Ramatsiyi Moholoa

Ramatsiyi Moholoa

James Shabangu, the prominent Orange Farm soccer administrator, has been elected president of the newly formed Johannesburg Sports Council.

Shabangu, who is the chairman of the Orange Farm Sports Council, was elected to the post in Braamfontein last weekend.

Last Thursday, Shabangu was elected president of Region G Sports Council. Region G covers Orange Farm, Lenasia, Ennerdale, Poortjie and Finetown.

Sports councils are part of an effort by Gauteng MEC of sports, arts, culture and recreation, Barbara Creecy, to drive mass participation programmes in the province.

The councils will also help set up proper structures for sports clubs and organisations and help government with the roll-out of school sports.

"It is a great honour to lead the sports council in Johannesburg, a city which will host the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2010 World Cup," said Shabangu.

"Our mandate is to put up structures in our communities and create a platform where young and old residents will participate in competitive sport.

"We cater for all sporting codes but the priority is soccer, rugby, cricket, boxing, swimming, basketball and athletics."

Asked about the lack of swimming pools in black areas, Shabangu said: "The Gauteng department of sports, arts, culture and recreation has built multi-sports complexes, we also have swimming pools there."