From left Abram Maripane (Gauteng Deaf Sport); Kruben Pillay (Gauteng Karate president); Elize Durand (Gauteng Ringball Federation); Barry Hendricks (Central GP Squash); Selina Metsing (District Sports Councils); Mandla Ngidi (SA Sports Association for the Intellectually Impaired); Sheila Lehlabe (Tshwane Sports Council and Women’s Football); Shanks Naidoo (Gauteng Chess) and Lorato Ncholo (West Rand Sports Council).
Gauteng sport federations gave a near unanimous endorsement to the Gauteng Sports Confederation when they retained most of the current executive committee members to drive sport development in the province for another four years.
Barry Hendricks from Central Gauteng Squash was re-elected president while Elize Durand from the Gauteng Ringball Federation and Selinah Metsing from Central Gauteng Athletics were re-elected to first and second deputy president respectively at the organisation’s Quadrennial General Meeting on Saturday, 17 September 2016.
The rest of the nine member committee includes Abram Maripane (Gauteng Deaf Sport Federation); Kruben Pillay (Gauteng Karate); Mandla Ngidi (SA Sports Association for the Intellectually Impaired); Sheila Lehlabe (Tshwane Sports Council); Shanks Naidoo (Gauteng Chess) and Lorato Ncholo (West Rand Sports Council).
Since 2010 The Gauteng Sports Confederation (previously Gauteng Sports Council) has served provincial, district and local sports development in line with the National Sports and Recreation Plan. The Confederation facilitates sports development and participation from grass roots to provincial sport in schools, clubs, leagues and federations across its district constituencies which include Sedibeng, Johannesburg, West Rand, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane.
GSC President Barry Hendricks said the organisation achieved much in the past four years and now included more than 40 provincial federations and sporting bodies.
“Over the past four year we have developed the GSC into a vital role player in sports development in Gauteng. We have made much progress in addressing the needs of sport in the province and there remains much to be done. Going forward one of our core focus area is to increase participation in sport, most critically among the previously disadvantaged communities where we are finding participation levels very low.”
More than 60 representatives from various sporting federations, including lesser known codes such as Gauteng Deaf Sports; SASI and Gauteng Cue Sports Association among others, participated in the elective process.
Gauteng Department of Sport and Recreation Chief Director Ivor Hoff addressed delegates indicating his department’s satisfaction and appreciation for the work of the GSC and noting that it was vital that the two departments continued to work hand in hand to harness the powerful role sport can play in communities.
“MEC Faith Mazibuko is record as saying that the work of the GSC has been exemplary and more so vital in supporting the department of sport to achieve its objects. Now that you have selected your leadership team it is time to knuckle down and boost socio-economic development through sport. Together we can achieve much in our province,” he said.
The new EXCO will meet for the first time in the coming weeks.
