DCAS funding aims to promote sport in communities

The Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS) handed over a total of R1 605 000 to the mayors of the Saldanha Bay, Bergrivier, Mossel Bay, Swellendam, Swartland and Theewaterskloof municipalities  on 16 April 2019 in Cape Town. This will enable them to create new sport facilities or upgrade existing facilities.

The municipalities plan to build new netball courts and to upgrade cricket pitches, sports fields and bike trails. The building and improvement of these sport facilities aims to ensure the development of sport in the various communities.

DCAS Head of Department, Brent Walters, highlighted that one of the mandates of DCAS is to promote sport and recreation within the Western Cape. He stated that DCAS is aware of the pressure on the budgets of municipalities and the department has decided to assist with the funding of certain programmes.  “Sport programmes will mean nothing, if we don’t have facilities. Today is just a small token from DCAS to say that as a department we are excited to assist you to encourage citizens of the Western Cape to participate in sport and recreation,” said Walters.

Minister of DCAS, Anroux Marais, said that the provision of facilities is a key component to developing sport in South Africa and that these facilities create environments that enable various events, from local to international, to take place in the Western Cape. “I thank the mayors and representatives here today for assisting us in realising our mission to encourage excellence and inclusiveness in sport through the effective, efficient and sustainable use of our resources, and through innovative partnerships in order for the Western Cape to become the sporting destination of South Africa.” said Minister Marais.

DCAS aims to provide Western Cape residents with quality sports facilities and works to encourage participation in sport BETTER TOGETHER.