Minister of Sport and Recreation, Mr Fikile Mbalula
Premier of Kwa Zulu Natal, Mr Senzo Mchunu
MEC of Sport and Recreation, Ms Ntombikayise Sibhidla-Saphetha
Executive Mayor of eThekwini Municipality, Cllr James Nxumalo
President of IKO Matsushima    Yoshikazu Matsushima
Head of IKO Matsushima South Africa Khanyisani Mazibuko
International Karate Officials and
International Athletes  
Students
Ladies and gentlemen

It is a great honour for us as a country and this city of Durban in particular to be hosting the 4th Kyokushin Karate World Cup.  

This is the first karate world cup tournament in the African continent and it gives us a great pride to be able to once more showcase our ability as a country to host major international events.
 
This event is also important for this city in the context of this tourism month, as it attracted a significant number of people to the city during this period and possibly beyond. 

It adds its own knack of heritage by bringing people of different cultures and nationalities together in one joint event.
 
This is the formidable power of sport; it bridges both the international and cultural divide; it has also shown itself to be an important instrument of peace and social cohesion. 

We thank all the people here who graced our shores this week for this tournament and trust that they have had meaningful engagement so far. 

Compatriots

Today we will be participating in the important karate tournament under three themes, Self Defence, Self Discipline, which the sport imbibe, as well as Crime Prevention.

The three themes encapsulate the importance of karate as a sporting code.

Like any other sport, karate contributes to health and physical wellness and prevents many lifestyle diseases among people.  

It takes children away from the streets, enhances their physical and mental fitness, and provides them with important life and survival skills.

It can also be a very useful tool or instrument for preventing  the youth from taking drugs and other forms of delinquency. 

But unlike any other sport, karate equips people for self-defence; you are able to stand your ground in challenging situations when you are involved in this sport.  

It teaches self-discipline, mostly emotional intelligence and temperance, which is important in how we handle the challenging situations that confront us in our daily lives.

Karate is also important in the sense that it empowers people to prevent crime, which is a very positive contribution. 

It therefore also has its unique way of enhancing social cohesion. 

Ladies and gentlemen

I believe that this tournament is also in a way a fitting tribute to the late Great Shihan Sabela in the first place and Branch Chief Khanyisani Mazibuko for all their efforts in bringing the IKO World Cup to South Africa. 

Shihan Alpheous Sabela, a man of this province and from Inanda, around Durban, made an enormous contribution to the sport of karate over many years. 

He started training karate in the early 1970s, and established many karate schools or Dojos. He went on to become one of the best in the sport internationally.

A recipient of international awards, he was also instrumental in the establishment of the annual Jacob Zuma Karate Cup.

It is proper therefore that we remember him on this occasion, as one of our national and international heroes in this sporting code.

We also acknowledge the community projects that IKO Matsushima is planning to implement, particularly taking the youth from the streets and visiting prisons to organise Karate clubs among prisoners, transforming many of the prisoners into disciplined people.  

This goes on to show the immense potential that sports has towards nation-building, and we are honoured this year to host this tournament. 

We trust that it lives up to its hardiness and brings out the best out of all participants.  

May you have a fulfilling event and let the best win.

I Thank You!