Leisure Experience Research Opportunity in South Africa 2024

This article was written for Uncover magazine - Meaningful Leisure Experiences. 

Authors: Marie Young is a professor at the University of Western Cape Town, Dr Makhaya Malema works at the University of Western Cape Town, and Miklos Banhidi is a professor at the Hungarian University of Sports Science.

Cape Town, located on the south-west coast of South Africa, is renowned for its stunning natural landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and vibrant recreational opportunities. The City of Cape Town's Recreation and Parks Department plays a vital role in enhancing the quality of life for residents and visitors by managing and maintaining public recreational spaces, parks, and green areas. Their vision is to create a vibrant and healthy city by providing accessible and well-maintained outdoor spaces for leisure, sports, and community activities.

A wide range of programmes
The department's Active Communities programmes engage people of all ages in physical activities that promote health and well-being. Fun and social engagement are at the centre of each programme, ensuring participants enjoy their time while staying active.

Various youth leadership programmes and annual camps are organised in partnership with organisations like Chrysalis Academy and Waves for Change. These programmes equip young people with leadership skills and provide opportunities for personal growth and social cohesion. During school holidays, the department offers Winter Holiday Recreation Programmes, which include activities such as board games, Indigenous games, hiking, and holiday camps, helping to keep children engaged in healthy behaviours. After-school programmes, conducted at recreation hubs and community centres every day, cater to about 25,000 children a month. These include activities such as football, arts and crafts, life skills, and reading. The Arts Aweh programme offers children opportunities to engage in various art forms, including the performing arts, visual arts, music, and drama.

Programmes for adults and seniors focus on activities like aerobics, walking clubs, fitness exercises, and educational talks, promoting active ageing. Inclusive programmes for people living with disabilities ensure that everyone has access to recreational activities. The success of these programmes is primarily attributed to community engagement, with volunteering opportunities promoting mental and physical well-being, contentment, and social connections.

Auto-ethnographic approach
LERO used an auto-ethnographic approach to understand the experiences and challenges of promoting sustainability and well-being through recreational activities. The project supported the UNESCO Sustainable Development Goals and involved students from various universities worldwide. The methodology consisted of several phases, beginning with students visiting local community recreation programmes in their home countries. They then participated in online sessions to learn about Cape Town and its Recreation and Parks Department and attended workshops on research methods and academic writing skills. Additionally, they conducted fieldwork. The fieldwork phase involved students travelling to Cape Town, where they spent two days experiencing the community recreation programmes first-hand. They took extensive notes and pictures, drew maps, and made videos to document their observations.

After their fieldwork, the students analysed their notes under supervision, identifying recurrent themes and organising principles for their report and presentation. Finally, they prepared a written report and a presentation on their findings to the City of Cape Town’s Recreation and Parks Department, offering valuable insights and recommendations.

The research identified several key themes and sub-themes related to the recreational programmes the City of Cape Town offers. 

Theme 1: recreational programmes
Cape Town offers various recreational programmes to promote physical health, social interaction, and community engagement for all age groups. These include recreation leadership development, chair aerobics, kickboxing, support groups, arts and crafts, open play, sports, Indigenous games, skills development, out-of-school activities, holiday activities, early childhood development, after-school activities, aerobic fitness, and hiking challenges. 

Field studies at the Cape Town Recreation Centres reveal positive outcomes, with participants noting improvements in physical health, stress management, social connections, and personal development. Programmes like aerobic fitness help manage chronic pain and enhance quality of life. Children develop teamwork, leadership, and social skills, while adults and seniors benefit from better mental health and stronger social networks. Participants report gains in physical fitness, mental well-being, social engagement, and crucial life skills such as leadership, communication, and problem-solving. Activities foster community, respect, and self-motivation, enhancing social skills and self-esteem. 

However, there is a gap in programmes specifically for youth at risk of gang involvement. Challenges include ensuring participant safety, programme sustainability, financial constraints, and the need for more trained staff. Security concerns and financial limitations affect programme implementation. The department addresses these issues through community engagement, leveraging volunteers, and partnering with local organisations to ensure the success and continuity of recreational programmes.

Theme 2: target groups
The findings highlight the crucial role of recreational spaces in supporting various community groups in South Africa. For children under 18, these spaces enhance cognitive, physical, emotional, mental, and social development, with programmes in Steenberg, Seawinds, and Coniston engaging young children and teenagers. Elders, defined as males over 65 and females over 60, benefit from activities such as chair aerobics and arts and crafts, which keep them active and socially connected. Inclusive programmes for people with disabilities foster a sense of belonging and independence, improving their self-image and social acceptance. Youth aged 18 to 34 face challenges such as substance abuse and gang involvement, but leadership development programmes at recreation centres aim to provide positive engagement and skills, although participation remains low. Additionally, these centres promote unity and cultural awareness by welcoming participants from diverse backgrounds, despite occasional disruptions from gangsterism and religious events.

Theme 3: facility management
The mission to enhance Cape Town's lifestyle through well-maintained sports and recreation facilities faces several challenges. Resource constraints, including financial, human, and technological limitations, hinder sustainability and implementation, often leading to pollution and budget cuts. Complex regulatory frameworks and environmental laws add to the difficulties, with community resistance and political interference complicating collaboration with local governments and stakeholders. Facilities like Facility No. 2, open to all community members free of charge, struggle with inadequate staffing and resources, impacting administration and programme delivery. Budget cuts further exacerbate these issues, reducing resources, operating hours, and maintenance, particularly affecting low-income communities. Despite these challenges, recreational activities promote physical activity, mental health, and community cohesion. Inclusivity remains a concern, with limited accommodation for people with disabilities. Safety and security issues, such as crime and shootings, also impact the use of recreational spaces. The need for sustainable planning, increased advocacy, and support from local governments, NGOs, and the community is crucial to preserving these essential resources and ensuring they serve all community members effectively.

Theme 4: community and stakeholder involvement
The LERO student researchers assessed community and stakeholder involvement in three Muizenberg, Cape Town centres: Seawinds, Steenberg, and Coniston. Community stakeholders played crucial roles, including members, leaders, churches, South African police services, and gang members. The involvement of community members varied; in Seawinds there were active participants, with some facilitating programmes and assisting with children's activities. In contrast, Coniston lacked community support, hindering programme implementation. Steenberg benefited from strong community involvement, with programmes developed by locals. Community leaders advocated for better resources and infrastructure, ensuring the centres’ growth. Churches contributed to moral and social development, offering after-school activities and mentorship for at-risk youth. Gang members had a dual impact: some disrupted activities, while others promoted anti-violence campaigns and youth programmes. South African police services ensured safety, collaborating with community leaders and staff to deter crime, though their presence was met with mixed reactions. The study highlighted the need for better community-police relations to improve the safety of recreational spaces. Overall, active community involvement was central to the success of these centres, but financial barriers and inconsistent access to facilities limited their impact.

To conclude
The recreational programmes offered by the City of Cape Town significantly enhance participants' health and well-being, playing a crucial role in improving the quality of life for residents and visitors. To address identified challenges, the department should increase funding, enhance security, develop tailored youth programmes, strengthen community engagement, and offer staff training. These recommendations will help sustain a vibrant, healthy, and inclusive community.