The MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Limakatso Mahasa, during her 2019/20 budget speech revealed there will be a roll-out of at least 180 libraries with over 6000 users across the province in different communities. 

She says this massive rollout of libraries seeks to promote and instil the culture of learning amongst young people across the province. She indicated that her department has been allocated R754 million and this will seek to look into four different programmes which seek to enhance the social cohesion, amongst others. Mahasa announced that various political stalwarts will be honoured at the Voortrekker Monument in Winburg by the department later this year.

Mahasa's speech in the Provincial Legislature follows after the Social Department's speech by MEC, Mamiki Qabathe, who pledged R1.3 billion to her department to look into different issues faced by the department.

The MEC for the Social Development on Tuesday said her department will allocate R5.446 million towards initiatives aimed at women empowerment across the province, amongst others.

During the debate of the speech, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC, Thembeni Ngxangisa, says the department has put out a plan to help and promote libraries in the province.  He says department seeks to channel the sporting activities which also seeks to draw young people troubled with social ills.

Meanwhile, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Member of the Provincial Legislature (MPL), Mandisa Makeseni, said the social cohesion strides must not be taken for granted.  Makeseni says the department has the ability to do better, considering the financial allocation it has received.

Makeseni also lashed out at the department for not paying attention to local artists who she says they are being marginalised and are not given a chance to grow further in their career.

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