Opening of the SANDF Vollyball Tournament

Speech by Minister of the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Anroux Marais

Rear Admiral Mhlana, Flag Officer Fleet

Lieutenant Colonels

Colonels

Captains

Officers

Volleyball tournament participants

Distinguished guests,

It gives me great honour to stand before such an esteemed audience here today. I thank you wholeheartedly for affording me the opportunity to address you and to be a part of the 30 year anniversary celebration. 

Volleyball has been identified as one of the 16 priority sporting codes by the National Department of Sports and Recreation.

It is heartening to know that the South African National Defence Force is keeping active through volleyball in a fun-filled environment with a healthy dose of competition. Keeping active contributes to a healthy lifestyle and at the same time increases wellness.

Sporting activities such as these, open opportunities for positive youth development. It offers youth an alternative lifestyle to the social ills they are faced with on a daily basis. It also creates positive role models for them to look up to and aspire to become as well. As the Western Cape Government, we are committed to addressing health, safety and social ills by supporting healthy communities, a healthy workforce and healthy families, youth and children. We encourage excellence and inclusiveness in sport and culture through the effective, efficient and sustainable use of our resources, and through creative partnerships with others. In moving to excellence, we will create the conditions for access and mass participation, talent identification and skills development.

With that said, I thank the South African National Defence Force for contributing to the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport’s vision of a socially inclusive, creative, active and connected province. I also wish all the participants well in this prized volleyball tournament and continued success within the force. I hope to see some of the volleyball stars participating in this tournament representing the Western Cape and South Africa as a whole at the upcoming International Olympic Games taking place next August in Rio, Brazil.

I thank you.