The KZN Sports, Arts and Culture MEC Mr. Mntomuhle Khawula together with the Alfred Duma Local Municipality Mayor Cllr Zama Sibisi officially handed over the Alfred Duma Local Municipality fitness centre on Friday 23 August 2024.
The handover of the state of the art facility happend at the Ladysmith Indoor Sports complex where various sports codes were given the opportunity to showcase their codes and test the facilities. The facility boasts with 2 combo courts, 2 volleyball courts, 2 tennis courts, 2 futsal courts, 3 cricket pitches, an outdoor gym fitted with a kiddies play area, aerobics area, chess area, change rooms, reactional building and a BMX track.
Before officially handing over the facility, MEC Khawula , Mayor Sibisi, iNkosi Sithole and councillors from both the Alfred Duma Local Municipality as well as the uThukela District Municipality conducted a tour and participated in aerobics and other sports codes as listed above. Various facilitators of the codes also had the opportunity to present and showcase their teams in demonstrations on the facilities.
In his keynote address MEC Khawula stated that, the Alfred Duma Local Municipality together with the department of Sports, Arts and Culture are here today to introduce Phase 1,2 and 3 of the project which consists of four phases of the High Performance Fitness Center. He explained that the phases which were completed consisted of tennis, basketball,netball, cycling, aerobics, volleyball, a gym area and an area for chess. He added that Phase 4 is still under construction and will consist of offices, boardrooms and will also accommodate all indoor sports games. Phase 4 will also consist of a football field and a cricket pitch for those who love outdoor games
The MEC further stated that they hope to have all phases running by 2028. The MEC said the core mandate of the center is talent identification and its main plan is to promote social cohesion. He also explained that they have similar projects at Mzimkhulu in the Harry Gwala District also one in the Zululand District and one at the King Cetshwayo District. “We hope that the center will keep the youth occupied leaving them with no time to participate in criminal activities and keeps the elderly fit and active”. He further urged the community to keep the center in the state they found it in.
Rendering closing remarks Mayor Cllr Z.J Sibisi Mayor said that the Alfred Duma Local Municipality would love to complete the Fitness Center before 2028 and assured the people that this project will provide job opportunities for the people.
The mayor assured that the center will be kept in perfect condition as it will be of great help to the people in Ladysmith. He further thanked everyone involved in the project and thanked all those who graced us with their presence in the opening of the Alfred Duma Local Municipality Fitness Center.