By Nangamso Mabindla
11 April 2005

BUFFALO City Mayor Sindisile Maclean and the Deputy Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Ntombazana Botha went on a road show on Friday, 8 April, to look at the progress made by the Mdantsane Urban Renewal since its launch in 2003.

The Urban Renewal Programme sees the three spheres of government - national, provincial, and local - working together with state-owned enterprises and the private sector to eradicate poverty and underdevelopment.

The programme, set up to eradicate urban poverty in eight selected urban areas, was formulated by President Thabo Mbeki to address the social, economic, political and security needs of each community in an integrated and sustainable manner.

The identified nodes have high levels of poverty and unemployment and a high crime and underdevelopment are also prevalent.

In Mdantsane, the mayor and deputy minister spent the day visiting the areas around the township earmarked for development.

Speaking at a press briefing before the delegation departed, City Manager Mxolisi Tsika said: "All departments need to allocate funds from their own budget to ensure that the president's vision is realised."

The lack of funds allocated from national government had an impact on the speed of development, he added. However, there were some areas that progress was evident: the refurbishment of the Mdantsane Highway Rank and the housing project in Reeston and Chris Hani Park in NU 11.

Visitors toured the rank and the housing project and also stopped at the newly fenced Fikile Bengu Primary School in NU 10, where the mayor and deputy minister were greeted by songs from appreciative pupils and teachers. "It warms my heart to return home and find that our youngsters are being taken care of," said Botha.

She said she was pleased with the progress being made by the local and provincial authorities "in ensuring the children are proud of where they live".

Another stop on the tour was at the memorial for the 1983 Bus Boycott Massacre at Ergeton station in NU11 - a boycott Botha was part of.

While much of the progress is of a physical nature, the urban upgrade also touches on the empowerment of the residents, through supporting aspiring small and medium enterprises and local arts and culture.

At the Mdantsane One Stop Shop Botha stopped to look at the craftwork being done by the young entrepreneurs. "Your work is just beautiful," she said, adding, "We really need to boost our young ones and encourage the good work that they are doing."

Then it was off to the Mdantsane Art Centre where Maclean and Botha listened to musicians singing opera, with Botha joining in.

Finally it was time to move on to the packed Sisa Dukashe Stadium in NU2 to hear what the people of Mdantsane think about the regeneration programme.