Tshwane Events Centre will be a hype of activity when Team Gauteng competes with teams from other provinces to vie for the top National Indigenous Games position starting from 20- 24 September at the Tshwane Events Centre.
The province has been part of the Indigenous Games since their inception in 2003 and managed an average top 5 position over the years.
The games are an initiative of the department of Sport and Recreation South Africa’s mass participation programme to ‘Get the Nation to Play.’ The games are held annually as a build-up to Heritage Day celebrations on September 24 and will also be used to celebrate South Africa’s 20 years of freedom and democracy.
Commenting on the programme MEC Molebatsi Bopape welcomed the decision to have Gauteng hosting the national games. “We are privileged that the National Indigenous games are hosted in Gauteng the Home of Champions, a province with a rich heritage reflective of its diverse people”.
“For us as Gauteng the games are more than the desire to achieve the top spot but also about assisting South Africa to reclaim, restore and celebrate its heritage,” added Bopape.
The teams will arrive in the capitol at the Tshwane Events Centre on the 20th September for the opening ceremony by Minister Fikile Mbalula and Tshwane Mayor Kgosientso Ramokgopa.
The 100 member team has been hard at work preparing to participate in games including morabaraba, stick-fighting, dibeke, juskei, drie stokkies, among others.
Details of the event:
Teams’ street parade: 20 September 2014
Opening Ceremony: 20 September 2014
Games: 21-23 September 2014
Closing Ceremony: 24 September 2014
Venue: Tshwane Events Centre
This is how Team Gauteng, which took the 5th position, fared in last year’s tournament:
1. Dibeke - Silver
2. Ncuva - Silver
3. Khokho - Bronze
For media inquiries contact:
Nomazwe Ntlokwana
Cell: 083 507 8068
Tell: 011 355 2578
E-mail: nomazwen@gpg.gov.za
