UWC seminar on sport’s transformative powers and impact on national identity
CAPE TOWN: The University of the Western Cape (UWC) will host a public seminar examining how sport can contribute to social transformation and nation-building in South Africa.
The seminar, entitled “South African Sport and Nation”, will take place on Wednesday 22 April from 08:30 to 16:00 in the Faculty of Education.
Organised by the Jaap Durand Chair, in collaboration with the Department of Sport, Recreation and Exercise Science in the Faculty of Community and Health Sciences, the event will bring together academics, government officials, city administrators and sports professionals.
National identity
Prof Hein Willemse, Jaap Durand Chair professor, said the seminar recognises sport’s central role in shaping national identity while also reflecting the country’s historical inequalities.
“Our seminar will critically engage the enduring gap between elite performance sport and under-resourced community-level participation,” he said, “highlighting the unfinished project of transformation in both sport and society.”
The professor noted that elite sport in South Africa remains globally competitive, particularly in rugby, cricket, athletics and swimming, but is supported by narrow development pathways concentrated in historically privileged schools.
Meanwhile, community-level programmes continue to struggle with inadequate facilities, limited funding and fragmented governance.
Inclusive sporting history
Willemse said he is often struck by the incomplete and fragmented historiography of South African sport. “Hopefully our seminar will contribute to a more inclusive approach to writing about our sporting past. But we should also move beyond that.”
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The seminar will explore sport as a form of social intervention, with speakers examining how community-level participation promotes discipline, teamwork and improved physical and mental health while offering pathways to education and employment.
In vulnerable communities, sport can provide structured alternatives to crime and substance abuse, although such outcomes depend on sustained investment and effective organisation.
Women’s sport challenges
Discussions will also highlight the need to strengthen women’s sport, which continues to face disparities in funding, visibility and professional opportunities despite notable achievements by female athletes. The seminar aims to explore sports development trajectories since 1994, international sports milestones and requirements for sports excellence.
Aligned with the Jaap Durand Chair’s commitment to justice, participation and sustainability, the event invites scholars, practitioners, policymakers and the public to reflect on sport’s role in fostering a more equitable and cohesive society.
The seminar is open to the public.
Download the seminar programme here:
Contact Lloyd Chetty at drt-reltheo@uwc.ac.za for more information.
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