Giants of Africa, SLAM and JDS Sports Bring Basketball Sanctuary to Johannesburg with Renovated Court at Donald Mackay Park
There’s a sign outside of Donald Mackay Park in Johannesburg, South Africa that reads, THIS IS YOUR SANCTUARY. PLEASE HELP US LOOK AFTER IT… At first glance it might read as a warning to it’s residents—many of whom are immigrants from the Congo, Angola, Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Uganda—in an area that’s dealt with crime over the years.
But parks are meant to be a place of refuge and safety. It once was according to Patrick Engelbrecht, the Director of Global Scouting for the Toronto Raptors.
“It kind of became a place where people would kind of come to prove themselves and play on these courts,” says Engelbrecht. “It was like a real mixing point where you could play against anybody, that was here..It was a place where anything could happen.”
Together, Giants of Africa, SLAM and JDS Sports’ Play with Purpose initiative set out to turn that warning sign into an invitation for the community to feel empowered. We recently unveiled the newly revitalized double courts at Donald Mackay Park.
Here, you can dive into the history of Johannesburg and see firsthand what it took to bring this monumental moment to life.
The courts’ design is inspired by the city’s vibrant and diverse community. The shades of purple pay homage to the Jacaranda trees that line the neighborhood, while the GOA logo at center court represents the growth of the game and its ability to inspire positive change. There’s beauty is in the details, too: a series of triangles positioned in a circle symbolize the rising sun, which is a beacon of hope and aspiration, while the base of the court features an index finger pointing upwards.
The imagery holds a dual meaning: visually, it’s the act of spinning a ball on a finger, but it’s also a nod to the country’s “unspoken language”—the hand sign is used to let taxi drivers know that you want to go to Johannesburg.
The city itself has a meaningful history and a deep connection with the game. There courts are next to the iconic Ponte Tower, a 567.6 foot-tall skyscraper in the Berea district, which was once the tallest residential skyscraper for almost 50 years.
Just a few blocks away is the legendary Ellis Park Stadium, which hosted the Rugby World Cup back in ’95 and the very first NBA game played on the continent of Africa in 2015.
Now, with a new court decked out in the hue of royalty, current and future generations can lace up their kicks, climb to new heights and find success both on and off the court.
“To some a park is just a place to play, but to us, it means much more,” says Yolanda Ndlovu, a resident of Ponte City, in a powerful speech held at the court’s unveiling. “The re-opening of the park, to some, a park is just a place to play, but to us it means much more. This park is a sign that we are not forgotten…For way too long we’ve been overlooked, but this park says we deserve beauty, we deserve safe spaces and places to play sports like basketball, soccer, as well as to dream. For children, this park is a place to love, to run and just enjoy being kids. For teenagers like me, it’s place to come together, to share our talent and start believing in ourselves.”
And with that, a new sanctuary awaits.
