Teachers applaud new School Sport Strategy in Western Cape

The Western Cape Government officially launched the Western Cape School Sport Strategy on Wednesday, marking a major milestone in promoting sport, safety, and youth development across the province.

The strategy is supported by a R130 million allocation over three years and is set to roll out from April this year.

The launch event at the Lavender Hill Shared Facility is said to have had a dual purpose: to formally unveil the province’s school sport strategy, and to celebrate the achievements of Western Cape athletes who excelled at overseas and national championships.

Teacher at Paulus Joubert Primary, Sylvia Matthee, said that she is excited about the development because it will help support mothers and families in the community who usually cannot afford to do so for their children. 

“Learners who struggle to perform in class are sometimes brilliant in sport, and that helps them build their confidence and boost their self-esteem. It can improve their skills and benefit their progress in class,” she said. 

Matthee agreed that sports can also help young people stay away from wrongdoing and avoid bullying among learners by encouraging healthy play.

She added that several teachers from different schools who have primary school learners will benefit from the investment, as many of them have discussed the need to keep children “active and not passive”.

“This way, learners will not park the whole day in front of the TV or play PlayStation games for the whole day,” she said.

Matthee continued: “I hope that there will also be non-competitive and playful sports invested in for younger children like the Grade Rs and the rest of the foundation phase, with different kinds of balls and apparatus to help develop their hand and eye coordination.” 

She is looking forward to observing the progress at different levels over time.

Speaking at the event, Provincial Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Ricardo Mackenzie, highlighted the importance of sport as more than just competition.

“School sport is not an event, it is a pathway. This strategy ensures that talent, regardless of where a learner comes from, is identified, supported, and given room to grow. When we remove barriers, we open doors for young people to reach their full potential,” he said.

Provincial Minister of Education David Maynier emphasised that the initiative goes beyond sport.

“Sport plays a critical role in building confident, resilient learners who are more engaged in school and in their communities. But for children in under-resourced schools, keeping them safe and off the streets is even more important. This strategy is about nurturing children and creating environments where they can succeed,” he said.

The launch particularly focused on reaching schools in under-resourced communities.

Ross Michaels, media liaison to the Provincial Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sports, said: “The rollout will be seen in the next few months from April this year. The goal is to ensure that every child has access to structured sporting opportunities, which play a key role in social cohesion and child safety.”

The event was attended by National Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube, community leaders, and private sector partners.

Minister Gwarube praised the province’s initiative: “I want to commend Provincial Minister Mackenzie and the Western Cape Government for demonstrating bold leadership through this investment. By committing significant resources to school sport infrastructure, coaching, equipment, leagues, and learner participation programmes, the province is setting a standard that shows what is possible when we prioritise the full development of our learners.”

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