Cultural Affairs and Sport

The Western Cape School Sport Programme, implemented jointly by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS) and the Western Cape Education Department (WCED), currently supports a broad base of schools across all districts and municipalities in the province.

Based on the most recent verified baseline data and programme reporting:

• Approximately 950 ordinary public schools across the province are currently benefiting from structured school sport programmes, with participation predominantly concentrated in athletics and cross country, reflecting active learner engagement intra-school activities.
• In addition, a total of 1,479 schools have registered for participation in inter-school leagues; however, this figure reflects expressed demand rather than confirmed, sustained participation across codes.
• The next phase will focus on translating this demand into active, multi-code participation by sharing verified demand data with the relevant sport federations and strengthening their capacity to respond through structured league delivery, targeted support, and resource alignment, in line with the coordinated implementation approach of the Western Cape School Sport Strategy.
• These schools are distributed across all municipalities, with higher concentrations in metro districts and targeted expansion in rural and under-served areas in line with the Western Cape School Sport Strategy (2025–2029).
• A detailed municipal breakdown is maintained through the Department’s School Sport database and Power BI dashboard and can be provided on request.

(b)       In terms of schools participating in the programme:

• • Approximately 60–65% are no-fee (Quintile 1–3) schools
  • Across the province, the Strategy prioritises 624 low- and no-fee schools over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, including LSEN and special schools catering for learners with disabilities, ensuring a footprint in each municipality through targeted support for equipment provision, league participation, and focused interventions.
  • This approach ensures that public investment is directed towards schools with the greatest need, addressing historical inequalities in access to sport infrastructure, equipment, and opportunities.

(c)       In terms of learner participation:

• Approximately 159 884 learners participate in school sport programmes at district/local level, forming the foundation of mass participation across the province; approximately 7 653 learners participate at provincial level; and approximately 1250 learners progress to national level through structured talent pathways and participation in the National School Sport Championship.
• When including broader programme platforms such as intra-school activities, MOD (Mass Participation; Opportunity and Access; Development and Growth Programme), and festivals, total reach exceeds 231 884 learners annually across the province. The MOD Programme on its own accounted for approximately 72 000 participants in 2025/26.

Participation includes structured leagues, inter-school competitions, and regular participation formats as defined in national guidelines, ensuring both mass participation and pathways for talent development.