The Department of Basic Education (DBE), in partnership with the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC), continues to invest energy and resources towards the development of sports in the Basic Education Sector. According to both parties, the Provincial Education Departments (PEDs) deserve to be applauded for playing a critical role in ensuring that schools promote mass participation in various sporting codes, which see majority of learners competing at various levels of provincial and national championships in the country. The collaboration between the DBE and DSAC is underpinned by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which mandate both parties to share common goal in terms of fostering a nation-building and social cohesion by leveraging the power of sport and arts in South African schools.

Deputy Director for Sport and Enrichment in Education, Mr Bongani Zondi, stated that the DBE and DSAC have, for years, been implementing the Integrated School Sports Programme, after-school, extra-mural and co-curricular activities to sustain sporting talents in various school communities. “In the previous school calendar, the DBE, DSAC and partners have successfully hosted seasonal sporting activities ranging from autumn, winter, spring and summer games. These included traditional and indigenous games such as athletics, football, netball, rugby, gymnastics, basketball, volleyball, cricket, softball, chess, and several others. Our main objective in the implementation of these co-curricular activities is to nurture learners’ sporting talents in their schooling years to become professional sport men and women in their future endeavours.  

"Provinces are currently busy finalising the school sport programmes in preparations for the upcoming national championships taking place over the October school holidays. These programmes have been implemented from the school level upwards. There is great excitement amongst our learners as they showcase their sporting talents. The DBE and DSAC will be hosting the 2025 National School Sport Championships at Rob Ferreira High School, White River in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga from 03 – 04 October 2025. We will also host SA LSEN MID as part of the National Schools Soccer Week at Kuilsrevier Sports School, Western Cape from 05 – 10 October 2025. The DBE, DSAC and the Motsepe Foundation will conclude the spring games with the National Kay Motsepe Schools Championships for Football at Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria from 06 – 11 October 2025,” shared Mr Zondi.