The MEC for Arts, Culture, Sport and Recreation, Ms Ntombikayise Sibhidla-Saphetha has expressed satisfaction with the way that the South African Local Government Association-KwaZulu-Natal (SALGA-KZN) Games for 2011 turned out.
Her message was conveyed on her behalf by the MEC for Health in the province, Dr S’bongiseni Dhlomo, at the closing ceremony for the Games at the Durban Exhibition centre on Monday night.
The Sports MEC was particularly impressed by the fact that athletes from the districts that are considered to be mostly rural, like Zululand, were now seen competing in sporting codes such as swimming.
The Project Manager for the SALGA-KZN Games 2011, Mr Vusi Mazibuko, also remarked about the good organisation of the games from local to district level. He said that such good organisation was a clear testimonial to the good work that the Department of Sport and Recreation was doing at ward to district levels.
The remote districts also showed much improvement in the various codes in which they participated.
Over the years as one of the major stakeholders in the Games, the Department of Sport and Recreation has always lent financial and human resources support. The financial support has been R3.2 million this year to ensure the success of the Games. The bulk of the funds went to the team selection process at district level.
The Ethekwini Municipality continued their dominance of the Games by keeping their “traditional” number one spot. The Metro won 11 gold out of a total of 15.
Last year’s hosts, Uthungulu, came second Umgungundlovu, who were not even in the top five last year, came in a strong third.
The other results were as follows: Ilembe fourth, Amajuba fifth, Umzinyathi sixth, Uthukela seventh, Sisonke eighth, Umkhanyakude ninth, Ugu tenth and Zululand eleventh.
