DELMAS – The MEC for Sports, Culture and Recreation, Leah Mabuza, has announced that municipalities must allocate at least 5% of the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) to maintaining and developing recreational facilities. Mabuza made the announcement during the Taking the Legislature to the People (TLP) feedback and public hearing at the Simon Gondwe Sports Centre in Delmas on Tuesday, March 11, 2025.
“I have requested the Head of Department, Mr Ntombela, that part of the MIG allocation must be used for recreational facilities and also parks,” Mabuza said.
The announcement followed a request from elderly residents of VKLM, who expressed concerns about the lack of proper facilities for exercise to help them stay fit and healthy.
“We grew up playing on those dusty grounds. We can use them for recreational activities if they are well taken care of since we cannot afford to build stadiums,” Mabuza added.
Mabuza also addressed a request from Endumbeni Creative and Cultural Centre for assistance in continuing their school arts programmes after the national Department of Sport, Arts and Culture terminated their funding.
“We have requested Endumbeni to submit their papers, and we are still looking into how we can assist them because they were not initially part of our budget. We are open to engaging with them so that we don’t lose the beautiful work and the talent I have witnessed from them,” Mabuza said.
Alongside the TLP, the MEC and her team also took the opportunity to donate sporting attire to schools as part of the national school sports initiative.
