Speech by Executive Mayor at the Media Briefing for the Annual Motherwell Freedom Run Road Race

Speech by Executive Mayor at the Media Briefing for the Annual Motherwell Freedom Run Road Race

SPEECH BY EXECUTIVE MAYOR AT THE MEDIA BRIEFING FOR THE ANNUAL MOTHERWELL FREEDOM RUN ROAD RACE

Tuesday, 17 March 2012

Woolboard Conference Centre

Programme Director

Councillor Babalwa Lobishe

Councillors in attendance

Mr. Michael Mbambani: Event Coordinator and Chairman of Mr Price Sport Athletic Club

Sponsors

Mr Basil Maclean

Athletes presents here today

Members of the media

Distinguished guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

Molweni

Good morning

Goeie more

  • Programme director, allow me to first take this opportunity to thank the Mr Price Sport AthleticClub for the foresight and initiative in starting this major athletics development project. Now in its second year, I’m convinced it will grow from strength to strength. A word of appreciation also goes to the Mr PriceGroup for supporting the club in its endeavour to unearth latent talent and develop it into national and world beaters.
  • Ladies and gentlemen, the NelsonMandelaBayMunicipality is committed to supporting positive initiatives aimed at empowering the youth. This conviction is informed by our understanding of the central role that young people play in the development of our communities. Be it in the fields of business, academia or sport, the participation of young people must be always be encouraged and supported.
  • Distinguished guests, the importance of sport in developing young people can neverbe over-emphasized. Through participation in sport, young people are given a sense of purpose and develop goals to works towards. By taking an active interest in sporting activities, they are shielded from an alternative and dark life of crime, drugs and alcohol abuse.
  • Programme director, in a letter written to my office to ask for the Municipality’s support, I was moved by some of the objectives put forward by the club. Apart from looking to unearth talent, the club articulates that it wishes to use Freedom Month’s celebration as a way to remind the youth of the sacrifices that were made in order for us to enjoy the freedoms we have today. This is important, lest we forget the past. For the youth to be the agents of change we want them to be, we must impress upon them the fragility of the freedom we have and the need to jealously guard it against those who wish to undermine it.
  • To the young athletes present here today, you should take pride in the success of the Athletic Club and grab this opportunity with both hands. The mere fact that the club has produced such top athletes as Ntombesintu Mfunzi(EP champ in 10km-15km and 21km in 2011 and also represented SA at World Champs from 2008-2010), George Tshiliza (who represented EP, SA and the Winner of Two Oceans 2011) and Zolani Ngqaqa, bears testament to the success the club has achieved in harnessing and guiding young athletes to national honours.
  • Mr Mbambani, we hope that you will extend this wonderful initiative to other township areas. Also, your full utilization of sporting facilities provided by the Municipality in your areas, will serve to spur the Municipality on, in its efforts to provide more recreational and sporting facilities to communities of NelsonMandelaBay.
  • In conclusion, we wish to call on young people and the not so young, to participate in the Motherwell Freedom Run Road Race, I will be there to cheer you on, good luck.

I thank you!

Councillor Zanoxolo Wayile

Executive Mayor

NelsonMandelaBayMunicipality

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