Arts and Culture Minister, Mr Paul Mashatile accompanied by Executive Mayor of City of Johannesburg Mr Parks Tau, local councilors and senior government officials visited the community of Ivory Park as part of National Imbizo Focus Week. The event was held on Wednesday, 9 October 2012 at Ivory Park North Hall in Johannesburg.
The meeting was part of government’s programme to provide a platform for face to face interaction and engagement between the political principals and the people. During the assembly, the community raised various challenges namely corruption, unemployment, funding, lack of facilities and infrastructure, transport, housing and general service delivery challenges.
Minister Mashatile assured the community that government is fighting against corruption at all levels. He urged them to continue holding government officials accountable. “You voted us to represent you in government; we must come to you and listen to your views on how we can improve the delivery of services. You are free to criticise us and suggest solutions together. However, don’t burn libraries when you protest, I don’t understand this behavior of destroying the infrastructure you already have as a way of expressing yourselves”, said Mashatile.
The Minister further stated that the Department has been allocated budget by the National Treasury to build libraries. The long term plan is to build a library and a community arts centre in every Ward throughout the country. The first phase of the project will be to identify areas where there is a critical and urgent need for these facilities.
Whilst accentuating that local people must be given priority on jobs created in their communities, the Minister urged especially the youth to get educated and acquire skills needed to compete in the job market. He emphasized that there is a need to bring back arts education in school, so that children can understand arts related career opportunities. “We need to provide facilities for young people to develop their skills, no child should be roaming around the street or taking drugs” said Mashatile.
He acknowledged that a lot still needed to be done in terms of service delivery, however, there were many achievements accomplished since the dawn of democracy. The Minister concluded his address by encouraging the community to work together with government in order to achieve better life for all.
As we mobilise the nation towards 20 years of freedom and democracy celebrations, government encourages every sector of society to reflect on the progress made and the challenges that the nation has faced over the last two decades. While celebrating our achievements, we must also look forward to the next 20 years.
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