By Ester Nontsikelelo Baatjies (Free State World)
The Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, together with the Premier of the Free State, MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae, and the MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture, Zanele Sefuba, recently visited the community of Heidedal in Bloemfontein.
The Mangaung District received table tennis equipment at Heide Primary School in Bloemfontein. The equipment was donated by the People’s Republic of China in partnership with the South African Table Tennis Federation to support youth and school sport development.
However, community members of Heidedal expressed their dissatisfaction with the government and the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture after the Minister visited the stadium swimming pool while overlooking the poor infrastructure and conditions of the Heidedal swimming pool. Residents had the privilege of having the Heidedal swimming pool open for only one month before it was closed again, with water shortages cited as the reason.
The Minister also visited Credence Primary School, not far from his mother’s house. The community of Opkoms warmly welcomed him, and the Minister was seen allowing children who were watching from outside the school premises to enter and experience the newly donated equipment.
The purpose of the visit was to ignite a passion for sport in the community. However, many residents argued that the donated equipment caters to a sport that is not a priority in Heidedal. They suggested that the Minister should instead focus on revamping existing facilities, such as the Billy Murison Stadium, to nurture young and promising talent.
It is alleged that residents living near Clive Solomon Stadium take care of the facility most of the time, and that the cricket pitch is maintained by the players themselves due to the municipality’s inconsistency. One community member remarked,
“Hy bring eerder tennis, plus van bring atletiek terug,” suggesting that the Minister is prioritising table tennis while track and field sports remain neglected.
In a statement, Minister McKenzie extended his sincere gratitude to the people of Bloemfontein, community leaders, and provincial and local government partners for the warmth, love, and unity shown during the visit.
The Minister remains guided by the principle that “a child in sport is a child out of court” and continues to champion sport as a powerful tool for positive change, discipline, and social cohesion.
While McKenzie praised the community’s warmth and emphasised sport as a catalyst for change, residents are left questioning whether their concerns are truly being heard.
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