The City of Joburg has started with the selection process for the OR Tambo Soncini Social Cohesion games. The games include athletics, netball, basketball and football, with swimming and rugby to commence in the coming weeks. Although Covid-19 restrictions have changed logistics for the games, by limiting the number of spectators, officials and athletes at a particular venue, the first leg of the games kicked off successfully on Saturday, 11 August 2021 at various facilities around the City.

The selection process comprises a group of young people who are selected in terms of their age, gender and race. This is done to advance the transformation agenda and social cohesion. It also provides an opportunity to develop disadvantaged communities. Individuals with national, provincial, and municipal colours are excluded to increase developmental opportunities. Soncini Games are about development and excellence, said Mbulelo Bezu, the City’s Acting Deputy Director for Sport and Recreation.

“We use competitive games and tournaments to track the progress of our sport development programmes and to identify talent that could be nurtured,” said Bezu.

“We want to create opportunities for the talented players in order to develop and represent the City at a regional, national and international level. The objective of these games is not only contributing to social cohesion and nation building, but uniting people and communities,” said Bezu.

Those who are selected at Ekurhuleni as part of the Gauteng team in October will jet off to Italy to participate in the Tri-Colour Games in Reggio-Emelia in 2022, and thereafter to the Youth Games in Fort-Worth, Texas (USA) in 2023. These international trips are the groundwork and legacy of the late OR Tambo, a national icon and hero of the liberation struggle.