Youth urged to utilise recreational facilities

KWAZULU-NATAL MEC for arts, culture, sport and recreation Weziwe Thusi yesterday challenged the youth of Malangeni in the South Coast to make use of recreational facilities.

She was speaking during the official handing over of a sports complex and a library.

The sports complex, which comprises an athletics track, a soccer pitch and change rooms, was built at a cost of R2million.

Addressing community members, Thusi said the government was on a drive to change young people's behavioural patterns, and insisted that the new facility would provide just that.

"The majority of people who are involved in anti-social behaviour are youngsters. We therefore challenge them to use these facilities in order to become productive and responsible citizens," Thusi said.

The library, which was built at a cost of R9,7million, is equipped with study material for distance learning, audio visual facilities, Internet café and a tight security system.

Sihle High School principal Mabongi Ntombela expressed gratitude for both facilities and said pupils would no longer have to travel to Umzinto when they wanted access to books.

Ntombela said Internet would assist pupils with research during their studies. "The library will benefit pupils from all the schools around our area," he said.