Date: 18/10/2011

Source: The Department of Sport and Recreation

Title: SA: Mbalula: Address by the Minister of Sport and Recreation, at the launch of the magnificent Fridays campaing, Colesberg

Programme Director
Premier of the Northern Cape Province, Ms Hazel Jenkins
MEC of Sport and Recreation in the province, Ms Pauline Williams
Members of Parliament and the Legislature present here
Mayor of Umsobomvu Local Municipality, Mr. M. Mfazwe
Councilors present here
Government officials in our midst
Sportsmen and women
Ladies and Gentlemen
Fellow South Africans

Firstly I would like to extend my sincere and honest apologies for being absent in this magnificent event to deliver this message to you in person.I longed to be here with you, unfortunately due to conflicting government commitments I could not be with you in this important gathering, this morning.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Province of the Northern Cape, a province that is well known for its colourful history, heritage and people, a province that boasts for its abundant tourist attractions. A province that is particularly popular for its incredible annual floral displays, an absolutely attractive coastline and a plethora of national parks with their prosperous fossil.

Northern Cape, especially Kimberley is well-known for its rich and internationally recognised diamond mining history; notwithstanding Kalahari with its beautiful San people and their historic contribution into the South Africa international standing.In this province you will find attractive and good-looking San Rocks engravings that move along the Orange and Vaal Rivers.All of this beauty talks directly to the capacity of the Northern Cape as one of the front-runners in the sport tourism arena.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the Magnificent Fridays Campaign was launched by the Sport and Recreation South Africa (SRSA) in collaboration with all stakeholders in sport and recreation, including all provincial departments of sport and recreation, the national Department of Arts and Culture and the International Marketing Council.

The Magnificent Friday concept is aimed at ensuring that every Friday, the people of the Republic of South Africa are engaged in activities that show their unwavering support to their national teams when they play in international tournaments.This year South Africa participated and is still going to participate into a number of international championships.These events include our participation in the Cricket World Cup, Netball World Championships and the upcoming Rugby World Cup.

This campaign is again to ensure that in every corner of South Africa, activities are held to celebrate and show patriotism and national pride towards our national teams.We will give them our unwavering support in happiness and in pain!

Ladies and gentlemen, indeed, sport has played a pivotal role in national unity and social cohesion.It has a power to bury hatred.It has a power to destroy manmade lines of division.And sport has the power to rebuild burnt bridges of human solidarity!

Ladies and gentlemen, Magnificent Fridays provide another major opportunity for mass mobilisation, grassroots mass participation and is a call to unity through sport and recreation.

We did this for amaBhokoBhoko in the Rugby World Cup in 1995.We did it for Bafana Bafana in the Africa Cup of Nations in 1996. During the 2010 FIFA World Cup, major support was provided for our national soccer team through various campaigns including Football Fridays.

We are seizing every opportunity to carry on with the Legacy of the World Cups and all other sporting events to encourage continued support towards our national teams and mobilise society behind the vision of an “Active and Winning Nation”.

Fellow South Africans, ladies and gentlemen I would like to take this opportunity to wish you a successful and magnificent, Magnificent Friday campaign.

Thank you!