For Roleen Van Niekerk, the Provincial Manager of the Northern Cape Schools Netball Committee under South African Schools Netball (SASN), being involved in PEP mini Netball is about much more than being part of a successful programme. It brings together two things that have shaped her life: her passion for working with children and love for developing netball.
With almost 30 years of experience as a teacher, Van Niekerk has dedicated much of her career to working with young people and watching them grow, develop their own personalities, and discover who they are.
“Being a teacher for almost 30 years is an adventure every day and comes with some challenges. Nothing is more rewarding than seeing how kids grow each day and develop their own personalities,” she says.
Her commitment to developing young people extends beyond the classroom. As Provincial Manager, Van Niekerk plays an important role in supporting the growth of school netball in the Northern Cape. She also serves on the SASN Selection Sub-Committee, contributing to the selection of players while helping uphold fairness and standards within school-level netball.
One of the most rewarding parts of her involvement in PEP mini Netball is seeing the impact the programme has on both the young players and the adults supporting them. The programme creates an opportunity to develop coaches and teachers while helping establish a strong foundation for the future of netball.
What stands out most to her is seeing the U7 and U9 girls take to the court, experience the excitement of the festivals and leave with smiles on their faces. From watching them participate to seeing their gratitude when receiving gifts, these moments have shown her just how meaningful the programme is to the young players.
Her impact also extends to the teachers and coaches involved in the programme. Being called the “PEP tannie” is a title she wears with pride, especially because it represents the opportunity to share knowledge and support those helping shape the next generation.
For Van Niekerk, seeing teachers and coaches apply what they have learned and grow in confidence is one of the most rewarding aspects of her work. Knowing that the knowledge she has shared is being passed on to others gives her a sense that she is contributing to something that will continue beyond her own involvement.
As someone who has spent decades working with children, Van Niekerk sees this as part of her own legacy: passing on knowledge, creating opportunities, and helping others grow so they can do the same for those who come after them.
Looking ahead, Van Niekerk hopes to see the programme continue reaching more young girls, while creating more opportunities for teachers and coaches to develop alongside them. Van Niekerk’s greatest reward is knowing that through the children she teaches, the players she supports and the coaches she develops, a little of what she has learned will continue to live on.
