Sports Against Crime Tournament Set for Lusikisiki This Weekend

LUSIKISIKI, Eastern Cape — A major community-driven initiative aimed at tackling crime through youth engagement is set to take place in Lusikisiki this weekend, as the Eastern Cape Department of Community Safety (DoCS) rolls out a three-day “Sports Against Crime” tournament.

According to a media alert issued on 19 March 2026, the programme will run from 20 to 22 March at the Matolweni Sports Ground in Ward 14, bringing together communities under the theme: “Musa Ukuthula Kusonakala” — a call for communities not to remain silent in the face of crime.

Sport as a Tool to Fight Crime

The initiative forms part of ongoing efforts by the Department of Community Safety, through its OR Tambo District Office, to strengthen crime prevention and improve safety at grassroots level.

Authorities say sport can play a powerful role in redirecting young people away from crime by promoting discipline, teamwork, and positive community involvement. The tournament is expected to attract local teams and spectators from across the Lusikisiki area.

Tournament Fixtures

The event will unfold over three days:

• 20 March 2026: Quarter-finals

• 21 March 2026: Semi-finals

• 22 March 2026: Finals

Activities are scheduled to run daily from 08:00 to 17:00, creating a full-day programme of sport and community engagement.

Community Safety in Focus

The programme comes at a time when many communities across the Eastern Cape continue to face crime-related challenges. Initiatives like this aim to create safer environments by actively involving residents, especially young people, in constructive activities.

By combining sport with awareness, authorities hope to strengthen partnerships between communities and law enforcement structures, while also encouraging residents to speak out against criminal activity.

Open Invitation to the Public

Members of the public and media have been invited to attend the event, with organisers encouraging strong community participation to ensure the programme’s success.

The Department believes that visible, community-based initiatives like this are key to building long-term solutions to crime — not just through enforcement, but through prevention and social development.