The Netball World Cup has been rocked by the news that members of the Jamaican team have allegedly fallen victim to a robbery in Cape Town.
The Netball World Cup in Cape Town started just over an hour ago, but it is off the court where the city is grabbing the headlines for all the wrong reasons following allegations that members of the Jamaican team fell victim to thieves in the Mother City earlier this week.
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Jamaica’s captain Jihanele Fowler took to social media to announce that she had been robbed and to question the safely of the city.
“This is so unfortunate,” she stated ahead of the team’s opening encounter against Sri Lanka today. “This place isn’t safe.”
“First they stole money from my purse now people trying to come in on us in our rooms. Really!!!!
Another Jamaican player, Shamera Sterling, reacted to her captain’s post be resharing it to her instagram account with an additional comment of her own on the matter.
“Seems like we are staying on the streets,” Sterling said. “We aren’t safe. I’m ready to go home.”
This comes after Minister of Sport Zizi Kodwa said South Africa will put together a safe tournament.
“I want to assure South Africans that the national joint operational and intelligence structure and security cluster is ready and you can see by their presence.
“Not just because there is a tournament, but there has always been that presence.
“We are happy and there are certain things we will learn as we go along and our capability to host as a country should not be in doubt. We are happy with the work that has been done,” said Kodwa.
The 2023 Netball World Cup is being held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. It’s the first time the tournament is hosted in South Africa.
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