After serving as the Chairperson of the South African National AIDS Council Civil Society Forum (SANAC CSF) for an impressive 11 years, Steve Letsike is set to leave a permanent mark on the organization through the Steve Letsike Annual Legacy Games. This event, taking place as part of the post-World TB Day social mobilization activities, will cement her role as a remarkable leader dedicated to the cause of combatting HIV, TB, and STIs in South Africa.
The Steve Letsike Annual Legacy Games will be showcasing the powerful impact of sport in addressing HIV and TB. The event is in line with the commitments made on 24 March 2023, during the commemoration of World TB Day at Tlhabane Stadium and the launch of the new National Strategic Plan on HIV, TB, and STIs for the years 2023 to 2028. As the Chairperson of SANAC CSF and the Co-Chairperson of SANAC alongside Deputy President Paul Mashatile, Steve Letsike has been a driving force in championing public health initiatives and promoting social change. The Steve Letsike Annual Legacy Games hold special significance, symbolising her unwavering dedication to the betterment of South African communities.
The games will involve eight teams who will participate in a soccer tournament over the weekend, promoting not only the message of health awareness, particularly focused on HIV and TB, but also sportsmanship, unity, and camaraderie among the communities they represent. A team draw event is scheduled for Thursday, 27 July 2023, at 16:00, at 70 Mmilo Street, Tlhabane West (Opposite Geelhout Secondary School) in Rustenburg where representatives from the participating teams will be present. The draw will determine the matchups for the exhilarating soccer games to take place during the legacy event which will be held at Tlhabane Stadium on Saturday 29 July, and Sunday 30 July 2023.
In anticipation of the event, Steve Letsike expressed her belief in the potential of sport-based programs to drive positive change, stating, “It is my belief that sport-based programs provide a suitable space to change the attitudes of young people towards HIV and TB, and most importantly, we expect to see a significant improvement in health knowledge, attitude, how we address gender norms, self-efficacy, and future orientation of youth who participated in the programs for better health outcomes. It is a privilege to serve South Africa through SANAC and through Civil Society Forum.”
As the secretariat of the Sport, Arts & Culture sector, Show Me Your Number (SMYN) actively supports the Steve Letsike Annual Legacy Games. Show Me Your Number pledged to harness the power of sports in addressing and eradicating new HIV and TB infections, and through this soccer tournament, they are demonstrating their unwavering commitment to this cause.
Mabalane Mfundisi, Executive Director of Show Me Your Number and National Chairperson of the SANAC Sport, Arts & Culture Sector, echoed Steve’s sentiments and said, “When commitments are made, no matter how small, those commitments must be fulfilled. In the lead-up to World TB Day 2023 hosted in Tlhabane, as Show Me Your Number, we pledged to demonstrate the power of sport in addressing TB, and through this soccer tournament, we are demonstrating this commitment. Communities Matter through sustainable partnership and collective action, hence our support for the Steve Letsike Annual Legacy Games.”
The Steve Letsike Annual Legacy Games promises to be a celebration of community, health, and unity. This event exemplifies the remarkable contributions of Steve Letsike during her tenure as the Chairperson of SANAC CSF and stands as a testament to Letsike’s tireless efforts in advancing public health and the fight against HIV, TB, and STIs in South Africa, leaving behind a legacy that will continue to inspire and create positive change for years to come.
Members of the media are invited to cover the team draw event on Thursday, 27 July 2023, at 16:00 at 70 Mmilo Street, Tlhabane West (Opposite Geelhout Secondary School), Rustenburg. There will be opportunities to interview Steve Letsike, Mabalane Mfundisi, and other key stakeholders involved in the event.