Tweeling football a reminder to register

A week before the voter registration weekend of 1 and 2 August, Ward 8 in Tweeling held a soccer tournament organised by Mafube First. The purpose was plain. Many residents, and especially young people, still had to register or check that their details were in order, and the weekend ahead was the last opportunity to do it. A football field on a Saturday is where the youth of Tweeling already are, so that is where the message was taken.

The tournament was played over a single Saturday and the support was enormous. The winning team took home R1,500, a trophy and silver medals for the players, and the runners-up received R500 and bronze medals. Between matches the organiser spoke to the young people and the parents who had come out, reminding them that the registration weekend was their last chance and setting out plainly why it matters: without being on the roll, they have no say on 4 November 2026. This was the first tournament of its kind that Mafube First has organised in Ward 8, and the goal the ward set for itself was met.

Our thanks go to everyone who came out, and to the group in Tweeling who contributed extra player prizes of between R100 and R200. Days like this matter for more than the football. Drugs are doing real damage to our families and our community, and a tournament that gives young people something to train for, a team to belong to and a crowd to play in front of is hope made practical. To Mafube First and all the organisers in Tweeling: thank you. Pele ya pele, setjhaba sa Mafube. Ha re sebetseng mmoho. - Mafube First