Janine Oelofse
PETROSA handed over a R13-million community centre at KwaNonqaba near Mossel Bay at the weekend.
The national oil company also provided R200000 to refurbish an old age home.
Energy Minister Dipuo Peters on Saturday welcomed the petrochemical giant's contribution to the KwaNonqaba Multipurpose Community Centre (MPCC), which formed part of Mossel Bay's economic development plan.
"We welcome this positive contribution to Mossel Bay, the place where we have our gas-to-liquids refinery. This is but one of the many positive contributions that PetroSA has made over the years in this part of our country here in Mossel Bay, in the Eden District and generally in the Southern Cape," she said. The centre includes an indoor sports facility and a small business centre.
PetroSA said it hoped the centre would help the community to develop the area.
Small businesses will also operate from the MPCC, providing much-needed jobs.
Small business owners will be provided with workshops and offices to run their operations.
The centre will be managed by the Mossel Bay municipality and the process to identify possible tenants for the workshops has started.
Weddings and funerals will also be held at the centre.
PetroSA board chairman Dr Benny Mokaba said the opening of the MPCC and the Ilingelihle centre marked the continuation of a significant contribution by the national oil company to the community of KwaNonqaba. "PetroSA will invest R45-million in this town alone over the next two financial years as part of its social labour plan commitments.
" In this financial year, PetroSA has allocated R23-million towards socio-economic development in Mossel Bay," he said.
PetroSA also renovated the Ilingelihle Centre for the Aged.
The renovations have ensured that the old age home has a canopy for shelter from the sun, new kitchen cupboards, gas stove with cylinders, a TV, fridge, microwave, patio set, crockery and cutlery, floor mats and blankets.
In July, the centre's exterior walls and lounge area were painted by PetroSA employees as part of the company's Mandela Day activities.
