Busy Bee RFC
The Busy Bees sports club was founded in District Six in 1923 and they moved to Langa in 1937 where they are based today. Children ranging from the under-8 to under-19 age-groups come from the area to train during the rugby season. Alfred Kewana, the head-coach, is a law enforcement officer in the Metro Police Control Room, and one of three voluntary coaches. He proudly mentions that Jongi Nokwe, the first Springbok player to score four tries against the Wallabies in a test match 53–8 victory at Ellis Park, is a product of the club!
In 2010 we set aside funds from the year to assist with transport requirements for the Busy Bees Rugby Football Club. In taking care of their transport, this team could concentrate on their rugby and they won seven of the ten matches they played. They were also supported in their participation in a Canal Walk Rugby Day at Newlands.
Rugby is an opportunity that these children deserve to enjoy and it allows them a positive outlet for their energy. Much can be said of the good that Coach Kewana has done for his community and it was recognised with his appointment as WP Women’s Rugby Selector for 2011.
In 2012 two players were selected for Western Province for U13 and U12 Craven week. With the progress in their performance, one player from U16 was invited to the Province trials, as were two U15’s. Once again we contributed towards their transport costs
In 2013 The Solstice Foundation contributed R16,400 for all the transport for all the teams for away games. This has allowed the 220 players to participate in all the games for the season. Continuing the tradition of the two previous years, one Busy Bees’ player was selected to play Craven week and was also selected to WP Sevens and was given a full boarding bursary at SACS.
Solstice contributed R14,750 in the 2014 financial year, again for transport to their matches. The Busy Bee Rugby Club is growing in the Junior and Ladies Divisions and the Juniors have linked with Bishops, where thirty Under 12 boys are trained three days a week, at Bishops, to develop better rugby skills.
Our contribution in 2015 amounted to R30,250 which included sponsorship for their year-end awards ceremony as well as some branded kit to wear. The Women’s team did well this year and the Busy Bee RFC had five Western Province ladies in the 2015 squad, one of them being the Captain.
The Busy Bees’ Senior Team went on to win the City League and the Solstice Foundation supplied 100 T-shirts for the teams in 2016, with the Busy Bee logo on the front so that they could attend matches in their team colours.
The club is now increasingly well-known and respected and Busy Bee players are well represented at all levels of the game. In 2017 we continued to subsidise their transport costs and they have maintained contact with us, keeping us up to date on achievements and activities.
Busy Bee RFC made significant progress in the second half of the 2019 Rugby Season. The Head Coach, Mr Alfred Kewana reflected on the year with a sense of accomplishment in making a difference and with a measurable impact on the lives of the children and that the club is gaining major traction in the Community.
He said “The real difference we have made on lives of the children, adults and parents extends to benefit the community at large. The real success of our work can be seen through the players eager engagement in all the activities of the club”. At a tournament in Potchefstroom, the under 17 boys, ladies and the senior teams were in the finals but due to bad weather, it could not take place. A decision was made to share all the prizes and cups among the two finalists.
The Club has achieved its goal by staying in the Super League B where it eleventh in the 2019 W.P Rugby season.
The women rugby side achieved a lot by winning the top league of W.P Rugby Union for the second time and twelve players represented the W.P. Ladies team. Three made the Springbok team which has qualified for the 2021 Women’s World Cup. The juniors won 75% of their games this season and The Busy Bees managed eight Under 18 and four Under 16 players representing W.P regional teams. Two Under 18 boys were shortlisted for the Under 18 W.P. Craven weeks team. The Under 19 team was invited for the second time by W.P. Rugby to play at the Newlands Schools Rugby Tournament where the team was wearing their brand new kit, sponsored by The Foundation.
During Covid, while the teams were unable to play matches, with the help of various corporate funders and the Friends of the Solstice we supported their families with numerous food packs delivered to Langa Sports Club.
More recently we have resumed supporting transport costs for the teams – most notable being the Fort Beaufort United Heritage Rugby Tournament where the Under 18’s won their league.
