To mark one year before the opening ceremony of the 2023 Netball World Cup, Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis and Alderman JP Smith were joined by representatives of the Netball World Cup LOC, Netball South Africa, Western Cape Government and the local netball community to unveil the first in a series of legacy murals for Africa’s first ever Netball World Cup. 

The 33 metres by 9 metres mural at the Langa Indoor Sports Centre is the first of several paintings that the City of Cape Town is planning to commission over the next 12 months.

The artwork was painted by local artist Skumbuzo Salman who was supported by emerging artist Ayabonga Ntshongwana.

It follows the theme of “Netball”, “Women Sport” “Cape Town”, “Africa”, “healthy lifestyle”, “women empowerment” and “hope”.

The artwork is visible from the N2 highway.

‘We are excited that we are moving closer to the start of this prestigious event, with just one year to go. Much preparation has gone into planning for the Netball World Cup since Cape Town was announced as the host city in July 2019 – and we are ready to put on a world-class sporting display. We are very proud to host this competition and hopefully see the South African national netball team become world champions on home soil,’ said Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis.

At the mural unveiling, the City also hosted an exhibition match between a City of Cape Town team and a Langa team.

The City will be rolling out several netball activities leading up to the Netball World Cup to raise awareness about the event.

This includes unveiling several murals in areas across the city in partnership with emerging artists from those communities.

The City’s Recreation and Parks Department has also spent over R6 million in the last financial year to upgrade netball facilities in Scottsdene, Ravensmead, Delft, Gugulethu, Sir Lowry’s Pass, Strandfontein, Sarepta and Mitchells Plain.

For the current financial year, the department has set aside approximately R2m for netball facility upgrades.

In addition, the department is partnering with the Cape Town Netball Federation to roll out an afterschool programme focused on developing player skills, rules of play and teamwork as well as mentorships for coaches. 

The programme is open to girls between 10 – 16 years old.

The pilot project will be launched 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
• Proteaville Recreation Centre, Bellville South
• Gugulethu Indoor Centre
• Portlands Indoor Centre, Mitchells Plain
• Lotus River Recreation Centre
• Ottery Centre / Coniston Park

Those interested in joining the programme can sign up at these facilities.

‘When we travelled to Singapore in 2018 to present South Africa’s bid, not only did we have a vision to host Africa’s first ever Netball World Cup but we wanted the benefits to filter down to the young aspiring netball players to have the opportunities to succeed in this sport. We believe that the programmes we are launching over the next year are just a start of the legacy projects that will benefit and elevate the status of netball as a national sport,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security JP Smith (Netball World Cup board member).  

The City is also partnering with SPAR Proteas player Phumza Maweni for the inaugural Phumza Maweni Foundation Netball Tournament scheduled to take place on 14 August 2022 at the OR Tambo Indoor Centre in Khayelitsha.

The foundation, supported by Sporting Chance, aims to select the best players from the various teams participating in the tournament to establish the foundation’s team, where advanced training and development will be given to the players.

Maweni, from Khayelitsha, currently plays in the Netball Super League in the United Kingdom.

This City plans to unveil a second 2023 Netball World Cup mural during the foundation’s tournament. 

Source: City Of Cape Town