For Eastern Cape Schools Netball Provincial Manager Ernelda Plaatjies and her Northern Cape counterpart Roleen Van Niekerk, netball has become more than a sport. It is a platform to develop young girls, create opportunities and build pathways for the next generation.
Both women are involved in PEP mini Netball, a programme aimed at introducing young girls to the sport while supporting the development of teachers and coaches who play a key role in nurturing future talent.
Plaatjies, who has been involved in Eastern Cape schools’ netball for 16 years, has worked her way through the ranks from team manager to coach and now provincial manager.
After obtaining her coaching qualifications, she moved into coaching before taking on her current leadership role, giving her experience across different areas of the sport and a deeper understanding of what young players need to develop.
Much of her motivation comes from creating opportunities for girls from rural areas and small towns, where talented players can face significant challenges in accessing opportunities to develop.
Netball offers young girls much more than an opportunity to play sport. It gives them the chance to travel, meet new people and learn how to work alongside teammates from different backgrounds and communities,” says Plaatjies.
“Showing them that if you work hard and are disciplined enough, doors will open for you and you can reach your dreams,” she adds.
One of the highlights of her career came this year when the Eastern Cape U18 team, where she served as assistant coach, won bronze at the Telkom National Championships in Boksburg, Johannesburg.
The achievement was particularly meaningful because of one player’s journey. Plaatjies had followed the player’s development from an early age, with the youngster first coached by Plaatjies’ mother at U8 level before Plaatjies herself coached her at U13. This year, the player was named among the tournament’s Top 35 players.
For Plaatjies, the journey demonstrates the importance of introducing players to the sport at a young age and providing them with strong foundations for their future.
It is also where programmes such as PEP mini Netball play an important role, giving young girls the opportunity to develop their skills, build confidence and discover their potential while contributing to the pipeline of future provincial and national players.
In the Northern Cape, Van Niekerk brings a different but equally extensive background to the development of school netball.
With almost 30 years of experience as a teacher, Van Niekerk says her passion for working with children has been central to her career.
Being a teacher for almost 30 years is an adventure every day and comes with some challenges. Nothing is more rewarding than seeing how kids grow each day and develop their own personalities,” she says.
As Provincial Manager of the Northern Cape Schools Netball Committee under South African Schools Netball (SASN), Van Niekerk supports the growth of school netball in the province. She also serves on the SASN Selection Sub-Committee, contributing to player selection and helping uphold fairness and standards within school-level netball.
For Van Niekerk, one of the most rewarding aspects of PEP mini Netball is seeing the U7 and U9 girls experience the excitement of taking to the court, participating in festivals and leaving with smiles on their faces.
The programme also creates opportunities for teachers and coaches to develop their skills. Van Niekerk, affectionately known as the “PEP tannie”, takes pride in sharing her knowledge and supporting those who are helping shape the next generation.
Seeing teachers and coaches apply what they have learned and grow in confidence gives her a sense that her contribution will continue beyond her own involvement in the sport.
For both Plaatjies and Van Niekerk, the impact of netball extends beyond results on the court.
Their experiences highlight the importance of creating opportunities early, developing the people who support young players and ensuring that girls — particularly those from communities where opportunities may be limited — can see a future for themselves in sport.
After 16 years in Eastern Cape Schools Netball, Plaatjies describes the sport as a lifelong commitment to developing young talent. For Van Niekerk, decades of teaching and involvement in netball have similarly shaped a legacy centred on passing on knowledge and helping others grow.
Through programmes such as PEP mini Netball, both believe that the foundations being laid today can help shape the players, coaches and leaders of tomorrow.