South Africa to host 2023 Netball World Cup welcomed by Minister Anroux Marais | Western Cape Government

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South Africa to host 2023 Netball World Cup welcomed by Minister Anroux Marais

7 March 2019

It is with great excitement and pride that we welcome the International Netball Federation’s (INF) announcement that South Africa - and the City of Cape Town in particular - will host the 2023 Netball World Cup.

 This most welcome announcement follows a strenuous bidding process, which commenced in June 2018 when Netball South Africa requested the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport’s assistance to draft and submit a South African bid to host the World Cup in 2023.

The bidding team was inclusive of all three spheres of government, and included:

  • The National Department of Sport and Recreation: Director-General Mr Alec Moemi
  • The Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport: Dr Lyndon Bouah and Mr Kevin Malan
  • The City of Cape Town: Leonora de Souza-Zilwa and Rowelna Williams
  • Netball South Africa: Blanche De La Guerre

At the announcement, Minister Anroux Marais said, “We have been working around the clock to prepare ourselves for the 2023 Netball World Cup. Besides the efforts to secure a winning bid, our Department has increased the number of netball facilities in the province. Since December 2018, we have officially handed over new netball courts in three towns as part of the 2023 Netball World Cup Legacy Project." 

Mossel Bay, George and Malmesbury received two new netball courts in February 2019. The new netball courts will not only increase the number of netball facilities in the province, but will also create the enabling environment for local mass participation, skills development and talent identification in the code.

Minister Marais added: "We take this opportunity to thank the INF Bid Evaluation Committee for their favourable consideration. We also want to thank the bidding team for the many sacrifices made to secure us as the host country, and the South African delegation who travelled to Singapore to present our winning bid, including the National Minister Tokozile Xasa, Alderman JP Smith and President of Netball South Africa, Mrs Cecilia Molokwane. We look forward to hosting the very best Netball World Cup in 2023 at which participants and spectators, both local and international, will be afforded the opportunity to experience the splendour of our picturesque Mother City and the greater Western Cape, while further developing the code as a professional and recreational activity."

Media Enquiries: 

Stacy McLean
Spokesperson for the Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Anroux Marais
083 504 1171