Department of sports, arts and culture will work with the community organisations to deal with their challenges
ALEXANDRA – Issues of ageing infrastructure, shortage of facilities, government funding, user-friendly facilities for people living with a disability, high prices charged by facilities to host events were among top challenges faced by the arts and sports community.
Gauteng MEC for Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation Faith Mazibuko has promised to work closely with local organisations to find solutions in challenges faced by the sports fraternity in the area.
This was after local arts and sports organisation raised countless challenges during Premier David Makhura Ntirhisano’s visit in the area on 29 January this year.
The MEC said the outreach programme that was held in Altrec Sports Ground Community Hall was the government’s response and commitment to come and address those challenges.
Mazibuko said, “We came here today as a department of sport, arts, culture and recreation to hear and engage with you about challenges you are facing as artists and sports people. The premier has ordered me and my department to come to work out challenges you have raised during his visit here in Sankopano last month.
“We will work together with you to get to the bottom of all these problems faced by our art and sports fraternity in the area. Our duty as the department is to ensure that sports and art are developed in every community.”
Issues of ageing infrastructure, shortage of facilities, government funding, user-friendly facilities for people living with a disability, high prices charged by facilities to host events were among top challenges faced by the arts and sports community.
Lifetime president of a local football association Moss Selolo challenged the MEC to allocate a date and come to assess all sports facilities in the area. “MEC, it is not fair to you and to us as a community to crucify you about things you haven’t seen.
“I would ask that you allocate a date to come see these facilities we are talking about. We as a local football association will show you all these things we are raising here.”
The MEC and the department officials promised to come back soon to assess all sports facilities so that work that will meet the required standard can commence soon.
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