CAPE TOWN – Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Nocawe Mafu has hailed the government’s work behind the vision to bring the 2023 Netball World Cup to African soil.
Mafu was speaking at the flag handover ceremony – an official team send off at the Southern Sun Hotel on Wednesday.
A flag was handed over to the Spar Proteas captain Bongiwe Msomi.
She believes the ceremony was important as it was if the team was going to play away.
“We decided that let’s hand over the flag to the team because ordinarily if the world cup was going to be staged elsewhere we would have a send off breakfast for them and hand over the flag,” said Mafu.
“Also, it becomes important that with the world cup being here at home, it doesn’t mean that we must not show the support the same way we would’ve shown if they were going away.”
The prestigious event will make its way for the first time in African content when the first match of the tournament kicks off on Friday.
Mafu says the government had to pull all the stops to make the event a success.
The @SportArtsCultur Minister @zizikodwa, Deputy Minister @MafuNoncedo and @Netball_SA leadership at the breakfast ceremony to wish the Spar Proteas well for @NetballWorldCup. #NWC2023 pic.twitter.com/oPpktht83u
— Ayanda Frances Felem (@AyandaFelemZA) July 26, 2023
“We as the government have done 101% over and above to make sure this is a success, from the bidding point of view, we did all the work in terms of supporting our federation – Netball South Africa,” said Mafu.
“When guarantees were asked to be paid for the bid, the government had to step in. This world cup is 100% funded by the government and not by the federation.
“National government put in 80% of funding, the province and the City did the rest which is 20%.
The Spar Proteas will face Wales on Friday before playing against Jamaica, and Sri Lanka in Pool C.
Mafu added: “We have been with the team from the word go, you have seen us day in and day out standing by with the team,” she said.
“We threw all our weight behind this world cup and made sure we didn’t fail.”
