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Motsepe Foundation gives R117m to South African education

25 November 2015

The Department of Basic Education has received a donation of R117-million – to be made over a period of 10 years – from the Motsepe Foundation towards sporting and cultural competitions.

Of this, R55-million will be allocated over the first five years to the Kay Motsepe Schools Football Cup, the ABC Motsepe Schools Choral and Traditional Eisteddfod, and the Kay Motsepe Schools Netball Cup. The announcement was made on 24 November in Johannesburg.

In the subsequent five years, from 2021 to 2025, the Motsepe Foundation will contribute another R62.5-million.

The foundation is committed to supporting and developing innovative solutions, leadership activities, internships and development programmes and other initiatives that will enhance education, sustain and provide opportunities for the benefit of the current and emerging generation of leaders, according to the organisation.

The department and the foundation are in discussions to identify prizes for the winners of the various categories of the choral and traditional eisteddfod, as well as the netball cup.

The football cup has been running for the past 10 years and is believed to have the largest prize money in a schools competition in the world. The winning school receives R1-million from total annual prize money of R3.4-million.

Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga. (Image: South African Government News Agency)

There were 25 000 public and private schools in South Africa, said Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga, and each school, from rural and urban areas, would be invited to participate in all three competitions.

"Sporting and cultural activities in education help advance social cohesion and are an integral part of a holistic education system," she said at the announcement. "As the Department of Basic Education, we are extremely grateful to the Motsepe Foundation for this generous contribution, which we believe will go a long way in advancing the development of our learners within the system."

These educational programmes would help to enhance the national identity of learners and promote the country's diverse cultural understanding.

Co-founder and deputy chairperson of the Motsepe Foundation, Precious Moloi-Motsepe.(Image: The Motsepe Foundation)

Sport and music made an important contribution to the growth and development of youth; they also helped young people to become good role models, said Precious Moloi-Motsepe, the co-founder and deputy chairperson of the Motsepe Foundation.

"My father-in-law, ABC Motsepe, loved choral and traditional music and before he started his businesses, the school where he was the headmaster participated in choral and traditional music competitions… I am also excited that we will be sponsoring netball, which is very popular among our girls," she said.

The South African Football Association (Safa) has also supported the Motsepe Foundation and the department in promoting football in schools.

Source: South African Government News Agency