Dear President Ramaphosa and Minister McKenzie
I write to you as a concerned citizen, the founder of West Coast Sports Solutions, and a lifelong resident of Hopefield on the Cape West Coast. Our small town has a rich history and resilient people, but we are being left behind. This is not just my story—it is the cry of an entire community that feels forgotten.
Gayton McKenzie is Minister of Sport Arts and Culture, but is he too important now to worry about small communities like Hopefield?
Our Children Deserve Better
Hopefield’s children swim in a polluted salt river that runs through the industrial area of our town. This isn’t just a health hazard; it’s a life-threatening danger. In the last two weeks alone, three venomous cobra snakes were caught near the river, one of them in the reeds where children play.
For years, we have pleaded for a swimming pool to provide a safe space for our children to swim, learn water safety, and build their confidence. During the COVID pandemic, even ETV aired our story, but nothing came of it.
This is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. Our children’s lives depend on it.
A Historic House, Ignored
In the yard of Hopefield’s library stands a dilapidated house, a remnant of our town’s rich history. I was born and raised in a similar house 68 years ago, in a neighborhood called Oudekraalfontein, where the Aboriginal people of Hopefield lived.
This house is a symbol of our heritage, yet it is crumbling before our eyes. The Saldanha Bay Municipality dismisses it, claiming it has “no historical value.” How can they ignore a part of our identity?
For many of us, this house represents a culture and a way of life that is disappearing.
A Deafening Silence on Youth Sports
As the chairman of West Coast Sports Solutions, I have written countless letters to Minister McKenzie’s office, as well as to the sports office in Vredenburg. My requests for meetings to address the lack of youth sports facilities in Hopefield have gone unanswered.
Our young people are desperate for opportunities to participate in sports—a cornerstone of healthy, productive lives. Without these opportunities, they are left vulnerable to negative influences.
Two weeks ago, I finally received a meeting with the Human Rights Commission regarding youth sports, but why must it take such measures for our voices to be heard?
Promises Made – Promises Forgotten
Minister McKenzie, I understand you are a busy man. But I cannot accept that as an excuse. You recently met with Aboriginal communities at Kenilworth Racecourse, where you made many promises.
What about the farmworkers and residents of small towns like Hopefield, who worked hard to ensure you reached your position?
You proudly speak of the GNU government on national television, but I must ask—are the residents of Hopefield and other small towns not a part of it?
A Call to Action
We need your leadership and action now more than ever.
Hopefield’s children deserve a safe place to swim.
Our community’s history deserves to be preserved. Our young people deserve opportunities to thrive through sports.
I urge you to visit Hopefield and see these issues firsthand. We are not asking for charity; we are asking for the dignity and opportunities that every South African deserves.
Hopefield is a proud town with proud people. But we cannot do this alone.
Sincerely,
George C April
Founder and Chairperson, West Coast Sports Solutions
📧 admin@wcsportssolutions.co.za
📞 067 074 5040
🌐 https://www.wcsportssolutions.co.za/
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