Mid Term Report - Gauteng Online

tions by government in addressing the preventionof violence and abuse of women and childrenand services available to those affected• Educating women about the various types ofrape and the availability of Post Exposure Prophylaxis(PEP) for sexual assault victims, as well ashow to access PEP services, including safety tipsfor women in an effort to prevent incidences ofrape• Forging partnerships and improving publicawareness and mobilisation through commemoratingthe 16 Days of Activism of no violenceagainst women and children, and addressinginitiatives to extend the campaign.Information about servicesA key aspect of realising constitutional rights is anability to access services provided by government togive effect to those rights. Since 2004 the provincialgovernment has produced a variety of directorieson services provided by the provincial government,including on women, people with disabilities, children,youth, violence against women and children,economic opportunities and HIV and Aids. These areupdated annually and are distributed widely in Gautengcommunities. The information is also availableon the Gauteng government website.Sport developmentImportant strides have been made in encouragingmass participation in sport and in redressing pastimbalances in access to sporting facilities and sportsclubs.Following a sport indaba in May 2005 and thedevelopment of a competitive sport strategy, workwas focused on the development of a comprehensivesport development strategy for the province. Thesport development policy framework was developedin 2006. Among its objectives are to ensure thatsports development promotes shared economicgrowth and development, as well as social developmentand building social cohesion and sustainablecommunities. In addition, the policy aims to promotethe transformation of the sports sector to improve itsefficiency and representivity.Key pillars include promoting mass participationin sport and improving sporting facilities and infrastructure,especially in disadvantaged communities.Community sporting hubs have been established,with a particular focus on the 20 identified townships.These hubs are aimed at attracting increasingnumbers of residents into sporting activities, providingtraining and coaching, as well as making themcentres of economic activity, job creation and talentidentification. Between April 2004 and April 2006,there were already 22 sporting hubs in communitiesacross the province, with another 10 due for completionby the end of the 2006/7 financial year.The annual Masakhane games have continued to bea success, drawing in large numbers of participants.Cultural activitiesA range of cultural and arts activities have been conductedto promote social cohesion and nation buildingas well as develop the sector as an economicgrowth sector with job creation potential. The followingare some of the cultural activities undertaken bythe provincial government:• Pale Ya Rona Carnival: The provincial governmentstaged an annual street carnival in 2005and 2006 to coincide with Heritage Monthin September. The carnival aims to become adomestic and international tourist attraction.Thousands of people, including those in carnivalattire, troupes and floats, participated. Theprocess has contributed to the employment ofartists in the design and production of floats andcostumes.• Grants: To promote arts and culture and developartistic talent, about R900 000 was grantedto various arts and culture organisations in the2006/07 financial year, while R300 000 wasgiven to needy arts and culture tertiary studentsto further their studies.• Traditional music: The provincial governmentpartnered with Arts Alive in staging the Isicathamiyaand Maskandi performances to showcaseand promote traditional music. In addition,a partnership of traditional dance and musicgroups and local and provincial government hasbegun staging traditional dance events. Eventshave so far been held in Thokoza, Bekkersdaland Soweto.• Kippies Jazz club: the provincial governmentsupported the re-opening of Kippies jazz club inNovember 2006, to support musicians and topreserve our musical heritage.• Roving Tavern Jazz Programme: In partnershipwith Arts Alive and municipalities, the provincialgovernment staged the Roving Tavern JazzProgramme in Sebokeng, Katlehong, Tembisa,Eldorado Park, Brixton and Atteridgeville. Thishas helped promote up and coming jazz groupsand contribute to the building of this economicsector in these communities.Commemorative eventsIn addition to sports and cultural activities, a widerange of commemorative events have contributed tothe strengthening of social cohesion, national prideand national unity. These include Human Rights Day,52 • Midterm Report - 2004/06