Durban University of Technology (DUT) third year Sports Management student Bongiwe Msomi is once again in the limelight…

Durban University of Technology (DUT) third year Sports Management student Bongiwe Msomi is once again in the limelight. The South African netball team player is among six citizens who received Achievers awards at the 14th Annual Mayoral Awards for Excellence Ceremony on Friday, 4 November.

Each year the eThekwini Municipality hosts this ceremony in recognition of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) citizens whose initiatives and work have impacted the province and its communities. Some of the categories include Promotion of Tourism, Wealth and Job Creation, Clean Environment and Crime Prevention. This year’s event took place at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Conventional Centre (ICC).

Project Co-ordinator Smangele Ngiba said, “The Mayoral awards were established thirteen years ago by former KZN Mayor Obed Mlaba. The nominees are decided by a committee and a voting process follows. The Achievers category is different. We are told by the general public about citizens who do significant work and we sometimes read about them in newspapers, as was the case with Bongiwe Msomi.”

eThekwini Mayor James Nxumalo was impressed after reading a Daily News article based on Msomi’s experience at the recent 2011 Netball Championship in Singapore. Having been a representative of KZN and named best player in the tournament, it was befitting that Msomi be recognised for her achievement, Ngiba explained.

According to the gold medalist, who aspires to be the country’s best netball player, being selected for this award is a surprise and an honour.

-Naledi Hlefane