In a vibrant show of commitment to grassroots development in sport, Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie handed over brand new sports equipment and attire to several Gauteng schools, including learners from Randfontein primary schools, as part of a wide-reaching campaign to revitalise school sport across the country.
The official handover ceremony took place on Thursday, 24 July 2025, at Randfontein Secondary School in Toekomsrus, under the banner of inclusivity and transformation in sports. This initiative, spearheaded by McKenzie and supported by the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, reached more than 73 schools across regions including Johannesburg North (where Randburg schools fall), Tshwane South, Ekurhuleni North, Sedibeng West, and others.
Bringing Sport to Every School
The kits distributed include gear for a variety of sporting codes such as football, netball, tennis, athletics, basketball, cricket, volleyball, gymnastics, and even indigenous games like kho-kho. Schools also received kits for non-contact, cerebral sports such as chess. The aim is not only to provide equal access to physical activity, but also to unearth hidden talents and reintroduce a culture of school sport that goes beyond urban privilege.
Minister McKenzie emphasised the symbolic and strategic value of this initiative:
> “Access must be the starting point. When every child has a kit and a court or a field to play on, talent can thrive. These are not just uniforms – they are opportunities for our kids to dream, compete and win.”
Randfontein Learners Among Beneficiaries
For many Randfontein primary school learners, this handover means their first real opportunity to participate in structured sports at school level. With proper equipment now in hand, they can engage confidently in competitive inter-school events, daily fitness routines, and recreational games that build discipline, teamwork, and resilience.
Teachers and principals expressed gratitude for the support, noting that many learners previously had no sportswear or basic gear to participate in school leagues or physical education. This upliftment ensures that learners from both under-resourced and urban schools stand on equal footing in sporting arenas.
A Broader Vision for Transformation
This handover forms part of a wider national effort, including the memorandum of understanding signed last year between Minister McKenzie and Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube. The agreement aims to strengthen arts and sport in schools, with an emphasis on historically disadvantaged institutions.
The sports kit campaign also feeds into McKenzie’s “Project 300”, a flagship programme designed to prepare 300 young athletes for the 2028 Olympics by identifying talent at school level and nurturing it with appropriate training and resources.
Gauteng MEC Matome Chiloane and Rand West City Local Municipality Executive Mayor William Matsheke joined the event in support, reinforcing the message that local and national government structures are united in transforming youth sports participation from the ground up.
Not Just a Handout, But a Launchpad
Beyond kits and uniforms, the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture has committed to further investments in infrastructure, coaching development, and sports festivals that will ensure continuity in school sports programming.
Earlier this year, Minister McKenzie also launched campaigns to collect pre-loved running shoes and partnered with broadcasters and sports federations to create a national athletics school series.
> “It’s not enough to drop off a ball and walk away,” said McKenzie. “We’re building a pipeline – from school fields in Randfontein to stadiums across the world. Our children deserve it.”