At least thirty rural communities across the country will be part of the Cricket World Cup euphoria as they join millions of South Africans to watch the Cricket World Cup, which starts on 19 February 2011, following the establishment of Village Viewing Areas (VVAs) by the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform Department in rural areas as part of the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme.
The department has established these VVAs in Mokgalwaneng (North West), Muyexe (Limpopo), and Devon (Gauteng), Msinga Top at Holwane Hall (KwaZulu-Natal), Dysselsdorp (Western Cape), Diyatalawa (Free State) and Rietbron (Eastern Cape).
The establishment of the VVAs to enable people in rural areas to be part of the historic FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup proved very popular amongst rural communities, most of whom would have otherwise missed the opportunity to see and experience the FIFA 2010 Soccer World Cup.This has prompted the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform to activate 32 VVAs with big screens and DSTV for the Cricket World Cup extravaganza.
The establishment of VVAs in rural areas forms an important part of the Department’s rural development infrastructure development plan, which is aimed at improving socio-economic development and growth in rural areas. The department leverages, amongst others, economic, social, ICT and public amenities and infrastructure development as drivers or catalysts for this socio-economic development and growth in rural areas, with the ultimate goal of having vibrant, equitable and sustainable rural communities.
The equipment for the VVAs, donated to the communities after the soccer world cup, is part of government’s effort to address lack of resources in rural communities.
The department wants to see the continued use of the VVAs as recreational facilities and the Cricket World Cup will also ensure the optimum use of these facilities.
The final or the Cricket World Cup is on the 2 April in Mumbai, India, and for more than a month people in rural areas are expected to stay glued to the big screens watching the Proteas. For many it will be the first time they see star players like Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Hashim Amla and Graeme Smith, not to mention legendary players like Sachin Tendulkar. The event will surely help to market cricket to a larger audience in the remotest of areas in the country.
Enquiries:
Mr Eddie Mohoebi (Head of Communications)
Tel: 012 312 9648
E-mail: 082 550 1445
