Cape Town Games brought together youth of the in play. Around 300 young people put their skills on display at Erica Park in Belhar, during the annual event that celebrated the power of recreation in promoting fitness and social cohesion.
Reportedly, the annual Cape Town Games has been a fixture on the Recreation and Parks Department calendar since the year 2013. The codes included friendly competitions in five-a-side soccer, fast-five-netball, dodgeball, three-a-side basketball, dominoes, table tennis, drie blikkies and puca.
The event continues to draw the growing interest of people each year, with the inclusion of new sporting codes and increasing participation from youth. This year, in 2025, it was recorded that 292 participants from across the city, including areas such as Mitchell’s Plain, Dunoon, Langa, Khayelitsha, Bonteheuwel, Hanover Park and Ocean View, among others joined the event.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Services and Health – Councillor Francine Higham stated that they witnessed incredible moments of friendly competition across the sporting codes and he want to salute each and every person who participated, cheered from the sidelines, or had a hand in organizing the event.
The Cape Town Games is an impressive event, that draws hundreds of participants each year. It also reflects the power of recreation to bring communities together, to challenge all and to remind everyone of the joy that is found in movement and connection.
Moreover, the Cape Town Games is a celebration featuring young people who regularly attend and partcipate in activities that are hosted through the Recreation and Parks Department’s Afterschool Programme.
The Afterschool Programme is offered at Community Centres across the city, which has welcomed more than 10,000 participants between July 2024 and March 2025.
Afterschool Programme caters two key age groups: the Active Kids Afterschool Programme for children aged seven to 13 years; and the Youth Afterschool Programme for those aged 13 to 18 years.
Children take part in daily activities which include a variety of sport codes, board and other active games and indigenous games, while the youth programme offers structured activities such as e-sport, mind and board games, street tournaments and life skills development through the Recreation Leadership Development Programme.
Notably, both programmes aim to promote active play, teamwork and leadership, with participation growing steadily across the city. Young people interested in joining the programme are encouraged to visit their local recreation centre and sign up for the programmes on offer.