The power of sports to bring people together in the Cape Flats

Originally published on 27 August 2024

South Africa has communities with many different cultures and beliefs. An exciting sports project brought people together, closing cultural and social gaps. The Cape Flats recently saw this power through a sports event that united the community.

What was the problem?

The Cape Flats is an area with many social and financial problems. The community often struggled with divisions and a lack of unity. These issues showed the need for projects that could bring people together and help them understand each other better.

How did they solve it?

The WPDI Peace Through Sports programme, supported by NBA Africa, organised a sports event in May at a newly fixed-up basketball court in the Cape Flats. This event helped with unity, bringing players and fans from across the community. The programme focused on values like teamwork, fair play, and respect, using basketball to teach these important life skills.

So how did they do it?

• The event had basketball games and activities that showed the importance of playing with respect and working together.
• NBA Africa's involvement helped spread the programme's main values, using basketball, which appeals to everyone.
• Participants, like Amos Tyiki, were thankful for the training they received and hoped to become world-class athletes.
• Fans helped make the event a success, and their excitement showed the collective spirit sports can inspire.

The Peace Through Sports programme was a sign of hope, showing how sports could bring positive change and promote peace and togetherness. It reminded us that sports are not just about competition but also about helping with mutual respect and building community spirit.

Acknowledgements:

Original article written by: The Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative (WPDI)

Photograph supplied by: The Whitaker Peace & Development Initiative (WPDI)

Source

Get your community involved

Is there a community-driven group or caring business in your area? A dedicated group of committed people can effectively solve local problems.

Think about starting or joining community groups like a street WhatsApp group, residents' association, or community policing forum (CPF) to get help and to stay informed and involved in local issues.

• How to set up a community group
• How to start a WhatsApp group
• How to start a residents' association
• How to set up a community policing forum
• How to set up a neighbourhood watch
• How to organise community action
• How to use media to create pressure for change

Know your rights – how local government works

It’s important to understand how your local government works so that you can work with them to support what they are doing while your community continues to keep them accountable and deliver services on time. Remember you have a constitutional right to many of the services provided by local government, as well as to accountability and transparency, wherever you live and regardless of how much you earn. It is also where money collected from taxes and rates goes.