The Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, officiated the handover of two newly refurbished netball courts at Mid Ennerdale Primary School on the morning of 15 September 2025.
The refurbishment project was made possible through Aspen Pharmacare, demonstrating the company’s ongoing commitment to strengthening community sports development. The occasion also served as the official send-off for the SPAR Baby Proteas, South Africa’s U21 national netball team, as they prepare to compete in the Netball World Youth Cup in Gibraltar from 19–28 September 2025.
The Baby Proteas, seen as a crucial development stage for future senior players, have consistently qualified for the World Youth Cup and recently extended their unbeaten streak against Jamaica U21, Wales U21, and other African nations.
Ward 7’s Cllr Lois Simonse, expressed heartfelt appreciation for the project, saying: “These are things we once prayed for. We need to thank Minister Gayton McKenzie and the CEO of Aspen Pharmacare for keeping their promise to renovate the netball courts at Mid Ennerdale. Today, we are proud to announce that the courts are officially open. We are truly grateful – no words can fully describe how much this means to us. Thank you.”
Image: Cllr Lois Simonse
