Meet Anita Mathews, Executive Director of The Sports Trust

Anita Mathews, Executive Director of The Sports Trust, is passionate about improving lives through sports and promoting physical and mental health across South Africa. Raised in Mitchells Plain, Cape Town, as the eldest of seven children, she learned the value of empathy and respect early in life, shaping her approach to leadership.

Despite not initially pursuing a career in sports, Anita found her calling when she joined the National Sports Council in 1995. This opportunity eventually led her to The Sports Trust, where she has thrived for over 20 years.

At The Sports Trust, Anita’s focus is on ensuring access to sport for under-resourced communities. Her work includes providing facilities, equipment, and kits, which benefit thousands of children. Understanding the significant mental health challenges in rural and township areas, she emphasizes the critical role sport plays inoffering an outlet and building resilience among young people. Under her leadership, The Sports Trust has remained committed to fostering inclusivity, mental wellness, and youth development through sport. As the organization celebrates 30 years of impact, Anita remains dedicated to making a difference, driven by a deep sense of purpose and a lifelong commitment to transforming lives through sport.

She knows that every school assisted by The Sports Trust benefits approximately 1,200 children, who gain access to sport and its myriad benefits. Sport plays a vital role in addressing mental health issues, particularly for children in rural and township areas of South Africa, where access to mental health resources is often limited.

In these communities, the challenges of daily life, including poverty, violence, and limited educational opportunities, can significantly impact the mental well-being of young people. Sport offers an invaluable outlet for these children, providing the children with a sense of purpose, belonging, and a positive focus.

Engaging in physical activity through sport not only helps to improve physical health but also plays a crucial role in enhancing mental well-being. It offers a structured environment where children can develop life skills such as teamwork, discipline, and resilience, which are essential for coping with the stresses of their environment. The camaraderie and support found in team sports can reduce feelings of isolation and help build self-esteem, providing a protective buffer against anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges.

For children in rural and township areas, sport can be a lifeline—a way to escape the harsh realities of their surroundings and find joy, connection, and hope. The work of organisations like The Sports Trust, which prioritises the provision of sports facilities, equipment, and programmes in these underserved areas, is crucial. By ensuring that children have access to sports, The Sports Trust not only fosters physicalfitness but also nurtures mental resilience, creating a foundation for healthier, happier lives.

Incorporating mental wellness into sports programmes is increasingly recognised as essential. Initiatives like the cycling development programme managed by The Sports Trust include mental wellness components, providing participants with coping mechanisms and support to navigate their challenges.

This holistic approach ensures that sport is not just about physical activity, but a powerful tool for promoting overall well- being, especially in areas where mental health support is desperately needed.

As The Sports Trust celebrates 30 years of transforming South Africa’s sporting landscape, Anita reflects on the organisation’s achievements with pride. Over the past three decades, The Sports Trust has remained sustainable, delivering on its mandate to ensure that all South Africans, both abled and disabled, have opportunities to participate in sport.

The Trust’s work, supported by its Trustees and Corporate donors, has impacted rural, previously disadvantaged schools across all nine provinces. The Trust’s focus on facility development, equipment provision, and transformation programmes has significantly impacted under- resourced communities.

Through partnerships with the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture and in assistance with the Department of Education, rural school sports teams have received the necessary support to nurture talent and progress to provincial levels. Success stories, such as the cycling development programme and the placement of a multipurpose sport court at an all-girls school in Soweto, highlight the Trust’s role in creating lasting change.

Looking ahead, The Sports Trust remains committed to its mission of enhancing education through sport, with a continued focus on mental wellness, inclusivity, and youth development.

As Anita Mathews continues her journey, she remains dedicated to making a difference in the lives of South Africans, knowing that her work in sport is not just a career, but a calling.