The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Msunduzi extends its heartfelt congratulations to the Midlands Wanderers Football Club that represented the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province, for their outstanding performance in the ABC Motsepe National Playoffs. Their performance has earned them promotion to the National Soccer League (NSL) First Division.
This historic achievement is not only a triumph for the club but also a moment of pride and inspiration for the youth of Msunduzi Municipality. It reflects the passion, resilience, and talent of our young athletes, many of whom come from humble backgrounds and are driven by a dream.
Sport, and particularly football, is deeply woven into the fabric of Msunduzi. It unites communities, inspires hope, and provides an alternative path for youth development. This success story underscores the critical need to continue supporting sport at both amateur and professional levels.
The DA reaffirms its commitment to the development of sport in our municipality. However, we also make it clear that sport must not be used as a smokescreen to justify corruption, mismanagement, or the looting of public funds like it happened with the Royal AM Sponsorship. While we champion initiatives that uplift communities through sport, we will not allow it to be used as a means to defraud the people of essential services.
We call on the Msunduzi Municipality to ensure that iconic facilities like Harry Gwala Stadium are fully utilized and no longer lie idle. These must become places of growth, not symbols of neglect. These should be made available at no cost to the ratepayers hard earned money but partnerships that will foster sport developments.
The DA will continue to monitor and pressure the municipality to maintain all sporting facilities, from rural areas and townships to urban centres. Every child, regardless of their background, deserves access to well-maintained spaces where they can play, grow, and dream.
We look forward to seeing even more local talent emerge and one day don the jersey of Midlands Wanderers FC.
Let this promotion be the beginning of a new era for football and youth development in Msunduzi.