Launched in 2012, the Diamond Challenge is a tournament that pits Africa’s strongest netball nations against each other and serves as a platform for the development of netball in Africa.
Netball SA president Mimi Mthethwa said the federation would like the 2015 Diamond Challenge, which takes place in Durban where the xenophobic violence first erupted earlier this month, to serve as a symbol of peace and unity. The tournament, which runs from June 14 to 18, will feature the national teams of Uganda, Zambia and Malawi each of which has sizeable expatriate communities living in South Africa.
“As Netball South Africa we want to send out a strong message to South Africa and the world that we stand by our African brothers and sisters. We want the world to know that we in the sports community and general populace deplore the senseless acts of violence and displacement of extremely vulnerable communities,” said Mthethwa.
“As the umbrella body for the sport that represents nearly two million active participants we call on all South Africans to take a stand against hatred and discrimination and to end the bloodshed,” she said. “We implore individuals and communities to seek peaceful means of resolving underlying issues and differences.”
