Oudtshoorn Municipality announced the different sports codes and gave appreciation to the sportswomen and sportsmen of the Greater Oudtshoorn at a special event on Tuesday, 14 June 2022, with the guest that included schoolchildren that excelled at sport, elite sportswomen and men and different stakeholders. Between July 2021 and June 2022 Oudtshoorn municipality hosted a few major events and gave financial support to all the great sportswomen and men of the Greater Oudtshoorn.
During the event, the Acting Municipal Manager, Mr Walter Hendricks, address the attendees and assured them that the municipality always does everything in its power to support all sports codes and to make use of all possible sources to ensure improvement in sport.
The Executive Mayor of the Greater Oudtshoorn, Cllr Chad Louw, told all participants in the different sports codes that it is not easy lately to focus on your goals “and it is an achievement to get so far in your sports career”. Mayor Louw congratulated them for coming this far and also congratulated their parents and everyone that supported them and helped them to realise their goals. “We are proud of you. Kids be proud of your parents for investing in you because I know you made them proud. Everyone who’s here is a winner, a team player. You have shown perseverance and did not rest on your laurels to keep your dreams”.
Rugby SWD U13
The sports development officer of the municipality, Mr Ian Laubscher, explained the sports policy of the council when it comes to funding for individuals and sports events. Laubscher also stated that there are times that the municipality will not be able to fund everyone that applies for funding due to an inefficient budget, but the municipality will always do everything in their power to help. According to the policy the following funding is covered for individuals who’s selected for different district, provincial and national teams:
- For National Event: 50% of individual expenses
- For Western Cape Event: 25% of individual expenses
- International Event: R5000 per person
This is how the municipality can help the community when it comes to sports, if efficient funds are available. In addition the municipality contribute financially to sport federations hosting international, national, and provincial events in the municipal area. This include but various dependent on the size of the event. For International event R30 000, National Event R20 000 and Provincial Event R10 000. The purpose will be to promote the towns tourism industry but also to position the town as events mecca for the region.
Eden Cycling
The municipality assisted 5 karatekas to participate in the SA’s in Durban with R3000 per kid and these karatekas were then also picked for an international event that will take place in Croatia and assisted them with R5000 for each participant. “We have great talent in the Greater Oudtshoorn, and we are proud to be part of the growth of all these participants,” said Laubscher while addressing the attendees.
Sergio Arries, a junior golf player from the informal settlement in Hopeville received new golf clubs from the municipality as part of the development of the up-and-coming young people in the sports sector. It was handed over to him by Mayor Louw. Arries won second place in the Oudtshoorn Golfclub Senior Championships.
Edith Josephs, the interim chairperson of the sports council, thanked the municipality for its ongoing contributions and for always being there to extend a helping hand to make sport great again in Oudtshoorn.