Youth development and wellness: Gayton McKenzie's visit to Durban
Image: Facebook
Durban's cultural leaders are expected to give Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, a traditional welcome to Wentworth on Saturday
McKenzie is expected to lead a series of impactful initiatives across KwaZulu-Natal as part of the department's ongoing commitment to youth development, community wellness, and social transformation through sport, mentorship, and public engagement.
The Wentworth community is expected to host McKenzie in the Move4Health Wellness Campaign at Wentworth Park. Department spokesperson Stacey-Lee Khojane said the event forms part of the national I Choose 2 be Active movement, and commemorates World Move for Health Day, a globally recognised initiative. The event advocates for daily physical activity as a cornerstone of long-term health and well-being.
McKenzie is also expected to visit the Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) for the guided by greatness youth mentorship event hosted in partnership with Sivusisiwe Africa Initiatives.
Khojane said this flagship initiative is designed to support adolescent boys, particularly those growing up without their biological fathers, by instilling values of discipline, purpose, and resilience.
Khojane said the event targets boys in Grades 7 to 10, and aims to address pressing social challenges such as fatherlessness, substance abuse, and Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF), while promoting mental health, leadership, and personal growth.
She stated that this was part of the department's Golekane Campaign — a national GBVF awareness initiative that encourages open and constructive dialogue between men and boys throughout the year.
These engagements underscore the department's holistic approach to building a healthier, more empowered South African society through sport, arts, and culture.
Andre De Bruin, paramount chief of the Khoi and San (Khoisan) and Wentworth community activist, said cultural leaders accepted the invitation to attend the event in good faith, adding that the community had a strong cultural representation of Griquas and San people.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Next
Stay
Close ✕
De Bruin hoped McKenzie's visit would be beneficial to the community.
'All we ask is for our cultural voices to be heard and for McKenzie to take our message and concerns to Parliament. We ask for our culture to be respected and recognised. For far too long, we have been on terms and conditions. We hope and pray the traditional leaders walk away with something for their people,' De Bruin said.
Alexandra Uys, eThekwini Ward 68 sports committee member, said they were looking forward to meeting with McKenzie to showcase the sporting talent the community has and the assistance they need to keep children off the streets.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
8 hours ago
- The Citizen
Randpark Primary hosts mini hockey festival on new Astroturf court
Randpark Primary School hosted the mini hockey festival for the U7, U8, and U9s, officially opening the new Astroturf, known as the Nic Pienaar Multi-Sport Court, named after the school's principal, Nic Pienaar. Five schools took part in the festival, including Cliffview and Waterstone College. The young players filled 6 fields, created on the main field, while others enjoyed the new court. Read more: Affies blaze past Selborne in fiery finale at KES Easter Festival Head of sports Nica Stadtlander explained that, when she started at the school, as the head of sport seven years ago, they didn't have the mini hockey event. 'I brought it in, and now the little ones have this tournament every year. 'We invite new schools every year, and this year's event went quite well. All the boys, and all the girls, are playing each other once, so we had four games per school. It's a development for the kids.' The youngsters were monitored by umpires and coaches, ensuring they were safe at all times during the 10-minute games, featuring one exciting half. Stadtlander added that she is excited that they have finally opened the new court. 'We've been talking about this for about two to three years. Now, during the hockey season, it's open for games and practices, and the kids are loving it.' Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration!
The Citizen
8 hours ago
- The Citizen
Blue Birds secure victory against Jomo Cosmos in regional league
Blue Birds Ladies Development Football Club continued their impressive run in the Johannesburg Football Association Women's Regional League, securing a 1–0 victory over Jomo Cosmos Football Club at the Alex Safe Hub on Saturday. Read more: Blue Birds draw again in their battle to the top eight The Blue Birds asserted their dominance early, with their player, Mpho Ngobeni, breaking the deadlock in the first half, capitalising on a well-worked opportunity to give the Blue Birds the lead. Despite pressure from Jomo Cosmos in the second half, the Blue Birds held firm, denying their opponents the opportunity to score. Coach Malvin Khumalo praised his team's performance and consistency, referencing their previous 1–0 win over Panorama Ladies on August 9. 'Today, we kept a clean sheet, getting a 1–0 win. It shows consistency, in terms of what we are trying to achieve.' He acknowledged missed opportunities in front of the goalpost but remained optimistic about the team's growth. 'We are still at the development stage with this team. They will get it right.' Khumalo highlighted the need for composure in the final third, emphasising that the team must learn to convert chances. However, he lauded his defensive structure, which has been a cornerstone of their campaign. 'Defensively, we have been solid the entire season. We haven't conceded a lot of goals.' He said that players deployed in defensive midfield roles were naturally defenders. 'One is a left back, so the idea to defend is there.' On the other side, Jomo Cosmos coach Bricks Nxokoane reflected on a performance riddled with errors. 'I think we gave them a soft goal. Secondly, we don't have that fighting spirit. In the second half, we tried to create chances but couldn't convert. In the midfield, we were losing balls like nobody's business.' As the league progresses, Khumalo said the Blue Birds will need to work on their composure, to help players covert chances into goals, while Jomo Cosmos will look to regroup and address their midfield vulnerabilities. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration!
The Citizen
9 hours ago
- The Citizen
Phalaborwa and Tzaneen anglers dominate the leaderboard
LIMPOPO – Two Phalaborwa anglers claimed first and second place, while a Tzaneen local took third, during the final Northern Small Craft League 2025 event on Saturday, August 2, at the scenic Klaserie Dam. With just a few points separating the top five contenders, the final competition promised excitement, and it certainly delivered. The weekend began with a relaxed braai and pre-competition briefing on Friday evening at the Klaserie campsite. Spirits were high, but so was the tension, as anglers discussed strategy and braced themselves for the biting cold front sweeping through the region, conditions known to make fishing significantly more challenging. Despite the chill, 24 determined anglers launched their crafts shortly after 06:00 on Saturday, each hoping to climb the season leaderboard. Remarkably, 16 of them managed to land full bags of five keeper fish, a testament to both their skill and Klaserie Dam's continued reputation for quality fishing, even under adverse weather conditions. The leaderboard was tight, with many fish measuring around the 30cm mark. However, the top five finishers pulled ahead with significant margins. The gap between first and fifth place stood at an impressive 44cm, proving that Klaserie can still produce standout catches when it counts. T O P P E R F O R M E R S : First place: Lourens Matthysen – 216cm Second place: Johan Bezuidenhout – 200.5cm Third place: Jacques Louw – 181cm Bezuidenhout not only secured second place but also landed the biggest fish of the day, a stunning 2.8kg bass measuring 57cm. On the lighter side, Leon Grobler earned a prize for the smallest fish, a modest 18cm specimen. League organisers extended heartfelt thanks to all sponsors who supported the 2025 season. 'We truly appreciate every single cent that went into making this league a success,' said Derick du Bruyn. Next, the focus shifts to the national tournament, which will be held at Clanwilliam Dam from September 24 to 28. The top 12 anglers from the 2023–2024 season will travel nearly 4 000 km round-trip to represent their province and compete against four others for national honours. The organisers welcome any contributions from individuals or businesses willing to support the team's national journey. The schedule for the 2026 season will be released soon. Those interested in joining the Northern Small Craft League can contact Derick de Bruyn at 083 605 5612 or follow the Facebook page, Northern Small Craft League, for updates and registration information.
