Note to Editors: Attached please find a soundbite in English by Kingsol Chabalala MPL here.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s government has built only one new sports facility in five years, forcing aspiring athletes to practise on dusty, bumpy grounds. This comes despite repeated promises by Premier Lesufi to deliver sporting infrastructure in disadvantaged communities to help athletes develop their skills.
This startling information was uncovered by the Democratic Alliance (DA) in a written response from former MEC for Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation (GDSACR), Matome Chiloane, following our questions posed in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL).
According to Chiloane, the department built one sports facility at Wedela Primary School in Carletonville, in the Merafong Local Municipality, over the past five financial years, at a cost of R508,131.90.
See reply here.
These revelations are deeply concerning, yet, unfortunately, they are indicative of what we have come to expect from the Lesufi-led government, which seems disconnected from our people’s needs.
Furthermore, such revelations reflect poor planning and implementation, as there is absolutely no way the department would seek to build a single sporting facility in a province with over 16 million people.
While failing to deliver services, GDSACR lavishes on ceremonial events like the Gauteng Sports Awards (GSA), which are now occasions to wine and dine politicians and their celebrity friends while neglecting township athletes.
While Premier Lesufi has removed MEC Chiloane from this department, the appointment of MEC Lebohang Maile does not inspire confidence, as he previously led this department and almost ran it to the ground, with his tenure marked by poor performance and mismanagement of public funds.
The DA reiterates its call for GDSACR to have a designated MEC to end the cycle of poor service delivery. Such an appointment should put the interests of Gauteng residents first, rather than serve Lesufi’s political goals.
The DA is the only party capable of meeting sporting infrastructure delivery targets because of our governance track record. We will ensure that every athlete in the province is given an equal opportunity to perfect their craft and become the best at what they do.