roles and responsibilities of local governments and independent sports bodies in the development and establishment of sports in a community. Gerald Don, President of the West Coast District Sport Council, gave inputs on what is expected of the various sporting codes.
Speaker Alderman Randall Swarts of Bergrivier Municipality shared best practices in establishing sport forums and sport councils, and forming the Bergrivier Sport and Recreation Association.
The various sporting codes had the opportunity to break into discussion groups, to do swot analyses led by DCAS West Coast facilitators and give feedback and inputs on what their expectations were for the creation of a united sports council to represent the entire Swartland sporting fraternity.
The next step will be to establish sport forums in all the Swartland towns, representing all sporting codes, and then electing representatives to the Swartland Sport and Recreation Council.
“The hard work begins now,” Cleophas said at the conclusion of the summit. “To establish and elect representatives for Swartland Sport and Recreation Council, to find money and make a budget available. These will be the next steps, so when we start the new financial year on 1 July 2023 we will have a united voice for sport in the Swartland. We know this process will be challenging, but I am confident the sporting fraternity is committed to a united approach to sport and sport development that will benefit the entire community. I am excited about what lies ahead, and as the Swartland Municipality we are committed to sport and the opportunities it will bring to all our residents.”
