By Phenyo Selinda
1 November 2024 The Edgar Legoale Foundation is pleased to announce the annual Pre-Edgar Legoale Knockout 2024 Festive Soccer Tournament, set to kick off on 30 November 2024. This year, we are excited to host games for Juniors under 13 and 17, women’s teams, and Masters, leading up to the main tournament for senior teams scheduled from 14-22 December 2024. We invite teams to register by the 18 November 2024 closing date.
The Foundation is proud to support our winning teams with dedicated prize funds aimed at enabling them to obtain essential soccer equipment, fostering team development and growth, rather than personal enrichment. Over the past six years, this tournament has become a celebrated event in the Free State and beyond, thanks to the unwavering support of our community. We extend our deepest gratitude to all who have helped make this tournament a success.
The Festive Soccer Tournament and similar events are central to our mission of promoting “Pure Kasi Football,” a commitment that drives us to nurture young talent in our local communities and inspire a culture of sportsmanship.
“Together We Stand, Against GBV” is this year’s theme, reflecting our commitment to using sport as a platform for social change. Our tournament aims to inspire conversations, challenge outdated stereotypes, and rally our communities to fight against gender-based violence (GBV). Through these efforts, we aim to build a safer, more inclusive society.
The Pre-Tournament games will take place at Mandela Sports Ground (next to Boitlamo Secondary School) in Parys-Tumahole, Free State. The top eight teams in each category will compete, with a “Winner Takes All” prize structure as follows:
Prizes:
• Under 13: R5,000
• Under 17: R5,000
• Masters: R5,000
• Women’s Teams: R10,000Team Affiliation: Free
Main Tournament
The main tournament will be held from 14-22 December 2024, with games starting at 9 am daily at Mandela Sports Ground, located near Boitlamo Secondary School in Parys-Tumahole. We look forward to hosting 32 teams competing for total cash prizes of R180,000.00, distributed as follows:
• First Prize: R150,000.00
• Second Prize: R25,000.00
• Third Prize: R5,000.00Registration for the main tournament is open, with an entry fee of R2,500.00 per team. The closing date for main tournament registration will be announced soon. As part of our commitment to social responsibility, the winning team will be required to initiate a Gender-Based Violence (GBV) campaign within their community. Teams failing to fulfil this requirement will be permanently banned from future tournaments, as was the case with “Jagermeisters FC” from Vaal, which did not follow through with their campaign after last year’s victory.
Message from Edgar Legoale, Chairperson of the Edgar Legoale Foundation
To all youth, women, and Masters teams participating in this year’s tournament:
Your passion for soccer inspires us all. This tournament is your platform to showcase your skills, strengthen community bonds, and create meaningful change. As we come together for a shared purpose, remember that this event goes beyond soccer – it’s a statement of unity against social issues like GBV that impact us all.
To potential sponsors:
We call on you to join us in making a tangible impact. By partnering with us, you’re not only supporting the growth of local talent but also standing up for meaningful social change. Let’s work together to make this tournament a powerful and positive force within our communities.
Activities and Community Engagement
Our tournament activities will be inclusive and community-focused. In addition to the soccer matches, we will host awareness workshops, survivor stories, guest speakers, and sessions where experts will share valuable insights on GBV. Community members are encouraged to join us in making pledges to foster a safer environment for everyone.
Sponsorship and Media Partnerships
The Edgar Legoale Foundation is grateful for the support of Central News as the tournament’s main sponsor, along with our media partners, Blaqsnaps Media and Unplayable. We are offering further sponsorship opportunities through our Sponsorship Tier System, which ranges from Bronze to Platinum levels. Each tier offers unique benefits suited to different levels of investment. Your sponsorship will contribute to the success of this major event, helping us build a platform for local talent while raising awareness about pressing issues like GBV.
Invitation to the Community
We warmly invite members of the media, the general public, sponsors, and soccer scouts to join us as we celebrate this showcase of local talent. Vendors selling food, clothing, and other items are welcome to set up stalls at the tournament free of charge. Vendor registration will open soon, and we look forward to creating an enjoyable environment for all attendees.
