By Cale Nuttall
Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, addressed attendees at the Spinning Sponsors Announcement Gala Dinner on October 12th, held at the Kenilworth Racecourse. The event marked a significant moment for the sport as sponsors for the upcoming Spinning Championship were officially revealed. The backing of corporate entities like Cell C and Kappa signals strong support for the professionalisation of spinning, a sport deeply rooted in South African car culture.
The support of these sponsors, along with the Ministerial Office of Sports, Arts, and Culture, is key to making spinning mainstream. In addition to their involvement, R5 million has been pledged as development funding to get the Championship started, ensuring that the sport continues to grow and reach new audiences. Mario Francis, Chair of the National Spinning Fraternity, expressed his excitement: “We are very fortunate that we are now getting the necessary respect from government and business to make spinning a national sport in South Africa.”
Among the notable guest speakers were Minister McKenzie, acting director-general Cynthia Khumalo, Chris Lazarus from CellC, Jonothan Schaffers from the Western Cape Spinning Fraternity, and Chair of the National Spinning Federation, Mario Francis. Each spoke about the growing momentum behind spinning and the opportunities presented by this new wave of support.
Minister McKenzie's Commitment to Spinning
When Gayton McKenzie was appointed Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture in July 2024, he pledged to make spinning one of the biggest sports in South Africa. His vocal support for the motorsport has garnered widespread attention—both positive and critical. However, the launch of the Spinning Championship shows the Department’s serious commitment to delivering on those promises, aiming to grow the sport both domestically and internationally.
McKenzie emphasized that professionalizing spinning would bring numerous benefits, not only to the sport but also to South African communities and public perception of the sport. “For too long, we [spinners] have been treated like criminals when all we wanted to do was sport; all our people wanted was to love cars,” he remarked.
Spinning’s Economic and Community Impact Highlighted
Acting Director-General of the Department of Sports, Arts, and Culture, Dr. Cynthia Khumalo, highlighted the importance of recognizing the individuals and communities behind spinning. "There are people that are behind this sport, there are individuals behind this sport, there are communities that derive a livelihood out of this. So, thank you very much, Minister Gayton McKenzie, for being a visionary. Today we are here to launch the Spinning Championships in South Africa for the first time. Thank you very much to the businesses that have come on board and recognized the potential of growing and sustaining this."
Dr. Khumalo emphasized how spinning's formal recognition can contribute to South Africa’s local economic development and tourism. “It is going to become very important that society in South Africa and even outside this country recognize this sport, spinning, as a contributor to the local economic development of this country, to tourism, to the economy of this country in general,” she added.
Impact on Youth and Communities
One of the most compelling aspects of McKenzie’s vision is how spinning can serve as a vehicle for community development. He highlighted how motorsports like spinning provide constructive outlets for young people. "Kids involved in cars don’t have money for drugs or time to buy a gun. When they have money, all they think is, ‘I need to buy oil, I need to buy tyres',” he stated. By keeping young people engaged, McKenzie believes spinning can be a positive force in the communities that need it and offer opportunities to those who might not otherwise have them.
McKenzie further underscored that the individuals leading Spinning South Africa are successful businesspeople, demonstrating the motorsport’s potential for job creation and economic growth within communities.
Sponsors Driving Inclusion and Opportunity
McKenzie expressed gratitude for the role that sponsors like Cell C and Kappa will play in making spinning accessible to all. In addition to the R5 million development funding, Kappa has committed to sponsoring the championship members' clothing. Drivers, crew, team managers, and other participants will be outfitted in Kappa apparel, reinforcing the professional image of the sport. “This is a sport for the people, and it must remain with the people” McKenzie emphasised, noting that while spinning is becoming more professional, it must remain an inclusive and non-elitist motorsport.
With corporate support and government backing, the future of spinning looks bright. The vision is for spinning to remain accessible to all, ensuring that the motorsport’s growth does not alienate its grassroots supporters.
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