Harry Gwala Summer Cup Message From Mayor Cllr Sindisiwe.P Msomi
Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma Municipality is full of potential and brimming with creativity. This is evident by the extraordinary offerings from local crafters, designers and different sporting activities that have been showcased on various platforms within the municipal area. We are expecting yet another spectacular Harry Gwala Summer Cup for 2022, this rural horse riding event has continued to see impressive growth in recent years.
As Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma Municipality, we are delighted because the event has positive economic spin offs for the small and local traders who, on the day, have access to thousands of people from across the province of KwaZulu-Natal and neighbouring other provinces. Equally, the hospitality sector enjoys improved use of their accommodation facilities. We are positive 2022 will be a memorable for those who will be attending.
The race is modelled on the most popular Dundee July race. However traditional horse riding is unique in that the jockeys and racing horses are drawn from ordinary village riders from all over the province. The positive growth of the race has attracted participants from neighbouring provinces as well as the Kingdom of Lesotho. Our rural tourism has grown enormously since the inception of this race, the number of home-stays that offer accommodation to the participants has also increased in number to thirty in 2022 a direct benefit to the locals.
The event also affords aspiring fashion designers a platform to showcase their creations. In an effort to instil creativity and growth, we have roped in prominent retail sectors and promoted knowledge-sharing across businesses which in turn fosters innovation and enhances productivity. This is to ensure that relevant skills are provided for our designers to keep up with emerging trends.
We strongly appreciate the support granted by role players, sponsors and community at large for enabling this occasion to grow at such a pace. We therefore wish to use this platform to thank our Honourable MEC: Sport, Art, and Culture Ms. Amanda Bani-Mapena and the Department for making this possible.
We welcome all visitors that will be visiting our shores to witness this spectacular horse race event and we are appreciative of the partnership between stakeholders such as the provincial Department of Sport and Recreation, Harry Gwala District Municipality, to us this simply demonstrate that IGR does exists, hence together we can do more.
I thank you.
