Nearly 50 schools from disadvantaged communities in the Soutpansberg North Circuit received sporting equipment from Limpopo’s MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture, Ms Dipuo Letsatsi Duba, at an event that was held at Musina High School on Monday.

The much-needed equipment includes megaphones, relay batons, starting pistols, javelins, netball balls and whistles. The event is part of the department’s provincial sport and recreation programme, which aims to distribute sporting equipment to 250 schools and 62 sport hubs in Limpopo. The total provincial project value is R2,9 million.

When she handed over the equipment, the MEC said the handing over came at just the right time, when the Olympic Games were progressing in London. She said the objectives of the programme were to instil value in schools through participation in sports, increase learners' physical, emotional and intellectual potential, promote mass participation in schools for better health and an active lifestyle and to revive the culture of learning in schools.

She added that it was sad that most rural children did not have entertainment activities after school. “This equipment will help to take the children off the streets and bring them to the sporting fields. This will also help to prevent our children from taking part in substance abuse and criminal activities. It will also be easier for teachers to identify talent as most of the successful sporting talents are unveiled at school.”

Duba acknowledged that there are serious challenges in relation to sporting infrastructure in the province. “We do not have enough stadiums and indoor sporting facilities where our children can display their talents with ease. Despite all this, we are happy that the province continues to produce professional sports personalities who put us on the world map. We have no doubt that this equipment has landed in good hands and it is the duty of the teachers and the learners to make sure that they are kept safely at all times.”

One of the recipients, Mr Edward Mafune, the principal of Maroi Combined School, expressed his joy on behalf of his school. “Taking into consideration that our school is located on farms where there are no entertaining activities, these gifts will play a vital role in keeping our learners busy after school.”