Sport, arts, and culture minister Gayton McKenzie, joined by Multichoice, handed over the facilities during a ceremony at the school on Monday (2/2). The initiative forms part of the legacy projects linked to the 2025 national school sport championships. 

The facilities are also expected to create safe and constructive spaces for young people to thrive.

McKenzie and his delegation also officiated at two further handovers in Bloemfontein, including the presentation of table tennis equipment at Heide Primary School, as well as the handover of equipment at the Stadium swimming pool. All three interventions are aimed at strengthening school sport infrastructure and broadening access to quality sporting opportunities for learners.

The Free State department of education welcomed the gesture and emphasised that communities have a responsibility to safeguard the facilities and equipment, noting their potential to address deep-rooted social challenges.

Mangaung education district director December Moloi highlighted the extent of these challenges and the importance of collective responsibility. “Where our challenge is, it is what we call social ills coming from the community.

Social ills

“The premier (MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae) always says when we complain, education is not our own affair, education is a societal matter. You can’t claim ownership; no one is an expert on education. 

“But … we have got these social ills. We have gangsterism, especially in this area,” said Moloi.

The daily realities faced by schools in the district include crime and vandalism, which often undermine learning and development. 

“We’ve got bullying, schools being broken into, we’ve got theft and very important material which is supposed to help our learners being stolen by the community, the same community that’s supposed to protect it with everything that they have. 

“So when you brought this state-of-the-art, sporting activities to us as education, it says you are protecting our learners, you are shielding our learners.”

Moloi stressed that the availability of structured sporting activities would help keep learners engaged and focused, reducing their exposure to crime and violence. He added that active participation in sport could steer young people away from serious social ills such as murder and rape by keeping them occupied in positive environments.

Residents must take ownership

Moloi appealed to residents of Heidedal and surrounding areas to take ownership of the facilities and ensure they are not vandalised or destroyed, particularly during service delivery protests.

Sport, arts, culture and recreation MEC Ntombizanele Beauty Sifuba said the handovers reaffirm the province’s collective commitment to investing in school sport infrastructure. 

Such initiatives are critical in creating sustainable opportunities for young athletes and in building healthier, safer communities across the Free State.

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OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi mvh