Pretoria - North West Premier Thandi Modise has commended the National Lotteries Board (NLB) for taking part in nation building and improving the quality of lives in various communities, especially that of women, children and people with disabilities.
Speaking at the NLB Post Indaba Stakeholders Engagement (PISE) held at Mmabatho Convention Centre, on Tuesday, Modise said her government welcomes any help, which is intended to build the socio economic agenda of the province and the country at large.
“We really appreciate the funding that is being injected by the NLB to the province. We believe that the monies received from the National Lottery are of worthy causes and will contribute to national socio-economic development.
“As the provincial government, we will always welcome with both hands any assistance that shares the same goal that is of improving the lives of our people,” she said.
The NLB was established in terms of the Lotteries Act (No 57 of 1997) to regulate the National Lottery, as well as other lotteries to raise funds and promotional competitions.
Members of the NLB are appointed by the Minister of Trade and Industry and NLB members are also trustees of the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF), into which the national lottery proceeds that are intended for allocation to good causes are deposited.
Modise thanked the NLB for the good work they have being doing since it was established.
She congratulated applicants in the North West, who were approved for grant funding as beneficiaries by NLB for the current financial year.
“We really hope that the funding that you receive here will benefit your communities and also help government to achieve its goal of reducing unemployment, poverty and inequality.
“We believe that government will achieve its objectives when working in partnership with its various stakeholders,” she said.
NLB Chief Executive Officer Charlotte Mampane said it has been many years since the National Lotteries was established in 2000.
She said much has been accomplished but more remains to be done in the area of funding.
“Our rationale resonates from the fact that National Lottery should be seen as a development agency.
“Its current and future practice should align itself to the democratic project whereby its task is essentially about giving an effective voice to many groups and interests whose voices are rarely heard in our country due to vast disparities of power, income or wealth,” she said.
Beneficiaries of the National Lottery
To date, more than R13.5 billion has been allocated to 16 000 beneficiaries, but it is not clear how many people have benefited from the money through job creation.
One of the projects that received funding from NLB is Thusanang Adventures from Masutlhe village of Mahikeng Local Municipality.
Thusanang adventure had received a funding of R9 million to pursue its dream of starting a film school in their village.
A business partner in the project, Oratile Marumo said they intend to use the whole of the funding in building a reputable film school in their village.
“We are very excited because our dreams are becoming a reality, in no time there will be a film school which will benefit mostly the youth in our village.
“We will ensure that this project does not fail but becomes one of the best in the country,” he said.
Touch Community Network from Rustenburg Local Municipality is another beneficiary project that has received funding of about R647 000.
Their existing project is a home to more than 1500 of children living with HIV and Aids.
They also provide training to community members, who are intending to provide care to vulnerable children.
Angela Meuwsen, who works at the centre also expressed her gratitude after receiving the funds.
“We really appreciate the money because we believe that it will take part in changing the lives of the children at the centre and the community at large,” she said. - SAnews.gov.za
