The centre was built by PetroSA as part of its corporate social investment initiative for the people of Mossel Bay. This is the first such facility at KwaNonqaba and includes an indoor sports facility and a small business centre.
It is envisaged that the Multy-purpose Community Centre (MPCC) will provide an effective facility for community events, such as weddings, funerals and festivities.
"This gesture of restoring these halls and PetroSA's support for the Ilingelihle Centre for the Elderly clearly demonstrate the values of caring and respect for the community in which the company operates. I would like to say a big thank you on behalf of my Council, the management of the Mossel Bay Municipality and also the community of Mossel Bay for restoring these community assets and your support of a vulnerable section of our community," Mossel Bay's Executive Mayor, Alderlady Marie Ferreira, said at the official opening of the MPCC on 22 September.
Dr Benny Mokaba, the PetroSA Board Chairman, said the opening of the MPCC and the Ilingelihle Centre mark the beginning of a significant contribution by the national oil company to the community of KwaNonqaba.
"PetroSA will, during the financial years 2012/13 and 2013/14, be investing R45-million in corporate social investment projects in the Mossel Bay area. In this financial year alone, PetroSA has budgeted and will allocate R23-million towards socio-economic development initiatives in Mossel Bay," he said.
"I would like to thank PetroSA for making this occasion possible. PetroSA and its forerunner in Mossel Bay, Mossgas, have over the years made a massive contribution to Mossel Bay and is continuing to do so in a responsible and appreciated manner. The company is a huge force in the local economy, as both a direct and indirect employer of several thousand people. It supports local businesses over a wide front and it is a much-appreciated ratepayer as well as consumer of municipal services in Mossel Bay.
"PetroSA has taken and is continuing to take the hand of the municipality in many partnerships in the interest of our community.
"PetroSA has sponsored or supported several community projects, including environmental and infrastructural projects initiated or co-ordinated by the municipality - all creating additional jobs in our community.
"On Saturday, the PetroSA Marathon will be one of the main attractions of the Mossel Bay Sports Festival. I am sure that a major objective of the marathon is to promote a healthy lifestyle. Events such as these draw participants from far and wide and ensure that valuable money flows into our economy to pay salaries or wages and to sustain jobs.
"We welcome this positive contribution to Mossel Bay, the location of 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" Minister Dipuo Peters, the Minister of Energy said in her keynote address.
"I want to commend PetroSA for having honoured its Social Labour Plan/Local Economic Development commitments to the Petroleum Agency of South Africa by building the beautiful Multi-Purpose Hall and renovating the Ilingelihle Home for the Aged. It is my honour and privilege this morning to hand these buildings over to the community of Mossel Bay.
"Our request to the Community of KwaNonqaba is that you take the best possible care of these facilities" the minister said.
"I can quote many more examples of PetroSA's involvement in and commitment to our community, but would like to leave you with the comment that it all adds up the conclusion that PetroSA is truly committed to responsible corporate citizenship," Mrs Ferreira said.
Dr Benny Mokaba, the PetroSA Board Chairman, said the opening of the Multi-purpose Community Centre and the Ilingelihle Centre marked the beginning of a significant contribution by PetroSA to the community of KwaNonqaba.
