Alencon Primary School in Woodhurst, Chatsworth has now taken full ownership of a modern combi-court, courtesy of the Department of Sport and Recreation.

While the work on the facility was completed in the last financial year, day that the school had been waiting for came today, Friday 22 August, with the handing over of the courts to the school by the MEC for Sport and Recreation, Mr. Amichand Rajbansi at a special inauguration ceremony.

The sports facility which had previously been a tennis court had been dilapidated and unused since the 1980s because of lack of funds to renovate as the population served by the school falls into the sub-economic group.

The new facility has been made possible by Mr. Rajbansi following numerous appeals by the former principal, Mr. PN Roopnarain and the current serving principal Mrs. A. Ramfol. In their motivation the school indicated that the facility will not only benefit the learners but the community as well.

They had only asked for the restoration of the tennis because interest had grown amongst the children, but ended up getting much more.The old court was demolished and rebuilt from the ground up. New features and equipment were also added to cater not only for tennis, but other sports such as volleyball and netball. Basketball poles are to be added as well. The cost so far has been R110 000.

Recently the MEC handed over facilities to other schools including Woodhurst Secondary, Astra Primary, Arena Park Secondary and Alencon Primary and Bhekaphambili Public Primary, Msizi Dube Primary , AJ Mwelase Secondary School and Entuthukweni Public Primary all of the neighboring Lamontville.

Similar facilities have also been completed at least three Umlazi schools.Altogether the Department has built about 140 such facilities in different parts of the province.Mr. Rajbansi has pointed out that most schools that have benefited from the program have mainly previously disadvantaged learners.

Communities and sporting bodies have applauded the significant contribution and achievement of the Department of Sport and Recreation despite its limited budget.

The National Minister of Sport and Recreation, Rev Dr. Makhenkesi Stofile has on several praised KZN Sport Recreation as the best performing department of sport in the country.