Tournament Registration and Contact Information
For more information or to register, please contact:
• DJ Pots (Mzwandile Sontyale), Tournament Manager, at (078) 466-2089 (available on WhatsApp and Call)
• Blessing Maphisa, Assistant Tournament Manager, at +27 76 649 1472 (WhatsApp) or +27 673038688 (call)You can also reach us via email at: soccer@edgarlegoale.com
Visit our website: www.edgarlegoale.com
Follow us on social media:
• Facebook: @elksc and @edgarlegoalefoundation
• Twitter: Elkschallenge
• Instagram: @edgarlegoalefoundationIssued by the Edgar Legoale Foundation
Distributed by Blaqsnaps Media
Media Enquiries: bongane@blaqsnaps.co.za / blaqsnaps@gmail.com / +27 (84) 308-0975
For Interviews:
Contact DJ Pots (Mzwandile Sontyale), Tournament Manager, at (078) 466-2089 (available on WhatsApp and Call)
[21:32, 01/11/2024] +27 76 727 4801: Gauteng MEC for Health Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko Highlights Urgent Food Safety Concerns in Ekurhuleni Spaza Shops
By Mpho Moloi
Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, has raised alarms over inadequate food safety standards at certain local spaza shops within Ekurhuleni townships. The call for action follows a distressing increase in incidents where children have fallen severely ill—and in some tragic cases, have died—after consuming snacks from these informal retailers across the country.
Nkomo-Ralehoko, alongside City of Ekurhuleni officials and local councillors, led a comprehensive food safety inspection in response to public concern and rising community outrage. The blitz comes on the heels of an announcement by Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi that linked the deaths of six primary school children from Naledi, Soweto, to Terbufos, a potent organophosphate pesticide. This tragedy has not only raised questions about food safety practices in informal retailers but has spotlighted a concerning gap in regulatory enforcement, public health education, and vendor accountability within these communities.
With each tragic incident of this nature, the question lingers: what is the role of government, law enforcement, and communities in upholding and enforcing food safety standards? This opinion article will explore the layered complexities of food safety in South Africa’s informal retail sector, the critical gaps in oversight, and the steps needed to protect vulnerable communities from further harm.
Food Safety and Public Health: An Overlooked Crisis
South Africa’s food safety standards have long been under scrutiny, but recent incidents have brought to light the life-threatening dangers lurking in informal food markets. For many township residents, local spaza shops serve as essential hubs, often offering accessible, affordable food options. However, in the absence of stringent oversight and standardized practices, these retailers sometimes operate without meeting essential health requirements.
The Ekurhuleni food safety blitz revealed a shocking assortment of expired, contaminated, and improperly stored items. Among the confiscated products were spices, snacks, and even sour milk and meat well past their expiration dates. While these findings reflect individual business practices, they also underscore a systemic issue that local authorities are struggling to address: many of these shops operate informally, without regulatory checks or consequences.
As Nkomo-Ralehoko noted, many of these stores occupy municipal land illegally, raising additional questions about zoning, urban planning, and community safety. For residents who depend on these shops daily, the lack of oversight poses a silent, ongoing threat to health and well-being.
Terbufos: A Silent Killer
The tragic deaths of six children in Soweto illustrate the dangers of chemical contamination in food. Terbufos, the pesticide identified in this case, is an organophosphate known for its extreme toxicity. Typically used in agriculture, this pesticide is not intended for use around foodstuffs or near human habitation due to its lethal nature. Even minimal exposure can result in acute poisoning, particularly in children.
The presence of Terbufos in snacks consumed by these children has raised serious concerns about supply chains and contamination points. Although spaza shops may not directly handle such hazardous chemicals, the question remains: how did a product laced with Terbufos find its way onto their shelves? Is this an isolated incident, or could it signal a more pervasive issue in the food supply chain?
Government authorities, including the Department of Health and the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS), are treating this case as a national security threat—a classification typically reserved for terrorism and extreme public health emergencies. The classification highlights the severity of the situation and the urgency with which it must be addressed.
Government Response: Addressing the Perception of Neglect
The response from health officials has been swift but reactionary, driven by community outrage and public scrutiny. Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi’s recent announcement underscored the government’s intent to investigate these incidents rigorously, emphasizing that public safety is of paramount concern.
However, for many South Africans, this response comes too late. Families in affected communities have voiced frustration over what they perceive as government neglect. The fact that these incidents occur disproportionately in black townships has led to widespread suspicion that authorities are more lenient with informal retailers in these areas. According to a National Department of Health statement, these perceptions are “unfortunate and unsubstantiated,” but they underscore a real disconnect between government actions and public sentiment.
The government’s mobilization of the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD), the South African Police Service (SAPS), and other agencies reflects an earnest effort to control the crisis. Yet, it also raises questions about the long-term preventive strategies that could have forestalled such tragedies. Community members are left to wonder: where was this vigilance before the loss of young lives?
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