Local corporations have committed to invest in sport, arts, culture and recreation programmes, especially in eradicating infrastructure backlogs.
To engage business and attract investment MEC of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation in Gauteng, hosted a dinner business to showcase her departments priorities for the next 5-years. These have been warmly welcomed, with business pledging various areas for collaborations and Public Private Partnership
South Africa is blessed with strong capital markets, a competitive private sector, proud democracy and a robust economic outlook. Yet, in the current climate of declining growth, emerging entrepreneurs, a need for new jobs and a concerted drive to improve public service delivery. South Africa’s Public Private Partnerships mechanism provides a great opportunity to galvanise this energy for common public good.
With no doubt, the private sector has much to offer in terms of the financial resources, people skills and experience as an investment in public infrastructure and services.
“It is the department intention to continue interacting with stakeholders, in particular business, because we know that, by working together we can unlock the sports, arts, culture and recreation opportunities nation building and economic opportunities”, said MEC Mbali Hlophe in her opening remarks.
The Stakeholder engagement attracted 60 corporates – including property giant Broll Properties, Telkom, Transnet, SAP Africa, Busmark Google SA, Telesure Holdings amongst others.
MEC Mbali Hlophe said this was done with the understanding that no meaningful growth and no significant job creation would be possible without collaboration with strategic stakeholders in business.
Busmark Pty CEO committed to adopt and refurbish one of the Department Libraries in Randfontein area, while Google pledged support in ICT skills development of young artists and athletes.
Broll Properties committed to partner with the Department to build an outdoor gym at one of its Mall, with the aim to encourage Gauteng community to live a healthier lifestyle.
The sentiments from Corporate was that they are encouraged by the MEC call for Public Private Partnership that is aimed at developing and creating enabling environment for athletes and artists to showcase their talent in the Province.
Successful sports, arts, culture and recreation development depends largely on effective partnership and networking with a wide range of community groups, service providers, facility operators, National Governing bodies, local authorities and voluntary groups.
For media enquiries contact:
Thabo Sephuma
Cell: 079 488 4687
E-mail: Thabo.Sephuma@gauteng.gov.za
