The Premier’s state of the province address has provided the basis for the Provincial Government’s Programme of Action for the 2013/14 fiscal year.
The Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation remains at the centre of Provincial Government’s efforts to foster unity, nation building and social cohesion. This year will see an increase in the funding for infrastructure projects that will be driven by the department.
These will mainly include the:
- Refurbishment and upgrade of stadia;
- Provision of community library services and infrastructure; and
- Investment in legacy and heritage projects
There will also be a major shift in the planning dispensation as part of ensuring that the department incorporates both the National Development Plan (NDP) and Gauteng’s Vision 2055 in the organisational strategy and programmes.
We will also be consolidating the implementation plans of the various policies and strategies including:
- The Gauteng Competitive Sport Strategy – a drive to position Gauteng as a preferred destination for major sporting events;
- The Gauteng Geographical Names Policy Framework – an integral part of an extensive process of consulting and correcting names of identified geographical areas;
- The Gauteng Creative Industries Strategy Framework – to guide the establishment of a Gauteng Creative Industries Agency that will firmly place Gauteng at the centre of the golden economy and include all of the industry sectors (music, film, crafts, visual arts & performing arts).
Sport and Recreation
Our programmes in sport and recreation will focus on a combination of development and competitive aspects. As indicated, infrastructure now forms a major part of our way forward, an emphasis made both in the National Development Plan and the Gauteng’s Vision 2055. To this end, we will be allocating resources for the refurbishment and the upgrading of the Bob Van Reenen stadium.
We are receiving additional funding for the development of community sporting facilities and the implementation of mass participation programmes. We are also finalising the details relating to the specific facilities that we will be developing, including conducting the necessary research as it relates to the general maintenance and upkeep of the infrastructure.
Our objective is also to increase access to physical activities for people with disabilities through the spirit games which we host on an annual basis and at the same time encourage healthy living among all citizens.
Arts and Culture
The drive to position Gauteng as a preferred destination for major arts and culture events will be closely linked with our efforts to promote sport and heritage tourism. We have recently completed a successful Creative Industries Indaba, a consultative session between Provincial Government and industry players on the way forward and plan of action that will see us revitalize the creative industries sector.
Our posture is that we need to sustain the momentum created by the National Department of Arts and Culture through the Mzansi Golden Economy intervention. We have agreed on a set of proposals that will see us implement a number of programmes around:
- Music
- Film
- Performing arts
- Crafts
- Visual Arts
We already have strategies and implementation plans for these areas and the dialogue continues towards finalising the establishment of an all-encompassing Creative Industries Agency.
There are premier arts and culture events planned for Gauteng later in the year. The Executive Council has since agreed that a calendar of major events for the province be put in place and we will in due course announce details on funding as it relates to specific events and projects.
Library and information services
The Library and Information Services programme continues to be community centred in the drive to provide both infrastructure and activities that run through the libraries themselves.
Our focus will continue to be the standardisation in terms of branding, service provision and the standard of infrastructure.
Our efforts will continue to encourage communities to pursue the acquisition of knowledge and access to information by making use of the library services such as books, internet and other resources that contain information on government services. Through additional funding from the National Department of Arts and Culture, we envisage that an estimated R60 million be used to build community libraries over the Medium Term.
Heritage
As part of the National Liberation Heritage Route project, we have successfully completed the task of identifying the 100 sites that are of significance in terms of the liberation struggle, as it relates to identified communities or individuals within those settlements.
The Provincial Heritage Resources Agency will conduct further research into the identified sites and proceed with the protection and have them declared accordingly. This is part of our mission of building a thriving heritage tourism sector in the province. We seek to create economic opportunities that will stimulate economic growth and development and drive the creation of sustainable job opportunities.
Tshwane will be home of the Women’s Living Monument and we are now in the process of finalising details about the location, form and design and cost. An announcement in this regard will be made in June. We have made good progress with regard to the work on the June 16 Memorial and the Boipatong Memorial. We envisage that we should complete both projects during the course of this year.
We have now secured money for the construction of the Kagiso Memorial in the West Rand and we are now finalising the details with regard to funding for the project. We will continue with our efforts to improve the commemoration of our national days to ensure they attract the broadest section of society, that they are inclusive and take into cognisance the totality of South Africa’s historical narrative.
Among other initiatives, we will conduct dialogues specifically on national days where we will solicit the views of society about the form and content they think these important days should take. Last year we announced the renaming of both Commissioner and Sauer Streets in the Central Business District of Johannesburg.
We are finalising the modalities with regards to Commissioner Street together with the City of Joburg and the Gauteng Geographical Names Committee. We can confirm that we are proceeding with the renaming of Sauer Street and from now henceforth the street shall be known as Pixley ka Isaka Seme.
Conclusion
Whilst our work is premised from the various plans, there is greater emphasis on the need to strengthen the bonds of partnership with the various social players. On a consistent basis, we will partner with the federations in the case of sport and the various organisations in the arts, culture and heritage sectors.
We are therefore making a call from the social players to join us in partnership and the journey of making Gauteng a better place.
