DCAS budget allocates R15.45m to holiday programmes for youth over the festive period

Today, MEC Anroux Marais presented the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport’s Adjusted Estimates budget for the 2021/22 financial year, foregrounding wellbeing in the Western Cape.

With a budget increase of just below R2,6 million from approximately R897,5 million to R900,1 million, MECr Marais said “We take our leading role in wellbeing serious and have made great strides in our commitment to keep hope alive during difficult times.

As various NGOs, NPOs and community projects were hard hit by the pandemic and its subsequent regulations this year, we are delighted to be able to extend school programmes for youth to be held over the December holiday across the province. Employment is lagging economic recovery and the youth continue to bear the brunt of unemployment. The department received just over R15,45 million to include local NGOs to keep youth and children engaged in various positive activities and programmes during the festive period. Not only will our younger generation be actively exposed to constructive programmes during this time, but job opportunities will also become available to locals of each district through Sport and Cultural Affairs.

As we continue to shine the lights on After School Programmes, we are indeed grateful for the R830 000 received from the Western Cape Department of Education to fund the @Home Learning Pilot project in the Cape Winelands district”.

MEC Marais also used the opportunity to thank all stakeholders, partners and Cabinet colleagues for helping us improve sport and cultural affairs in the Western Cape by sharing experiences and new ways of thinking and doing in service of all those who call the province home. We express our gratitude for the collaborative efforts to enable a safer sporting environment, creating a culture more representative of our population with policies developed to safeguard, protect and uplift the often marginalised.

Source: Government of South Africa