MEC Mtomuhle Khawula Hails New Sports Court as Boost for Youth Development in KZN
KwaZulu-Natal Department of Sport, Arts and Culture MEC, Hon. Mtomuhle Khawula, has welcomed the handover of a new multipurpose sports court at Ocean View Primary School in Chatsworth, describing the facility as an important investment in developing and nurturing young sporting talent in KwaZulu-Natal.
The official handover ceremony took place on Tuesday and marked another significant milestone for sport development in the province. The facility becomes the 11th Multipurpose Sports Court established in KwaZulu-Natal, providing learners and community members with a modern space to participate in various sporting activities.
The project forms part of the community legacy programme linked to the Nedbank Cup and was made possible through Durban City FC’s success in the competition. After lifting the 2026 Nedbank Cup trophy, the club was afforded the opportunity to nominate a beneficiary school, with Ocean View Primary School selected for the initiative.
Representatives from the Premier Soccer League, The Sports Trust, the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, as well as other key stakeholders, attended the event to celebrate the completion of the facility and its anticipated impact on the local community.
The multipurpose sports court has been designed to accommodate five sporting codes, namely netball, soccer, volleyball, tennis and hockey. The facility is expected to create greater opportunities for participation while promoting healthy and active lifestyles among young people.
The new court will also provide a platform for learners to develop their sporting abilities in a safe environment, with educators and community leaders hopeful that it will help identify future stars across a variety of sporting disciplines.
Speaking during the handover, Hon. Mtomuhle Khawula emphasised the importance of investing in grassroots sport and school development. “With this multipurpose sports court, we want to uncover talent, we want to develop talent and nurture the talent in schools. So, it’s going to go a long way in terms of providing for School Sport and ensuring that our ‘Dlala Thursdays’ are a reality.”
The facility stands as a lasting legacy of Durban City FC’s memorable Nedbank Cup triumph, demonstrating how success on the football field can create meaningful opportunities within communities. The project is expected to benefit generations of learners while strengthening school sport and talent development across KwaZulu-Natal.