Recreation Whitey Jacobs at the Women's Boxing Tournament the Launch of Women's
Month, Langa Sport Centre
27 July 2007
I stand here to encourage women and girls in particular to be active in
sport and lead healthier lifestyles. We are gathered here to witness the boxing
skills of women firsthand as part of the launch of Women's Month.
This boxing tournament has been organised by the Department to showcase how
skilful women can be in traditional menâs codes like boxing. This has been done
deliberately to strategically encourage them to do boxing and empower
themselves with some defensive tactics.
The Department in consultation with Women's Sport Forum identified boxing as
one of the codes where the participation of women was very poor and resolved to
adopt programmes aimed as improving this scenario.
I stand here happy that our women and girls' programme especially in boxing
has improved. Our interactions and interventions at the level of the Western
Cape Boxing Federation have brought about a promising picture and boxing for
women is set to improve for the better in the province.
To this end the Western Cape has at least 14 semi professional and
professional boxers, two of whom are national champions. I am talking of
Dorothy Cloete, a Featherweight champion, and Andiswa Madikane, a Lightweight
champ and I think all the people of the Western Cape and the boxing community
in particular must play their part to ensure these ladies stay on top.
From the point of view of transformation the Department will still continue
its capacity building programmes, empowering women so that we could have
technical officials and women in the high echelons of boxing.
As we launch the Women's march, we must use this platform to encourage women
to take a keen in interest in codes that are traditionally regarded as men's
codes so that they can contribute to the transformation of sport and be
physically fit and healthier.
It is also very important for women to be able to defend themselves against
the heartless criminals and we view codes like boxing, karate and judo as key
codes to impart necessary defensive techniques.
Our month long programme of celebrations will include the following:
* 9 August - Women's Golf Day at Oudtshoorn
* 9 August - Dinner for girls and women - Stellenbosch
* 9 August - Netball, football and indigenous games for women - Clan
Willaim
* 12 August â South Western Districts athletics and sports day for women -
Oudtshoorn
* 25 - 27 August - Provincial Netball Tournament to highlight the plight of
domestic violence against women - Cape Town
* 15 - 17 August - Skills training on craft and exhibition - Bredasdorp
* 17 - 18, 23 - 24 August - Women's Craft Development workshop -
Oudtshoorn
* 25 - 26 August - Women's empowerment Programme - Citrusdal
The Department wants also to use this opportunity to educate learners and
women about dangers associated with contact sport like boxing and HIV/AIDS.
Yes, we agree people should not be bombarded with information and education
on HIV/AIDS but this killer disease is taking its toll especially amongst the
youth and we must talk about it every time we get a platform.
Let me take this opportunity to thank the schools that have agreed to come
and participate in this event especially being invited almost at the last hour.
We value your participation very highly and we hope our objectives will not be
in vain.
The learners today face a particularly difficult situation; just four days
ago here at Langa, five youths have been killed execution style. Sport is a
vehicle that will not only keep you away from trouble but has enormous
benefits.
Please do enjoy the exhibition of boxing by women and girls and all the
activities and remember that you too can be as good as the women you are about
to see if you have a commitment and dedication.
I thank you.
Please direct all media enquries to Mandla Yeki
Cell: 082 5533477.
Issued by: Ministry for Cultural Affairs, Sport and Recreation, Western Cape
Provincial Government
27 July 2006
