MultiChoice, through its flagship Let’s Play programme, has announced the handover of a brand-new, state-of-the-art netball complex to Hlabi Senior Secondary School in Mogaung village, Limpopo – a school whose netball team has dominated national competitions despite having no proper court to train on.
For Hlabi Senior Secondary School, the new netball complex represents more than just an upgrade. Until now, the only time the school’s under-19 netball team could compete on a proper court was during district and provincial stages of the DStv Schools Netball Challenge league. Despite these challenges, the team has earned a reputation as giants of South African schools’ netball.
Hlabi’s achievements include winning the inaugural DStv Netball Schools Challenge (Ubuntu Stream) in 2021 and again in 2023, which also took them to Cape Town to witness the 2023 Netball World Cup. Training on a dusty rural patch, the team went on to scoop the Developing School Team of the Year award at the 2024 SA Sports Awards, sharing the stage with sporting icons such as Springbok captain Siya Kolisi and coach Jacques Nienaber. Hlabi Secondary School’s principal, Emily Mochaki, had expressed hope that their success at the SA Sports Awards would attract sponsors to build a court. That hope has now been realised with MultiChoice’s Let’s Play delivering this world-class netball facility.
Speaking at the handover, Bonisiwe Dlamini-Makola, senior manager for transformation and CSI at MultiChoice, said: “Hlabi Senior Secondary School’s story is one of grit, talent, and unstoppable determination. Through our Let’s Play programme, we aim to break down barriers to participation in sport, and this facility will ensure that their future champions have the resources they deserve. This investment is about more than sport, it’s about giving young people in underserved and undeveloped areas opportunities to thrive, on and off the field.”
Emily Mochaki, principal of Hlabi Senior Secondary, added: “Our girls have achieved greatness against all odds. This netball complex is not only a reward for their hard work but a beacon of hope for our entire community. We are grateful to MultiChoice and Let’s Play for investing in our youth and believing in their potential.”
The new facility forms part of the Let’s Play Multipurpose Sports Fields initiative, which has already enabled over 140 000 learners from rural schools to participate in weekly sports programmes and activities on newly built fields. Alongside construction, schools receive kit bags with essential equipment including balls, whistles and cones, while life orientation teachers take part in Premier Skills Teacher Training – a five-day course developed with the English Premier League. In 2025 alone, more than 250 teachers from Burgersfort, Mahikeng, Kroonstad and Kimberley completed the programme, ensuring the facilities are used sustainably and effectively.
The sports fields are also made available to children from surrounding communities, encouraging active and healthy lifestyles.
The Let’s Play Multipurpose Sports Fields initiative reflects MultiChoice’s long-standing commitment to grassroots sports development and community upliftment. By building modern facilities in disadvantaged areas and providing training, equipment, and ongoing support, the programme is helping to create a healthier, more active generation across South Africa.
