08 Dec 2019

Assistant Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development Mr Buti Billy says there are no plans to upgrade the Selebi Phikwe sports stadium in the current National Development Plan.

Responding to a question in Parliament, Mr Billy noted that his ministry was working with the Selebi Phikwe Economic Diversification Unit (SPEDU) to develop and sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that would focus on four key areas of investment facilitation, investment promotion, policy advocacy, conducive environment and creation of linkages and networking. 

This collaboration, the minister said, would among other things, facilitate the uptake of youth-centred investment opportunities within the SPEDU priority economic sectors of comparative advantage such as tourism, agro-business and manufacturing. 

He said the MoU was aimed at supporting the marketing of products, services, projects and activities by the SPEDU region youth to enhance access to wider markets. 

He explained that currently, Selebi Phikwe could only host sporting activities that were at a level allowed by the available facilities. Also, Mr Billy noted that his ministry, through its sports structures, would continue to deliberately channel sports events to the town; mentioning the 1000km Toyota Desert race, which was moved to Selebi Phikwe. 

The minister also noted that the ministry had not undertaken a survey of the extent of poverty that was affecting families and in particular the youth following the closure of the BCL Mine.

Member of Parliament for Selebi Phikwe East Mr Kgoberego Nkawana had asked the minister to state if they would upgrade the sports stadium to the standard that it could attract big football games and other sporting codes. He also wanted the minister to state if they would make efforts to channel major sporting activities to Selebi Phikwe and if there were plans in place to assist the youth. ends