Kempton Park residents gathered at the Kempton Park Indoor Sports Centre on October 24 for the second Annual Wheelchair Basketball Challenge.

The venue was filled with excitement as players, supporters and wheelchair basketball enthusiasts gathered to celebrate the sport and its potential to empower people living with disabilities.

The tournament was established to empower people living with disabilities by providing opportunities to develop new skills, build confidence and participate in sport.

Many people are unaware that adaptive sports such as wheelchair basketball exist. The event aimed to change perceptions, demonstrating that disability does not mean inability and highlighting what athletes can achieve.

The event was hosted by Women Leadership Social Empowerment in partnership with the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation.

“As Women Leadership Social Empowerment, we exist to respond to the socio-economic challenges faced by women, youth and people living with disabilities.

“The primary purpose was to promote inclusion and disability rights, raise awareness and break down social stigmas surrounding disability in sport by demonstrating that physical limitations do not diminish athletic ability.

“We want to showcase and empower talent by providing a high-energy, competitive platform for adaptive sports athletes to demonstrate their skills, dedication and sportsmanship. Most importantly, we want to drive community engagement and awareness.

“We wanted to introduce the community to wheelchair basketball, encouraging broader public support and fostering inclusive participation across the region.

“We also aim to foster strategic partnerships by bringing together non-profit organisations, local government departments and community partners to champion accessibility, youth empowerment and sports development,” said Women Leadership Social Empowerment project coordinator and tournament organiser Busisiwe Thwala.

The tournament was held in Kempton Park for the first time. As an Ekurhuleni event, it required a fully accessible venue with a suitable indoor court that could accommodate people living with disabilities. The Kempton Park Indoor Sports Centre was selected to meet these needs.

According to Thwala, this year’s challenge brought together six teams and 72 players from across Ekurhuleni.

The teams were formed and trained specifically for the event through NPO programmes for people living with disabilities in Daveyton. Seeing the teams take to the court and demonstrate their abilities was a highlight for the organisers.

“A highlight was the high-energy showcase finals and seeing our two newly trained developmental teams from Daveyton take to the court for the first time.

“The outcomes included increased regional participation, improved player confidence and demonstrated that adaptive sports can thrive in high-quality local facilities,” Thwala added.

The tournament promotes inclusion and creates opportunities for people living with disabilities through greater visibility and awareness. It also introduces communities to a sport many may not know exists, helping to challenge misconceptions about disability.

Thwala said one of the challenges during the planning process was securing a fully accessible indoor venue that met the required court standards, as well as co-ordinating specialised transport for adaptive equipment and the 72 players.

Thandile Zonke, one of the participants, said he had been playing wheelchair basketball for about 20 years.

“I have been playing the sport for a good 20 years. Back in school, it was the only sport I really fell in love with because of the action, the pushing, the adrenaline and the falling. I decided to try it, and 20 years later, I am still playing.

“I have also competed in the Paralympics, so it has been a long journey.

“I love everything about this sport, including teamwork and supporting one another. It teaches you that there are things you cannot do alone and that you need to work together and motivate each other. When someone is struggling, their teammates are there to assist,” Zonke said.

Women Leadership Social Empowerment plans to expand the tournament into a multi-day league, train more developmental teams across Ekurhuleni and increase youth participation in the future.

Ntando Nokama, another participant in the challenge, said he had been playing wheelchair basketball for 10 years and hoped to become a professional player.

“I have been playing wheelchair basketball for 10 years. What encouraged me to take up the sport was my desire to become a professional player. There is action and pressure, and I love it. The love I have for the sport cannot be explained. Everything about it just feels right,” Nokama said