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Graeme Sauls

Sports and Recreation Focus Committee

Biography

I have spent most of my life involved in sport having served as President of Eastern Province Cricket and also on the board of Cricket South Africa.

Through the years my main focus has always been on development and providing opportunities.

Currently I am assisting PE Stars FC as the club tries to gain promotion to the premier football league in the country.

At the moment our City does not have its own team in the top league of football in the country and our outstanding young players are either denied the opportunity or have to leave the city to realise their sporting dreams.

My family have always been very involved in the community and my mother has been actively involved for more than 40 years, from community helper to ward councillor.

In 2015 I established the PE Sports Legends Trust with my friend Richard Draai. The objective is simply to honour our sporting heroes from the past who were never properly acknowledged.

What do you want to see change/improve in NMB?

I want to see sport taking its rightful place in society on facilities that we can all be proud of.

I want to see our professional teams flourish and our teams not only compete but be the best in the country.

I want to see our kids play sport. I want our communities to be proud of their facilities so they will safeguard and preserve it.

I want companies to want to get involved in sport again and build up our clubs.

How will you bring about this change/improvement in NMB through AIM?

Accountability by our municipality to improve our facilities.

Ensure the correct people are employed at the facilities and not political appointees.

Forge partnerships with businesses to get involved. Use the resources within our Metro structures to develop our sports clubs by developing not only our players but the administrators.

What is your favourite place/thing about NMB?

We are a city that has always punched above our weight. We have amazing young sporting talent and a wonderful sporting heritage.

Why did you join AIM?

I want to see improvement and change. Our people are used to being treated as second rate citizens and that must stop.

Sport in our city needs to be taken seriously as it can have major socio-economic impacts on all aspects of the community.

It is vital for the development of the youth that sport offers an alternative to the current ills of our society.

Keep our kids on the courts and not in the courts.

Where did you grow up? Suburb, City

Booysens Park

High School

Bethelsdorp Senior Secondary (Bee Dee High)

I was extremely fortunate to attend a school that had a principal like Raymond Uren and teachers like Alan Zinn and many others. These were people of principle who suffered at the hands of the Apartheid government but never wavered in their dedication and commitment to the cause of our people. Their resilience and sacrifices left an indelible impression in my life and formed the basis of my involvement in assisting and developing our community.

Current Suburb you live in PE

Westering

Educational background and qualifications

I studied BCom through NMU and Unisa and completed my articles through Fisher Hoffman Stride Chartered Accountants.

Career and work experience

I've worked in various positions and different levels of management at various companies and currently work as the Operating Manager of Etex where I manage the Eastern Cape region.

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