Programme Director
Executive Mayor of Pixley Ka Seme District  Ms Kibi
Mayor of Umsobomvu Municipality Mr. Toto
Councillors
Officials from the National Department of Sport and Recreation
Officials from the Provincial Department of Sport, Arts and Culture
Community Members
Learners from the various schools from Noupoort
Programme Director 
Ladies and gentlemen

Allow me to open my address, by reaffirming to you that the Northern Cape Province Government cares about all communities and will continue to ensure that we are the trendsetters in creating a better life for all.
I wish to thank you all for being here today as we hand over the Siphiwo Alfred Ntsizakalo Stadium  to the community of Noupoort. This Sport Facility has been upgraded in partnership with the national Department of Sports and Recreation and the Lotto to the tune of over R13  million and will allow access to this community of Noupoort to engage in different sport codes ranging from soccer, rugby and  netball as wellness and recreational programmes.

Ladies and Gentlemen;

For too long the identification, development and nurturing of young sports athletes was a privilege that was afforded to a select few during the previous dispensation. Our present government realises the importance of sports as a key factor in ensuring nation building and social cohesion. 

We know that to produce excellent sports athletes takes years of training and guidance and that talented athletes should be identified form an early age. 

Our concern as a department is that many young people in our communities are not able to develop their talents be it in sports, the arts, education or any other field because there are no programmes and facilities in place to identify and nurture them. This occasion today is a progressive initiative to ensure that talented athletes are offered an opportunity to develop their talents and therefore excel in whatever sports activities they are involved in. 

Ladies and Gentlemen;

The Sport Stadium was not only revamped, but also renamed to the Siphiwo Alfred Ntsizakalo Stadium.Renaming of Government owned buildings and sport stadiums in our communities important for us as South Africans to reclaim our heritage and cultural identity , as well as honouring our heroes and heroines who fought the liberation of this country which we are all enjoying today.
As South Africans we must be reminded of the fact that geographical name changes are a form of symbolic compensation for human rights abuse. 
In a fractured society changing names can also be considered as a mechanism of transitional justice. As a form of symbolic reparation name changes can assist in restoring dignity and public recognition to victims.  One of those victims whose legacy we are honouring here today is Comrade Siphiwo Ntsizakalo who sacrificed his life for the liberation of the people of Noupoort. 
Ladies and Gentlemen, at this point it is apt to note that this wonderful facility was named in memory of Comrade Siphiwo Ntsizakalo, a true cadre and activist of our beloved movement, the African National Congress. Comrade Ntsizakalo hailed from this very community of Noupoort. He has also served the ANC with loyalty and dedication.

Ladies and Gentlemen;

Through sports, we have won the world’s confidence by hosting international competitions right in our backyards. We have witnessed sports serving as a unifier amongst people of various racial denominations and thus realising Madiba’s dream of building a cohesive, non-racial and non-sexist society.
As custodians of South Africa’s diverse cultural, artistic and linguistic heritage, the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture aims to develop and preserve South African culture to ensure social cohesion and nation building. And one of the measures to achieve this is through building and revamping of Sport Complexes where our communities can participate in activities which will unite them.  These facilities are safe areas where our community members, in particular the youth can express their sport talents and interact with other members of the community on a positive note.
This facility will let our young and old sportsmen and women be able to practice and participate in  more than 5 sports activities. We hope that the facility will go a long way towards creating much needed athletes that can represent our province during Olympic games and other National and International competitions. 

During the construction of the facility we created a number of jobs for the local community. We understand that it was only temporary, but I am sure that the skills obtained by the community members who helped build this facility is life long skills , skills which can be used as a testament to be employed at other construction companies. What is also of utmost of  importance is that the very same community members who worked at the facility can be proud of their handy work at a facility which is developing the community members of the Umsomvumbo Community. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, this facility is yours and an appeal is made to you as the community members of Noupoort to look after it and not vandalise the stadium. The complex must be used as a venue where the youth of Noupoort can channel their idle time and energy into sports activities and not in the social ills of society, - abuse of alcohol and drugs or become members of gangs, etc. 
Government has invested 13 million rand to revamp this facility , so please let us look after it , take ownership of it and utilise it optimally for the development of our children.

Ladies and gentlemen, in conclusion I would just like to quote a wise man by the name of Dr. Nelson Mandela who once said “Sports can create hope where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than governments in breaking down racial barriers. It laughs in the face of all types of discrimination”

I thank you!