​The City of Cape Town has been awarded the rights to host the 2023 Netball World Cup at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 28 July to 6 August 2023.

With such a prestigious event looming, the City of Johannesburg’s Community Development Department has been laying the ground work for players to be selected to the national squad and ensuring that netball facilities are playable, safe and secure.

Talented players are working hard to be part of the Proteas.

The Deputy Director for Sport and Recreation in the City of Johannesburg, Mandla Mdlalose, says the department has been doing a lot of behind-the-scenes work to support netball at grassroots level.

“At the 2019 OR Tambo Soncini Social Cohesion Games, the City of Johannesburg adopted a young team of girls. Through development and management, these girls have now been selected for the under 19, 21 and senior team for Joburg, Gauteng and the South African.

“The City also has two players currently at camp in Sun City preparing for a tour of Jamaica. While some other under-21 players have been signed to play for Gauteng Golden Fireballs.”

Mdlalose says development is a process and so far the goal is to revive netball and fine tune the skills of all young aspiring stars to be under the guidance of some of the country’s best coaches, which the City of Johannesburg is successfully doing.

The Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development in the City of Johannesburg, Cllr Margaret Arnolds, says the netball development programme in Soweto is showing fruits. “Our officials, clubs and schools have been at the forefront of making the programme a success and have given exposure to young people.”

Part of the City of Joburg’s development programmes includes the rehabilitating the Elkah Netball Precinct in Moroka, Soweto.

“Elkah remains the hub of netball in Soweto and has produced many national netball players and coaches like Hazel Gumede, Manzo Vatsonga, and Professor Chipeya, to mention a few. The community is urged to maximise the use this facility and look after it so that talent can be unearthed,” says MMC Arnolds.