Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale encouraged the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, which took over the management of the state-of-the-art multi-purpose facility in June, to ensure that the community will take ownership of the centre.
This facility, for which R18 million was originally budgeted, has amongst others a main hall that can seat 500 people, a soccer pitch, netball court, basketball court, a gymnasium with a boxing ring, a sewing room where people can be trained to sow, a clubhouse and a centre where municipal services can be paid. The building is energy efficient with a wind turbine.
It also has a computer facility for which Minister Sexwale used his business contacts to donate 20 laptops when he was informed that the facility was not fully equipped as yet.
Soweto-on-Sea, an area described by Executive Mayor Zanoxolo Wayile at the launch as the site of guerilla warfare by the ANC against the Apartheid army and police, is adjacent to the Zwide suburb.
Minister Sexwale said the community must own the new building so that they can feel that “we are not just a Soweto on the sea, we are also floating”.
The multi-purpose centre was build by the Housing Development Agency (HDA) with money from the Eastern Cape Human Settlements Department.
According to Mr Taffy Adler, Chief Executive Officer of HDA, the centre is the first non-residential development constructed by the HDA since their core responsibility is to build low-cost housing.
Minister Sexwale supported this by saying that although “Human Settlements is where we stay, it should also be the place where we learn and where we can leisure.”
Nelson Mandela Bay Executive Mayor also added that it is significant that the new facility is located in the area since several United Democratic Front meetings in addition to the guerilla warfare for the political liberation of the country were held at Soweto-on-Sea.
“This history played a significant role in propelling us towards the one hundred year celebrations of the ruling party,” he added.
The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, the owner of the site where the centre was erected, did the initial planning for the facility and took over the management of the facility earlier this year.
NMB Communications
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