Rhiza Babuyile, a leading South African community development NPO, in collaboration with the Johan Cruyff Foundation, has unveiled two Cruyff Courts in South Africa.
This collaboration marks a pivotal moment for community development in South Africa, with the courts representing a transformative space for youth engagement, empowerment, and social change.
The first of two Cruyff Courts was inaugurated at the Rhiza Agricultural Farm in Orange Farm, Gauteng, and the second unveiled at Louwville High School in Vredenburg, Western Cape. Both locations were strategically chosen to serve as safe, accessible, and inclusive spaces for children and youth in communities facing significant socio-economic challenges.
Alef Meulenburg, founder of the Rhiza Foundation, and Niels Meijer, director of the Johan Cruyff Foundation, have a long history together from their time in the basketball world, where they both competed at a high level. When they reconnected, they quickly recognised numerous shared values and opportunities to collaborate.
Their partnership is driven by a shared commitment to youth empowerment and community development. Legendary Dutch footballer Johan Cruyff opened the very first international Cruyff Court in 2004, making South Africa one of the focus countries of the Johan Cruyff Foundation.
