Sport and Recreation BRRR; Committee Report on SRSA Quarter 1 & 4 performance

Meeting report

The Chairperson indicated that the Committee would only consider the draft Budgetary Review and Recommendations Report (BRRR), and adopt minutes of past meetings. She thanked Members for their attendance and remarked that some Members only attend when there is a media briefing.

Apologies were noted.

Draft BRRR on the department of sports and recreation 

The Committee Researcher took the Committee through the report page-by-page. The report highlighted that provinces must have capacity to spend funds and there must be clear key performance indicators. The report further stated that the Department must implement recommendations by the Auditor-General (AG). It also highlighted that late payments must be addressed to avoid legal action by service providers. He also stressed that the Director-General (DG) must correct mismanagement of funds and there should be consequences management to recover monies wrongfully spent.

Discussion

The Chairperson asked Members to interrogate the report page-by-page.

Mr S Ralegoma (ANC) said the report was well-written and there was a need for appropriate budgets. He said that Boxing SA must be adequately funded. He asked for clarification on unauthorised expenditure by the Department because he thought there were no findings against the Department. He asked for the recommendations to be done at the end of the report. The recommendations must be made to the Minister rather than to the Department.

Mr T Mmusi (ANC) agreed with the Researcher that recreation must be broadened and the winning nation programme is very key and very important in sport. He also wanted some clarification regarding the construction of sport facilities using a ring fenced R300 million, reported in page 11 of the draft report. Were the facilities inspected for their availability?

Mr D Bergman (DA) indicated that his comments were already covered by other Members.

Ms B Ndlovu (ANC) welcomed the report in general but raised concerns about the lack of public participation throughout the report. The report should include public participation activities.

The Chairperson addressed some of the concerns raised by Members. She indicated that each Committee Researcher has his or her own style of reporting. She saw improvements from the previous reports, but noted that the report did not mention anything about the Department of Basic Education since 2011. The report must say something about the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Department of Basic Education and the Department of Sports and Recreation. Also, kids must be tested for drugs and legislation must be drafted to support this. She agreed with Mr Mmusi that facility building must be checked, the Department must know which municipalities have used the R300 million for infrastructure development. There is no available data to assess the facilities build using this money. The oversight of the Committee must be emphasized so that there should be consequences. She also said more research was needed to refine the report. She also raised the issue of LoveLife. Its role must be clear.

Ms Ndlovu re-emphasised that public participation is a very important component of the Committee’s oversight mandate.

The Committee Researcher addressed the question of construction of sports facilities and said the Department must assist with auditing facilities built thus far. He also agreed with the importance of public participation and added that #ThumaMina walks also assist with public participation.

The Chairperson said the Committee should debate what is recreation and is not within their parameters. The Committee will refine the report before adopting it on the next meeting.

Report adoption

Mr Ralegoma asked the Committee to first discuss the first quarter report for consistency.

Mr Mahlobo tabled the draft report for fourth and first quarter of 2018/2019 financial year. He went through the report page-by-page.

The Chairperson asked to be excused as she had to take a call from her son who was in hospital. The meeting was then chaired by Mr Ralegoma.

Committee Report on SRSA Quarter 1 & 4 performance

Mr Ralegoma asked Members whether they had any comments regarding the reports.

Ms B Abrahams (ANC) wanted clarity regarding swimming pools for people with disabilities.

Mr Ralegoma said the Committee did not see sport facilities. It is therefore useful for the Committee to see what is built by municipalities and the interventions taken by the Department. The Committee appreciates where work has been started by the municipalities. He asked if is there was any Member against the adoption of the report?

Mr Ralegoma moved for the adoption of the report with amendments.

Mr T Mnusi (ANC) seconded the adoption of the report with amendments.

Mr Ralegoma said the Committee should meet on Thursday to finalise the adoption of the report.

Mr Bergman objected to this saying “the caucus is not on the committees’ side” and the following week is a no no.

Mr T Mhlongo (DA) asked when the due date for the adoption of the report was.

The Chairperson said the report must be adopted when the Committee is satisfied with the recommendations. The report should be adopted when it is properly corrected.

Mr Ralegoma said the committee should reconvene on Thursday at lunchtime to finish the report.

Ms Ndlovu said the report should be circulated via email. The Committee should put comments and adopt it.

The Chairperson objected to this. She asked why the report was being rushed. The report needed to be re-written.

Mr Ralegoma said the Committee should adopt the report by Friday. He recommended that the committee should meet on Thursday and the report be sent to Members via email.

The Chairperson said the updated report should be circulated as from today till Thursday.

Ms B Abrahams (ANC) agreed that the report must be circulated among members via email.

Minutes adoption

The Chairperson tabled the minutes of the briefing by the Department of Sport and Recreation for the fourth quarter for 2017/2018 and first quarter 2019 financial year. The Committee went through the report page by page. She asked Members whether they had any corrections, any matters arising. She put up the minutes for adoption.

Mr Bergman moved for the adoption of the minutes.

Ms Abrahams seconded.

The Chairperson proceeded to the minutes of 14, 21 and 28 August. The Committee went through the minutes page by page. She asked Members whether they have any corrections or any matters arising.

There were no corrections and the minutes were adopted.

The Chairperson thanked all Members for attending the briefing and adjourned the meeting.