ezasegagasini page 2

NEWSPage 2 4 June 2010

ABOUT USThe eZasegagasini Metro isthe official eThekwiniMunicipality publicationthrough which ratepayersand residents are informedof news, entertainment andperspectives in greaterDurban. It is also a forumfor readers’ views. It is published fortnightly ona Friday, with 400 000copies distributed.To contact us:eZasegagasini Metro, POBox 5588, Durban, 4000 Newsroom: 031 311 4809/81/84 Fax: 031 332 8051Reception: 031 311 4827maphumulosiya@durban.gov.za

Editor: Ntsiki MagwazaNews Editors: Mandla Nseleand Siyabonga MaphumuloSub-editor: Matthew HattinghWriters: Mack Makhathini,Nondu Ngcongo, RomitaHanuman, ThembaKhumalo, Sane Shandu,Themba Nyathikazi, SohanaSingh, Emmanuel Kleinbooi,Khaya Sengani, GuguMdlalosePhotographer: Jessie SinghTranslations: SiyabongaMaphumulo, ThembaNyathikazi, MackMakhathini, ThembaKhumalo, Nondu Ngcongo

STAFF

THEMBA KHUMALO

A RECENT British Army visitto Durban gave new meaningto the term “boot camp,” withthe visiting troops sharingsports skills with localchildren.

The super-fit soldiers, fromthe army’s Physical TrainingCorps, held soccer andnetball coaching clinics formore than 600 disadvantagedchildren over three days aspart of the corps’ 150th

anniversary celebrations. Sport and Recreation

Development DepartmentSport Officer Zola Ndlovusaid, “When the British Armysaid they wanted to runschool coaching clinics here,we chose the South DurbanBasin area because of itshistory and problems.

“We want children in thisarea to know that there issomething else they can do tobetter their lives.”

The initiative was organised

by the Department withInternational andGovernance Relations andthe South Durban Basincommunity. WentworthSecondary, UmbiloSecondary, InterfellowshipCombined and Fairvale Highschools were chosen aslocations for the clinics.

“Three-hour coachingclinics in soccer and netballfor 145 kids aged from 12 to18 were held at each school,”said Ndlovu.

Umbilo Secondary teacherand Sport Coordinator DevenReddy said, “The drugproblem in our area can beremedied by such initiatives.The kids enjoyed themselvesand learned a lot from theinstructors.

Commendable“We commend the

Municipality for bringingprogrammes like these to ourschools and encourage them

to keep doing so,” Reddy said. British Army Training Corps

Captain Lee Dyson said,“When we brought a militaryteam to play soccer in SouthAfrica in 2004 and to doinformal coaching clinics, wedecided we wanted to comeback to do coaching clinicsfor disadvantaged kids. Weare honouring that promiseby being here today.”

Dyson said the kidsresponded well to thetraining. “They were

absolutely superb,” he said.“These clinics are among a

number of events we haveheld in various parts of theworld to mark our 150thanniversary,” he said.

Councillor KhanyisileMthembu said, “This is agreat initiative. Our childrenhave benefited tremendouslyand we urge other sportsfederations to follow thisexample and join us in takingsport to the people.”

khumalotk@durban.gov.za

British Army’s boot camp with a difference

NONDU NGCONGO

AFTER two years of hard workplanning and building, thecontractors recently handedover the Clermont Sub 5 pooland accompanying guidelinebooks to the Municipality. Thepool will officially open today.

Thembinkosi Ngcobo, Headof Parks, Recreation andCulture, said Clermont nowhas a facility comparable withthose found in affluent areassuch as Umhlanga and Ballito.

He said the pool was not aluxury but a tool for economicempowerment. The poolcould provide an opportunityfor a Clermont girl to becomethe next Penny Heyns, saidNgcobo, referring to thedouble-gold Olympic breast-stroke medallist.

“Through this facility manyinternational quality talentswill be developed. It will alsogive the community a place torelax,” said Ngcobo.

Councillor Nelisiwe Nyanisaof Ward 21 said the com-pletion of the pool was adream come true after manyyears of planning.

“Years back, volunteers and Idid a survey, including schoolsin Clermont, to find out whychildren are all playing thesame sport, which is soccer(we have 96 soccer teams inthis area) and the answer wasthat there are no facilities forother sports,” said Nyanisa.

