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14 August 2008

The Gauteng Provincial Government's plan to reintegrate foreign nationals displaced during May's xenophobic violence took one step forward in Ekurhuleni yesterday.

That's when residents of the Gugulethu and Everest informal settlements in Springs, Ekurhuleni showed their acceptance of the displaced foreign nationals by participating (together with the foreign nationals) in a 1.5 kilometre 'unity walk' during the Gugulethu/Everest unity games.

Speaking at the official launch of the games on Wednesday, 13 August, Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture Member of the Executive Council (MEC), Barbara Creecy said the hostility experienced by the province three months ago was a learning curve for the government to respond to the residents concerns of service delivery.

"We learnt about various issues that have plagued the youth of the community. The sports grounds we stand on today have been created for the youth to play sports and develop recreational programmes," Creecy said.

Newly appointed City of Ekurhuleni Mayor, Ntombi Mekgwe, earlier went on a walk about through the community, listening to the community's concerns about issues of service delivery. She urged residents to use ward councillors to voice their desires about the kinds of development they would like seeing in the area.

MEC Creecy gave praise to residents who opened their hearts (and purses) and reintegrated foreign nationals into the community. She also assured them that the government would respond positively to their concerns.

"I want to congratulate members of this community for listening to our leaders and restoring peace and calm to this area. Since our last meeting the provincial Department of Sports, together with the City of Ekurhuleni, have graded two fully equipped netball and soccer grounds that will host the community games every Wednesday and on weekends," the MEC said.

The Gugulethu/Everest community has been included on the list of communities that will benefit from the Department of Sport's Club Development Programme (CDP). The CDP ensures mass involvement of communities in sports activities, mainly soccer and netball.

Participants of the programme will be trained as sports organisers and project managers. At the end of the training, they will receive NQ level 4 certificates that are accredited by the National Qualifications Authority. The trainees will be expected to transfer the skills by training the rest of the sports committee members in the community.

Before kick-off of a soccer match between the community and Ekurhuleni soccer legends, MEC Creecy handed two sport bags filled with four sets of soccer kits and two sets of netball kit that included balls, whistles, bibs, jerseys, pumps and cones to the community.

Issued by: Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Gauteng Provincial Government
14 August 2008
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government (http://www.srac.gpg.gov.za/)