Durban — The Parks, Recreation and Culture (PRC) unit is spending R3.4 million on cultural programmes, one of them car spinning.
The PRC was given the go-ahead at an eThekwini full council meeting to hold a women's empowerment programme on August 10, costing R500 000; a heritage and culture programme in September costing R850 000; a PRC week from September 26-30 costing R1m; and car spinning on December 16 costing R300 000.
The PRC held a Mandela Day programme in various wards between July 18 and 30, costing R840 000.
The PRC said they supported programmes that address issues affecting communities. The part of the Mandela Day programme on July 18 was held on an international day, declared by the UN to honour the legacy of Nelson Mandela. The programme included clean-up campaigns, Mandela lectures, visits to orphanages, and educational and fun programmes for children.
The PRC’s women’s empowerment programme in August, declared Women's Month, will focus on women’s achievements in different areas, including business, politics, academics and economics. In addition, their traditional roles will be discussed.
The heritage and cultural programme is aimed at promoting cultural diversity and tolerance while also recognising past events impacting different cultures. To promote heritage and culture within the City of eThekwini, during September, the PRC unit will host an ingoma in various wards and the Siyabakhumbula Memorial Day in ward 98. Public participation and information-sharing will be encouraged through the hosting of the Sports Summit, Umculo wama Zion, and a music festival at the Bay of Plenty.
The PRC said the eThekwini car spinning programme (ECSP) is aimed at promoting car spinning as a sport, among disadvantaged communities in particular, where spinning in certain areas occurs as a form of crime rather than as a sporting activity.
The ECSP is family-oriented, and some of the spinners are influential business persons. The PRC said spinning is a fast-growing sport, and they were involved to eliminate the notion that the sport is for undisciplined people. The PRC’s intention is also to empower youth to spin professionally, and it intended to open a professional training centre to move the youth away from drugs and illegal activities.
The PRC stated that a close-out report would be submitted after the implementation of the programmes.
The EFF’s proportional representation councillor Natalie Webster said the devastating impact of the recent KwaZulu-Natal floods remains evident.
Webster said a stark reminder of the floods was that they left 7 286 homes totally destroyed, 12 062 partially destroyed, and caused the loss of 445 lives, with many people unaccounted for.
“It is a shameful fact that only 108 temporary homes have been built for flood victims to date,” she said.
“Many flood victims had to seek refuge in the homes of friends and family. Many others remain sheltered in community halls under appalling conditions with no sense of privacy and stripped of their dignity.
“It would be deemed heartless of us as so-called custodians of their well-being to sit here and agree on giving priority to a car spinning event, even going as far as injecting R300 000 into this activity, when the money could be utilised in restoring people's dignity.”
She said car spinning is a hobby while a flood is a catastrophe. Webster said the EFF cannot stand by and watch a car spinning programme being given the “financial light of day” amid the aftermath of a catastrophe. The EFF opposed the car spinning programme.
Councillor Mncedisi Nxumalo said the IFP supported the programmes, especially the ECSP, and thanked the PRC for giving support to eKasi talent.
“This sport does not have facilities and requires lots of professional training. The sport puts food on the table for some families and is also multiracial.”
Daily News