Netball SA calls on Ramaphosa to keep promise of building a centre

Netball South Africa President Cecilia Molokwane has challenged President Cyril Ramaphosa and Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi to keep their promise to build a centre for the sport.

During last year’s world cup closing ceremony, which was held in Cape Town, Ramaphosa promised to build an exclusive netball arena that will help to develop the sport.

Molokwane also fired a broadside at the new Minister of Sports Gayton Mackenzie for making unreasonable demands from her federation.

In what was supposed to be a bid to facilitate the growth of netball in the country, Ramaphosa declared that government will build a netball exclusive arena.

It was the success of the Netball World Cup, the first on the African continent and South Africa’s performance, that prompted Ramaphosa to say what he did and Molokwane is going to hold him to his word.

“I think that netball centre, we must have a talk one on one talk with the president of the country and the Premier Panyaza Lesufi because I want to ask them the same question. I am still waiting for them to tell me what’s happening because I am still waiting for them to tell me because I have been asking for those meetings and maybe I will have that meeting with the premier and minister.”

Molokwane also recently met with Mackenzie and informed him that Netball South Africa needs a bigger slice of the cake from government than the paltry R2.5 million it receives on an annual basis.

“The biggest challenge was the funding, I mean you cannot give us R2.5 million and ask us so many things, are you targeting the person or federation, but other federations are not asked those things. So, that’s why the meeting was so short because we are asked to submit 100 things and people pumping money into netball, they don’t do that, so maybe go and clean your house minister and come back and tell us how we move forward together.”

Meanwhile, netball as a sport has Olympic Games aspirations. And it could just happen for the sport in 2032 when the Games will be hosted in Brisbane where netball is popular.

“Targeting 2032 of course and we are crying out as netball people to say we really want netball to be in the Olympics. It’s exciting to see other codes being there and netball is one of the sporting codes that has proven their worth and what they can do.”

Molokwane believes having a Netball World Cup for men will enhance the sport’s chances of gaining entry into the Olympics.

South Africa has been at the forefront of promoting men’s netball.