Sport Council Chairman’s Message

Firstly, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the University of the Western Cape (UWC) Sport for giving me an opportunity to serve in the Sport Council for the period of 2019.

For UWC Sport, 2019 was a year of fluctuations filled with triumphs and obstacles. The year commenced with the great experience of our rugby boys competing in the Varsity Cup and the victory of our men’s basketball team at University Sports South Africa’s (USSA) Western Cape Basketball Championships. The other notable highlight was when our six UWC Football women competed at the World Cup in France for Banyana Banyana.

We can also not forget our athletics team who won gold in the 4 ×4-kilometre men’s relay at the USSA Cross Country Championships and our two male athletes who were selected to represent South Africa at the Federation of Africa University Sports’ (FASU) African University Cross Country Championships in Marrakech, Morocco.

Our female athletes showcased astonishing talent, too. Babalwa “The Beast” Latsha has opened the doors for professional female rugby players when she became the first South African female to sign a professional contract with a club in Europe. It is a great honour and privilege for the University to have athletes compete at the international level. More highlights that stood out include Thembi Kgatlana’s Women’s Player of the Year and Goal of the Year awards at the Confederation of African Football. At the UWC Sport Awards, I was proud to announce that, in 2020, the University will launch a bursary in Thembi Kgatlana’s name. “The bursary is all about women’s empowerment and will be in partnership with UWC,” Kgatlana says. “We plan to choose two girls from disadvantaged backgrounds but with good grades and who are from different sporting codes.” UWC Sport management has also led by example, as our Director of Sport, Mr Mandla Gagayi, was elected as the first Vice-President for USSA, while Mr Glen Bentley received an honorary award from USSA and was elected as USSA Athletics Chairman.

The UWC Sport Council had a very successful year and set the bar high – not only for the next Council but also for the student governance and leadership structures at UWC. The Sport Council hosted a first-of-its-kind boxing tournament in the hopes of empowering women, recruiting females to join the UWC Boxing Club and raising funds. Furthermore, the Council introduced an initiative to collect sanitary towels and donated them to the female boxing athletes at the event as well as at the Sport Awards and to learners at Sivuyiseka Senior Secondary

UWC sport management has also led by example as our director of sport, mr mandla gagayi, was elected as the first vice-presidenT for ussa

School in Philippi. A project we hope comes to fruition in 2020 is the opening of a Student Athletes Computer Lab, which has been a priority for the Council since the beginning of 2019, as it will benefit our student athletes. Last, but not least, another highlight for UWC Sport – and me personally – was collecting the Student Governance and Leadership award at the UWC SDS Awards for the great work done by the Council.

I would like to wish all UWC Sport athletes success in 2020, despite the challenges we had last year. I believe you have shown a commitment to your sport, a determination to excel and pride in representing UWC. You have inspired all of us to rise above our challenges and pursue our dreams. I hope you will continue to believe in yourselves, and harness your mental strength and physical abilities to overcome all odds and achieve personal breakthroughs.

May 2020 be a year of victory!