Date: Wednesday, 22 April 2026
Time: 08:30–16:00
Venue: Faculty of Education, University of the Western Cape

Seminar To Examine The Role Of Sport In Nation-Building And Social Transformation

The Jaap Durand Chair, in collaboration with the Department of Sport, Recreation and Exercise Science in the Faculty of Community and Health Sciences at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), will host a seminar titled “South African Sport and Nation” on Wednesday, 22 April 2026.

Prof Hein Willemse, Jaap Durand Professor, said, “The seminar is premised on the recognition that sport has played a central role in shaping national identity in South Africa, while also reflecting the country’s historical inequalities. Our seminar will critically engage the enduring gap between elite performance sport and under-resourced community-level participation, highlighting the unfinished project of transformation in both sport and society.”

Elite sport in South Africa remains globally competitive, particularly in rugby, cricket, athletics, and swimming, yet is underpinned by narrow development pathways concentrated in a small number of historically privileged schools. Meanwhile, many community-level programmes continue to struggle with inadequate facilities, limited funding, and fragmented governance. 

Willemse said, “I’m often struck by the incomplete and fragmented historiography of South African sport, hopefully our seminar will contribute to a more inclusive approach to writing our sporting past. But we should also move beyond that. We have therefore invited a wide range of speakers from academia, government officials, city administrators, and sporting professionals. Some will speak on community sport, the trajectories of sport development since 1994, and obviously some will reflect on the sporting milestones we have achieved internationally. Others will speak on the requirements for sporting excellence.”

Importantly, discussions will explore sport as a form of social intervention. Participation at community level has been shown to promote discipline, teamwork, and improved physical and mental health, while offering pathways to education and employment. In vulnerable communities, sport can provide structured alternatives to crime and substance abuse, although such outcomes depend on sustained investment and effective organisation.

The seminar further highlights the need to strengthen women’s sport, which continues to face disparities in funding, visibility, and professional opportunities, despite notable achievements by female athletes.

Aligned with the Jaap Durand Chair’s commitment to justice, participation, and sustainability, this seminar invites scholars, practitioners, policymakers, and the public to reflect on the role of sport in fostering a more equitable and cohesive society.

The seminar is open to the public.

Queries to be sent to: drt@uwc.ac.za
Click here to RSVP
RSVPs Close: 16 April 2026