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On the 9th of October 2025, the Eastern Cape MEC for Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture (DSRAC), Sibulele Ngongo, officially opened the department’s two-day strategic planning session held in Mthatha, under the King Sabata Dalindyebo Local Municipality, within the O.R. Tambo District. The session brought together internal and external stakeholders to refine the department’s plans for the year ahead.
What Happened
The planning session aims to strengthen collaboration and engagement among departmental teams and partners. According to the department, involving a broad range of stakeholders ensures greater coordination, accountability, and motivation, ultimately improving service delivery.
The gathering also provided an opportunity to reflect on last year’s achievements and challenges, using those insights to refine strategies and drive stronger performance in 2025. The goal is to produce quality, results-driven plans that meet deadlines and align with the department’s vision of building “A United, Active and Winning Province through Sport, Recreation, Arts, Culture and Heritage.”
Official Response
In her opening remarks, MEC Ngongo emphasised the importance of continuous improvement and teamwork.
“This platform allows us to learn from our past experiences, the wins, the knocks, and the lessons, to steer our department toward better outcomes,” she said.
Departmental leadership also emphasized that hosting the session in Mthatha forms part of their change management approach and supports the local economy of the O.R. Tambo District.
Community Impact
By decentralising major departmental events like this strategy dialogue, DSRAC contributes to local economic activity while also promoting inclusion and accessibility. Local businesses benefit from accommodation, catering, and logistical services during such sessions.
Moreover, participants hope the resulting strategies will help accelerate program delivery across sport, arts, and heritage sectors in the Eastern Cape.
