The Rural Sport Development Programme emanates from the department’s National Sport and Recreation Plan which highlights the need to develop and invest in previously disadvantaged communities.
The development programme will focus on five sporting codes; Netball, Football, Rugby, Cricket and Athletics.
Speaking at the University Hall where the Rural Sport Development programme was launched Mbalula, said the development programme is aimed at moving sport in rural communities forward.
“Transformation is a bottom up approach which means we must invest in the development and of talent in township and rural communities. By doing this we amplify work already done by rural communities because they are actively involved in playing sport already.
Ours is to equip these young people with sport facilities so they are not disadvantaged because of the communities they are born in,” he says.
The programme adds on already existing School Sport Programme and will be rolled out nationally in all our rural provinces such as the Eastern Cape, Limpopo, KwaZulu Natal, Mpumalanga and Northern Cape.
The Rural Sport Development Programme will be implemented with the involvement of The House of Traditional Leaders as they are key in the governance of rural communities and the Department of Basic Education which governs schools.