She said the pool markedthe start of more good thingsto come in the area, whichstill needed tennis and rugbyfacilities.

“I am over the moonbecause the opening of thispool is good news because ofjob creation and the many

talents that will be developed.“We are always preaching

that young people must stayaway from drugs, so we musthave the facilities to keepthem productively busy,” saidNyanisa.

She called on the 30 Cler-mont children who had rec-

ently received six months ofswimming lessons at KingsPark pool courtesy of theMunicipality to come forwardto train others.

Martin Bright, of CBI Con-sulting Engineers, said theywere proud to have success-fully completed the project.

“Thank you to eThekwini forgiving us the opportunity tobe involved. Please look afterthe facilities,” said Bright.

Ngcobo thanked the con-tractors for a job well doneand announced the officiallaunch would take place today.

ngcongon@durban.gov.za

Mlaba’s messagefor young peopleMUSA MTHALANE

ETHEKWINI’S EngineeringUnit has adopted EsizibeniComprehensive School inUmgababa as part of anoutreach programme with aspecial World Cup focus.

It’s a contribution to a biggerinitiative by the Procurementand Infrastructure Clusterwhich involves each of itsunits helping one of sevenschools across the city. Pupilsfrom the schools will also beencouraged to get excitedabout the World Cup, due tostart next week.

Engineering Unit HeadAdrian Peters said they had setup a committee to ensure theestablishment of a long rela-tionship with the school.

“Staff of the EngineeringUnit have contributed moneyand clothes from their ownpockets to assist pupils fromthe school. Our committeewill also assist the school witha vegetable garden that it hasstarted.”

He promised that Esizibeni

pupils who were studyingphysics and maths and whowanted to become engineers,would be give them a taste ofthe discipline.

“The Engineering Unit willtake the top five pupils fromthe school during the holidaysand expose them to the realengineering world,” saidPeters.

Principal Sipho Gumbithanked the Municipality forits commitment to the school.“I am excited and lookingforward to our partnershipwith the Municipality. Most ofour pupils are without parentsand the veggie garden willhelp put food on the table forthe orphans,” said Gumbi.

He also thanked the Engin-eering Unit for donatingsoccer and netball kits to theschool.

“I want to convey my specialthanks to Municipality foraffording Esizibeni Com-prehensive School an oppor-tunity during this World Cupyear,” he said.

mthalanemusa@durban.gov.za

HAVING A BALL: Engineering Unit Head Adrian Peterspresent sports equipment to Nokuthula Makhanya, ofEsizibeni Comprehensive School, in Umgababa. TheUnit has committed itself to assisting the school

Picture: MUSA MTHALANE

Engineers show they’re good sports

Clermont pool opens todayGOINGSWIMMINGLY:Martin Bright,of CBIConsultingEngineers,JonathanSchewitz ofAtlas Filters,Christo SwartandThembinkosiNgcobo,Deputy andHead of ParksRecreationand Culture,and CouncillorNelisiweNyanisa, atthe handoverof guidelinebooks for thenew Clermontpool

Picture:NONDU

NGCONGO

NONDU NGCONGO

MAYOR Obed Mlaba hascalled on young people totake advantage of the manyopportunities offered by thegovernment.

Mlaba was speaking aheadof Youth Day, which iscelebrated on 16 June tocommemorate the Sowetostudent uprisings of 1976.

He said young peopleneeded to take charge, notonly by celebrating YouthMonth programmes, but byengaging in nation buildinginitiatives.

“One-day events orprogrammes do not send themessage clearly. We need tohave programmesthroughout the year that willteach our youth about thehistory of 16 June and otherspecial days, like Africa Dayand Freedom Day,” he said.

This year, Youth Day

coincides with theanniversary of theestablishment of the NationalYouth Development Agency(NYDA).

Siyabonga Magadla, NYDAMedia Liaison Officer, saidthey had made great stridesin assisting young people toaccess economic and skillsdevelopment opportunitiesto help the government inmeeting its objectives.

Magadla said the agencywould on 16 June report backon how far it had gone inresponding to the challengesfacing the youth.

“We support young people,particularly those living inrural areas and those withdisabilities. We make sure weprovide them with resources,”said Magadla.

This year has been declaredthe year of Youth and Action,by the United Nations.

ngcongon@durban.gov.za