South Africa

Play is an integral part of the human condition, and in this way, play in South Africa is not unlike play in other parts of the world. The types of play activities that children and adults engage in are diverse, yet in many cases are similar to common games played throughout the world. In a country like South Africa, plagued with severe political and social hurdles, play illuminates the complex nature of the country and its people.

Access to play facilities has not yet fully integrated since the end of apartheid. For example, wealthy cities such as Cape Town feature state-of-the-art indoor rugby arenas and are more likely to have safe playground facilities. Poorer townships lack such facilities, and children play games with sticks, rocks, and other found items. These same townships have seen a recent rise in disturbing play of children that expose the hardships they face. For example, schoolyard games “Rape Me, Rape Me,” and “Hit Me, Hit Me,” played by children as young as 7 years old, dramatically reenact acts of brute force and sexual violence.

In the hopes of addressing the social problems facing South African citizens, many organizations advocate the use of play. As this country leads the world in HIV/AIDS infections, some clinics have used interactive board and computer games to encourage safe sexual choices and promote self-awareness in adolescents. Children's play has also been used to combat the challenges of living in poverty. The Play Pump, for example, uses a steel merry-go-round in schoolyards to pump fresh water for the community, preventing disease while creating new opportunities for play.

Organizations such as the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Soccerex view organized sport as a safe haven for children growing up in poverty. By donating sporting equipment and providing organized games, these groups believe that South African children will be less likely to engage in risk-taking behavior. These groups encourage the view that HIV-infected children are still valuable members of a team. Football (soccer) and cricket, are the most popular professional sports in South Africa, along with rugby; however, participation and support for these sports have historically been split along ethnic and class lines.

The Indigenous Games Project, first held in 2004, is a government-sponsored annual festival that seeks to highlight traditional games that have either disappeared or have been overshadowed by the introduction of European sports. These games involve easily acquired objects, are played by children and adults alike, and are similar to common games played throughout the world. Some of these games involve stick fighting or stick tag (Entonga, Nguni, Khokho) others focus on running ball games {Dibeke, Diketo, Dithini) or involve game boards being created in the dirt {Morabaraba and Ncuva). Other popular games include jump-roping (Kgati) and skeet shooting (Juksei).

South Africa continues to face crucial sociopolitical issues. Play can be a vital component in addressing these issues and can serve as a vehicle to better understanding the psychological, emotional, and social issues affecting the country. The 2010 World Cup of Soccer will be hosted in South Africa, with its racially integrated team competing on the international stage, shining the spotlight on the country and providing an unprecedented opportunity for all citizens to rally behind their team.

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