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The Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism today (Sunday 26/11/200) launched the second phase of the Hector Peterson Memorial Square in Soweto when he unveiled the memorial stone to Hector Peterson, the 14-year-old schoolboy who was one of the first fatalities of the Soweto uprising in 1976, on the new square.

The Hector Peterson Memorial Square is the flagship tourism development project of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism programme using poverty relief funds.

About R2 billion in poverty relief funds have been earmarked by government as part of its commitment to fight poverty and create jobs in our country. The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism has been given a total of R169 million for tourist-related poverty relief projects. This has resulted in the approval of some 118 projects.

The Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Mohammed Valli Moosa said that the R16-million Hector Peterson Memorial was part of a larger plan to open Soweto. The site is one of many (including Freedom Square, Regina Mundi, the home of many prominent leaders of the struggle (Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Desmond Tutu and Zeth Mothopeng) and the Oppenheimer Tower and Park) which forms part of the tourist route depicting the history of Soweto.

"The Hector Peterson Memorial is an important monument of the history of struggle in our country for the people of South Africa, but it also is an interesting place for visitors to our country. Already Soweto is the 16th most visited site in South Africa and with the development of more sites, it will attract even more visitors who are interested in discovering and experiencing the history of our country," he said.

The project, which is now in Phase Two of construction and will be opened next year, will create 2500 jobs. Further permanent jobs will be created as the site develops. The Standard Bank and the Soweto TLC are DEAT's partners in the project along with the Soweto Heritage Trust.

The site will provide public facilities, historic information and tourist services. At present the memorial provides the main focus of all Soweto tours. The main visitors' centre will be located at the site and have photographic exhibitions, a museum, art gallery, curio shops and will form a link with the well-known Uncle Tom's community centre.

The second phase of construction is expected to start next month and it is planned to open the completed memorial on Heritage Day next year (2002).

DEAT's poverty relief projects are situated throughout the country and try to maximise their effect in poor areas. The main target group (60%) is women-headed households earning less than R600 per month. The tourism projects are expected to produce 8600 jobs. The types of projects that have been funded include:

* Waste Management Projects where household waste is collected sorted and the reusable portions sold to recyclers or used in compost for the production of vegetable gardens. We expect to create 3800 jobs with this initiative.

* The Coast Care Programme where waste is collected from our beaches and again the reusable items sold to recyclers. Here 1300 jobs will be created.

* Craft Development Projects where training in the production and quality improvement of traditional crafts is carried out.

* Cultural Villages where the intent is to create a cultural experience for the tourist and at the same time provide an outlet for traditional crafts.

* Coastal Development Projects where the intent is to create a sustainable livelihood for the poor people in poverty stricken areas. Kelp farming and lobster and abalone ranching are other projects that are presently being considered for funding.

All Inquiries: JJ Tabane - 082 465 6166

Issued by the Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, 26 November 2000