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29 June 2006

The Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture Ntombazana Botha together with European Union Ambassador HE L Briët will celebrate with the Motherwell and Mdantsane Urban Renewal Programmes and reflect on €28 million (R245 million) that the nodes will receive from the European Commission on 4 and 5 July 2006.

It has been five years since the programme was established, its implementation is firmly underway, and one of the successes of the programme is that it has managed to have strong collaboration with external partners such as the European Commission (EC).

Buffalo City and Nelson Mandela Metropolitan has each been awarded €14.25 million to support Urban Renewal in the nodes of Mdantsane and Motherwell. This funding will be used to improve the quality of life for marginalised people in these Eastern Cape urban areas. It will further assist in addressing problems such as poor infrastructure, high unemployment, economic isolation and severe social problems, which typically result in high levels of violent and inter-personal crime. The EC support will also contribute to improvements in planning, management, and co-ordination by the Motherwell Urban Renewal Programme (MURP's).

The events will commence with briefings to the Deputy Minister and EU Ambassador followed by visits to projects in the nodes. The days will end with community events where the Deputy Minister and the EU ambassador will interact with the communities of the nodes.

Programmes:
Date: 4 July 2006
Venue: Port Elizabeth City Hall

Date: 5 July 2006
Venue: East London City Hall

08:30 - 09:00: Arrival, Tea and administration of guests, Council Chambers city hall
09:00 - 09:30: Briefing on the MURP
09:30 - 09:40: Guests board bus for Motherwell

08:30 - 09:00: Arrival, Tea and administration of guests in the Council Chambers City Hall
09:00 - 09:40: Briefing on MURP
09:40 - 09:50: Guests board bus for Mdantsane 10:00 - 11:00 Project sites visits
10:20 - 11:20: Project site visits
11:00 -13:00: Community Event in a Marquee Tent next to the Motherwell shopping Centre
11:30 - 11:50: Tour around the Mdantsane Tourism centre exhibition

11:50 - 13:50: Community Event at the Mdantsane indoor sports centre

With this injection into urban renewal work in the three spheres of government, it is hoped that the communities of Mdantsane and Motherwell will see "seamless government" in action.

Enquiries:
Lineo Mosia
Cell: 082 684 5870

Gwen Shole-Menyatso
Cell: 082 495 5446

Issued by: Department of Provincial and Local Government
29 June 2006