Deputy Minister Mmapaseka Letsike has called for wider access to sport, saying children should be free to play the games they love. She spoke at a men’s netball tournament on Thursday, according to SAnews.
Letsike is the Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities. She said no child should be made to feel that they do not belong in a game.
“So here I am, a woman called Steve because she played football, addressing men who play netball. The irony is delightful,” Letsike said.
She told the players that she loved football as a girl. She said she helped start the first girls’ football team at her high school. The name “Steve” has stayed with her since those days.
Letsike said exclusion often starts with everyday attitudes, such as jokes and unkind comments. She said these can stop children from taking part.
“We may call it harmless teasing, but a child can carry those words for years. The cost is not only wounded confidence; it is talent our country never gets to discover,” she said.
She said the men on the court were helping to open the way for boys who love netball. She said women had done the same for girls who love football.
Letsike said the government must turn the promises of dignity, freedom and equality in the Constitution into real chances for people. She said this needs facilities people can reach and sport in their own communities.
“Can a child in a township find a safe court and a coach? Can a young person in a rural community afford to travel to a tournament? Can an athlete with a disability participate on equal terms?” she asked.
She said that during Disability Rights Awareness Month, inclusion must be seen as a public duty and not a favour.
Letsike also said the growth of men’s netball must come with more money spent on women’s sport. “Equality is not achieved by moving exclusion from one group to another,” she said.
With International Men’s Day coming up, she asked men to take the values of sport into their communities. The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide also lie ahead.
“Real strength is not control over another person. It is the confidence to respect difference, the discipline to reject violence, and the courage to stand against prejudice,” she said.
Letsike called on Netball South Africa, municipalities, schools, sports bodies and sponsors to help. She asked them to support facilities, community leagues, trained coaches and paths for young players to grow.
“Let us measure success not only in trophies, but in the young people who are able to enter the game because we acted together,” she said.
The tournament drew players from across Southern Africa. Letsike said sport can build friendship across borders, and she urged the athletes to play hard and respect their opponents.
Source: this article is based on reporting by SAnews.gov.za. Image: GCIS via SAnews.gov.za. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Sports desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Tiyani Mathebula writes about sport for Tzaneen Voice. Tiyani covers Bafana Bafana, the Springboks, the Proteas and the PSL, along with athletics, tennis and local club sport. Match reports and previews focus on results, team news, fixtures and what each game means for South African teams and fans.