Spinning gains momentum in Cape Town with dedicated training facility

The beloved South African motorsport, spinning, continues to grow in prominence in Cape Town, now with the establishment of a training ground in the works.

The City of Cape Town partnered with the non-profit organisation Kaapstad 021 Spin, supported by the Lentegeur Municipal Facility Management Committee, to establish a dedicated practice ground at Lentegeur Sports Ground in Mitchells Plain. This marks a significant milestone in the sport’s development, offering a safe and structured space for enthusiasts to hone their skills.

Mayoral Committee Member for Community Services and Health, Patricia van der Ross, says it took some time to find a venue that would accommodate the needs of the spinning fraternity as well as the community the practice grounds would be in. She says spinning is not a formal event (as such no event permit would be required), but safety permits are important for the sport to be practised in a law-abiding manner.

“Any spinning events still require an event permit under restrictive safety conditions, in addition to meeting other compliance measures. We have spent over two years finding an amicable way forward and we are excited to have reached this milestone.”

The City’s Recreation and Parks Department formalised the agreement with Kaapstad 021 Spin NPC through a Cooperative Management Agreement, with further support from the Lentegeur Municipal Facility Management Committee. The facility will act as a pilot project, potentially paving the way for similar sites across the metropole. IMAGE: Supplied

Lentegeur Ward Councillor, Avron Plaatjies, echoed her sentiments, adding that he is confident that this new partnership will foster growth and development in the sport.

“It is my absolute pleasure to have played a role in this significant achievement, which underscores our commitment to promoting sport and recreation in our community. I wish the spinners every success in their future endeavours.”

Van der Ross noted that this partnership is first agreement of this nature, as well as the first of many to come.

“[It] will also act as a pilot to consider additional sites around the metropole, where members of the SPIN fraternity have indicated high participation interest.”

Spinning involves controlled car manoeuvres performed in circular motions and has gained traction as both a sport and a cultural phenomenon. Kaapstad 021 Spin representative Chris Hadji expressed gratitude for the City’s support, highlighting the organisation’s community-driven approach.

“SPIN is more than informal motorsport. We are a registered Non-Profit Company (NPC) that supports people of all backgrounds with the proceeds we make from events, prizes at competitions or simply just through offering an alternative sport to the young and older people in our communities. We are grateful to the City staff and Councillor van der Ross in particular for seeing this process through and that we finally have this agreement in place to establish our sport and grow our reach.”

This initiative aligns with national efforts to promote spinning, bolstered by a R5 million government funding boost announced earlier this year by Sports Minister, Gayton McKenzie.

“This is the first time that spinning is getting money. They have satisfied all the requirements expected from a federation just as we helping SASCOC, just as we helping Cricket SA, just as we helping the different sporting codes, we are now helping Spinning SA.”