Note to editors: Please find attached English and Sesotho soundbites by Cllr Mahalia Kose
The Democratic Alliance (DA) conducted an oversight visit of the Kgotsong Sports and Recreation Facility in Nala Local Municipality. The potential for nurturing numerous athletes from Kgotsong has been squandered due to the Centre’s dilapidation and inoperability. In an alternate scenario, the youth could have converged at the Centre daily, participating in diverse sporting endeavours, curbing their involvement in criminality and substance misuse. Please see pictures here, here, here and here.
The distressing conditions faced by the youth in Kgotsong, Bothaville. A surge in unemployment, escalating crime rates, and the alarming prevalence of drug and alcohol abuse have cast a shadow on the prospects of the Kgotsong youth. Further exacerbating the issue is the scarcity of youth-oriented programmes within the region.
The lack of empowering initiatives has led to a profound sense of hopelessness among the youth of Kgotsong, stifling their dreams for a better future. Unfortunately, the limited availability of sports facilities in Kgotsong compounds the challenges faced by its youth. The Sporting Recreation Centre, which could have hosted a range of activities including tennis, basketball, netball, and soccer, fell victim to vandalism shortly after its development, with no maintenance efforts undertaken since. This has regrettably turned the centre into a hotspot for criminal and drug-related activities.
The disheartening state of the Recreation Centre is symptomatic of the challenges ailing Kgotsong’s community. The DA pledges to address these issues by raising questions in the council on what steps will be taken to revitalize the facility and demand action plans including time frames.
As we encourage voters to verify and update their registration status, the DA underscores these critical concerns, signifying its readiness to confront and resolve them. Additionally, we commit to prioritising the betterment of the Kgotsong youth and the community as a whole.