Nathi Mthethwa, Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture with Dr Shadrack Nthangeni, Acting Director: SAED.
Speaking at the launch, Minister Mthethwa said that while TUT’s primary function is academic delivery, the holistic development of students and establishing a culture of participation and competition, are also central to the institution’s focus on the well-being of students.
“We are aware of the amazing work TUT does, hence they are our key partner in the sport ambassador programme. We selected TUT because of the number of stars that are developed and found at the University. TUT Sport contributes in building a strong TUT brand and the University’s sportsmen and women, including coaches and administrators, annually represent the country at national and international competitions. We are proud to be associated with this leading brand and home to champions,” said Minister Mthethwa.
Dr Shadrack Nthangeni, Acting Executive Director: Student Affairs and Extracurricular Development (SAED), said the University is honored to be a key stakeholder in the sport ambassador programme. “School sport remains the bedrock of sport development in the country as well a priority in sport development initiatives. We are grateful for the recognition and the partnership opportunity, moreover, for five of our own to be among the sport ambassadors selected for this national call,” said Dr Nthangeni.
Dumisani Chauke, celebrated sport star, assistant coach of the Spar Proteas Netball team and HoD Sport at the Ga-Rankuwa Campus, is one of the newly selected sport ambassadors.
She said: “It is an honor and privilege to be selected as an ambassador for the program, which provides an opportunity to share our stories to motivate, inspire and empower those coming after us. As a sport person myself, this is another opportunity to use the power of sport to change lives and be instrumental in reviving school sport, where future stars are often discovered, natured and developed.”
Hosted in partnership with DSAC and in collaboration with TUT and the Department of Basic Education (DBE), the launch of the pilot project in four sporting codes, athletics, football, netball and rugby, forms part of Government’s interventions to revive and accelerate the development of school sport programmes to its former glory.
TUT’s sport ambassadors are:
- Simphiwe Dludlu-Sibiya - TUT Women’s Football Head Coach
- Dumisani Chauke - HoD Sport Ga-Rankuwa Campus, Netball HP Technical Director
- Kaya Malotana - Rugby HP Head Coach
- Faith Motau- Netball HP Coach
- Hendrick Mokganyetsi - TUT HP Athletics Coach