Note to editors: Please find attached English soundbite by Kingsol Chabalala MPL.
Young athletes in Gauteng communities have been left on the sidelines as Premier Panyaza Lesufi has failed to deliver 14 artificial turf fields he pledged in 2023 during his State of the Province Address (SOPA). This contributes to Lesufi’s long record of empty promises, demonstrating a lack of political will to address the Gauteng residents’ sporting needs.
Lesufi’s failure to deliver on his promise was confirmed in a written response from the former MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation (SACR), Matome Chiloane, following questions posed by the DA in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL).
According to Chiloane, the 2023 plan to upgrade 14 soccer fields with the installation of artificial turf in municipalities across the province, totalling over R407 million, has not gotten off the ground. In fact, the project that Lesufi announced with great fanfare is currently unfunded and has no set timeline, despite municipalities submitting lists of soccer fields for upgrades through the Intergovernmental Relations (IGR) framework.
See reply here.
This is a betrayal of our young athletes in disadvantaged communities who are fighting to develop their skills and compete on the world’s stage. These athletes are denied access to the basic facilities they need to train and succeed by a Premier who is big on promises and thin on action.
Furthermore, the power of sport in keeping our children away from drugs and crime, and to help them overcome the mental health crises devastating our communities, is well-documented. Yet Lesufi could not be bothered.
The DA will table questions to the incoming MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation (SACR), Lebohang Maile, seeking answers on why the promised artificial turfs were never delivered and the current state of those facilities.
The fact that the MEC for SACR continues to hold dual roles in both SACR and Education after Lesufi’s self-serving cabinet reshuffle shows his disregard for the importance of these portfolios. The DA reiterates its call for a capable, designated MEC to take charge of this department and help it fulfil its mandate.
The DA is the only party that genuinely cares about athletes in our province. We would have delivered the artificial turfs on time and within budget, empowering disadvantaged communities and unlocking the potential of our youth.