As we draw closer to Africa’s first ever Netball World Cup, the City of Cape Town is unveiling more of its Netball legacy murals. This morning, Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis along with Alderman JP Smith and Councillor Patricia van der Ross were joined by the Netball fraternity to reveal the latest in the series of artworks. 

The fourth mural in the legacy project is situated at the Proteaville Recreation Centre in Bellville South.

Adorned with the colours of the Netball World Cup 2023, the artwork is reflective of Africa’s golden sunrises, Cape Town and the South African Netball team the Proteas.

It is the work of local artists Riedwaan Marcus and Ethan Hendricks who followed the themes of “Netball”, “Women Sport” “Cape Town”, “Africa”, “healthy life style”, “women empowerment” and “hope” in conceptualising the 4m x 13m painting.  

‘Bellville South is known as the home of Netball in Cape Town and this facility plays a crucial part in that status with indoor and outdoor amenities. It is only fitting that the Proteaville Recreation Centre forms part of the legacy of this historic Netball World Cup by getting its own mural. We want the impact of this world cup to be felt beyond 2023 to grow the status of Netball as a national sport. As part of our commitment to this, the City has allocated approximately R2 million for the upgrades of Netball facilities for the current 2022/23 financial year,’ said Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis.

The murals project is a joint undertaking between the City’s Events, Recreation & Parks and Arts & Culture departments with 12 planned Netball World Cup murals ahead of the event in July next year.

Three murals were previously unveiled in Langa, Khayelitsha and Strand.

‘As we get even closer to the Netball World Cup, it is important that we get communities involved in this momentous event. These murals are the City’s commitment to ensuring residents who play or follow Netball have a stake in this World Cup by seeing it represented in their communities.  It is also an opportunity to raise awareness about the world cup and ensure as many of our residents get the chance to watch the event in person,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security Alderman JP Smith

Proteaville Recreation Centre is also home to the Recreation and Parks Department’s Afterschool programme focused on the development of player skills, rules of play and teamwork as well as mentorships for coaches.

The pilot project is also available at 12 City facilities including:

·       Rebecca van Amsterdam Recreation Centre/Westfleur SG, Atlantis

·       Scottsdene Recreation Centre & SG, Kraaifontein

·       Du Noon Recreation Centre

·       Sarepta Recreation Centre, Kuilsriver

·       Nomzamo Recreation Centre, Strand

·       Khayelisha CBD Centre, Khayelitsha

·       Ravensmead Recreation Centre

·       Gugulethu Indoor Centre

·       Portlands Indoor Centre, Mitchells Plain

·       Lotus River Recreation Centre

·       Ottery Centre / Coniston Park

‘While the programme provides participants with physical activity and a healthy lifestyle associated with Netball, it also aimed to facilitate a sense of ownership of community facilities and building community relations. With a focus on legacy linked to the Netball World Cup, this programmes becomes integral in ensuring residents safeguard facilities such as Proteaville Recreation Centre and others in order for future generations to benefit from similar initiatives,’ said the Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Councillor Patricia Van der Ross.

As part of the day’s activities, four schools who benefit from the use of the facility played a friendly match with the new mural as their backdrop.  

Source: City Of Cape Town