eThekwini municipality plans to develop some dilapidated buildings in the city and convert them into recreation centres to promote social cohesion for the next five years.
The city has invested R238.2 million in its social cohesion programme, launched at the weekend, aimed at racially integrating people.
The city’s head of parks and recreation, Thembinkosi Ngcobo, said the programme involved many development aspects of public resources in the city.
Upgrades for parks and libraries were among the plans.
Ngcobo told councillors on Wednesday that many facilities could be used effectively.
DA councillor, Brian Jayanathan, said social cohesion was close to his heart.
“We need to work together in bringing it back,” he said.
After the committee meeting, Ngcobo said there were not many arts and culture centres and there were many municipal libraries without a main branch.
“Social cohesion is infrastructure capital. For people from different backgrounds to meet, there must be spaces that are attractive to all like parks and beaches,” he said.
As part of the project, the city spent R125 000 on tickets for a football match between AmaZulu and Golden Arrows at Moses Mabhida Stadium at the weekend.
The city has committed itself to buying tickets for all AmaZulu, Sharks and Dolphin home games.
The tickets were given to the four teams to distribute to their fans and schools.
More than half the budget, R134.2m a year, will be spent on investing in cultural programmes. A further R105m will be ploughed into a community and social infrastructure programme.
A state-of-the-art library is expected to be built in the workshop area and some branch libraries will be closed.
Defending the purchase of soccer tickets, Ngcobo said
: “Every year, about R45m goes to different sporting codes. We have decided to extend the support.”
slindile.maluleka@inl.co.za
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