The City of Ekurhuleni walked away with bragging rights after clinching top honours at the 2025 OR Tambo Soncini Social Cohesion Games, hosted by the City of Johannesburg at Ellis Park Arena over the weekend of 26–27 October 2025.
The annual tournament, organised by the City’s Sport and Recreation Directorate under the Department of Community Development, brought together young athletes from the five Gauteng municipalities — Ekurhuleni, Johannesburg, Tshwane, West Rand, and Sedibeng — to compete across five sporting codes: basketball, netball, volleyball, rugby, and chess.
The OR Tambo Soncini Games were established to promote social cohesion, healthy lifestyles, and organised community sport from grassroots to provincial and eventually international levels. This year’s competition featured male and female teams, as well as participants with disabilities in the chess category. Age groups ranged from under 15 for most sports, with netball players competing in the 16–19 category.
After a weekend of fierce but friendly competition, Ekurhuleni emerged victorious with 44 points, narrowly edging out defending champions Johannesburg, which came second with 43 points. Tshwane finished third with 40 points, followed by West Rand with 37 and Sedibeng with 36. Ekurhuleni took home the championship trophy, which they will proudly hold for the next year until the 2026 edition of the games.
Although only one city could claim the top spot, all participants received medals for their dedication and sportsmanship, celebrating the collective success of young athletes who embody the values of teamwork, discipline, and unity.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development in the City of Johannesburg Cllr Tebogo Nkokou congratulated the winners and participants for their commitment to the spirit of OR Tambo.
“We are gathered here to honour the legacy of our hero, OR Tambo, whose vision of unity and nation-building lives on through these games,” said Cllr Nkokou.
“It is inspiring to see our youth embrace sport with such passion. I extend my gratitude to the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, all organisers, and participants for making this event a resounding success. May we continue to grow this sporting legacy together.”
Written by Maseipati Tsotsotso