Chairperson, molweni maMpondo [greetings to you, Mpondos], Deputy Minister of Sport and Recreation director-general, members of this august Council, MECs from the various provinces, hon members, when we are not here, Gert and I always skinder [gossip] about the NCOP.
What we say is that it always exhibits the fact that members of this House are direct representatives from the provinces. Debates here are always marked by empirical evidence that is always evinced during those debates. I am absolutely thrilled to have been scheduled on a date when I could personally be here again.
South Africa and the world will never forget their exhilaration when on 15 May 2004 the Fifa President, Mr Blatter, announced that South Africa would be hosting the World Cup in 2010. However, immediately after that exhilaration, South Africa was inundated by a chorus of cynics and malcontents, from within South Africa as well as abroad, who already prognosticated the fact that the World Cup was not likely to take place in South Africa.
The Plan B prophets of doom and securocrats, who appointed themselves as experts on our expertise on security matters, had started the lobbying from Australia in the south, right up to Canada in the north, and across to the USA and Western Europe. They were trying to lobby other countries to take over the hosting of this very important event.
Of course, they all failed because, on the basis of scientific and empirical evidence, Fifa was not convinced. Furthermore, other nations that have always been on our side refused to be lobbied into these negative initiatives.
The question in 2010, just three weeks before the biggest event in the world takes place, is: Which buzz is bigger - the buzz of 15 May 2004, or the one of May 2010? Which one is of a better quality? I leave that to the members to ponder on the basis of empirical evidence.
One thing is for sure, hosting the 2010 World Cup infused our people with invigorated enthusiasm for their nationhood. It has also unleashed a kind of energy we have not seen before - that of wanting to be part of the building of that nationhood. We have seen the fulfilment of what our leaders have said - the 21st century will, indeed, unfold as the African century.
The Fifa World Cup presents us with the golden opportunity - and I have said this before - of hosting this prestigious event. This golden opportunity is not likely to be repeated during the lifetime of any of us in this Chamber. It presents us with an opportunity to market ourselves as a people, a country, a continent and as legitimate members of the international family of nations.
It presents us with an opportunity to remove Afro-pessimism and replace it with confidence in ourselves as a people and in our country as a possible place for investment. It presents us with an opportunity to broaden tourism opportunities and also to strengthen the preference of those who want to build the economy of the world through us. The South African economy and tourism are already recipients of this great initiative.
In 2009, when we went for the Confederations Cup, many cynics were already pontificating on what should be done to avert a crisis. But by the time they left our shores they were all looking forward to the World Cup in 2010. The reason is that the Confederations Cup opened a window of what we can be as a nation. The Confederations Cup also showcased what this nonracial nation that we have been speaking about can really do for the rest of the world.
The President attested to what the 2010 World Cup does for the government and the people and South Africa. He mentioned the hard work that we had to endure; the fruits that are now visible in the form of the beautiful stadia that everybody sees at home and on international television networks, the beautiful roads and the transport systems that have been refurbished or introduced to provide a better mode of transport for our communities.
The President also alluded to the upgrading of airports and airstrips, communication systems and a whole range of infrastructure. We can also allude to the local turfs that we have cultivated and continue to cultivate, as well as the various initiatives that we will refer to just now. The 2010 World Cup has also introduced our children to other people; the culture and language of other people; and the flags and the national anthems of South Africa and those of other countries of the world. Indeed, it has inculcated a spirit of internationalism and nonracialism. It has also done much to banish xenophobic attitudes. I will not mention the cynics that accompanied us all these seven years; I think that is common knowledge.
I would now like to get to what we are doing as a department, over and above the co-ordination of all the initiatives of preparing for the 2010 World Cup. Our people must just open their hearts and hands, take out their pots and plates, and get ready to welcome the world. Our people can do this either with a "smiley" [a cooked sheep's head] here or a hushpuppy [trotters] there, boerewors or the skilpadjies [liver wrapped in fat] of the Northern Cape, and so on. All of those dishes will excite our visitors because they don't have them in their countries.
Our fundamental responsibility continues to be part of the national agenda of reconstruction and development - an agenda which seeks to attain a transformed South Africa. This would be a South Africa that has been articulated by most of us in our dreams and currently in our programme.
I have said before that there is not one South African that I know of who is opposed to the agenda of transforming South Africa into a nonracial, democratic, nonsexist, prosperous and peaceful country. Not one of us has ever articulated opposition to this agenda. Even with regard to those who are sometimes labelled as right-wing, when it comes to the nature of the society that we want to establish, they don't disagree on this issue. What we disagree on is, of course, the modus operandi. How do we get there? How do we achieve this nonracist and democratic South Africa?
As the ANC, we have consistently said that it is not going to happen of its own volition. It has to be assisted through the intervention of the state, hence we came up with the concept of a developmental state.
Chairperson, I am sure that when you read your newspapers this morning you would have been surprised and encouraged to see that Chancellor Merkel of the German Republic is reported to have announced yesterday that Germany is sick and tired of being pontificated to by the International Monetary Fund, IMF, which has been giving us the impression for all these years that market forces will intervene in these things and that they can correct themselves. Merkel says Germany will regulate the economy because market forces driven by profit motives are not able to effect changes; they are not able to introduce sustainable communities.
I am excited that such a strong leader from Western Europe is reiterating what we have been saying for so many years, and nobody would listen to us. We have to intervene because it is not by accident that many parts of our country continue to be deprived of certain amenities and facilities, and you will hear more about this today. Everybody would have seen this, especially the hon members coming from the provinces.
This is not by accident. It is a direct product and legacy of a number of Acts. One of them that I always refer to is the separate amenities Act, which was based on the Group Areas Act which, in turn, was based on the Population Registration Act, and so on. These disparities are the product of a deliberate programme of distorted planning and distorted access to resources. It is common knowledge that our communities continue to be in that distorted order even today.
It is also common knowledge, as Chancellor Merkel would agree, that unless we deracialise and regulate the ownership of the means of production or the ownership of the economy, it is not going to happen overnight. We have to make sure that in education, health, housing, etc, money is made available.
However, we also have to make sure that, in terms of sports facilities and amenities, there is a special dedicated fund to do that or it's not going to happen. We do not have the bank account that the Ford Motor Company had to build the Ford stadium in New Brighton. We don't have the bank account which General Motors, Mercedes Benz and all these private sector companies had to build the facilities that we have, albeit in a distorted way.
Facilities that are located in a distorted way were not necessarily built by government, even under the old order. They were built by the so-called patriotic businesspeople. So we must make a call to the patriotic businesspeople of the current conjuncture to make a contribution in this respect.
We are not complaining as if nothing is being done in this respect. A number of partners have been able to assist us to make do with the small budget that we get from Parliament in terms of building facilities, something which Gert will be elaborating on just now. We make do by stretching the little bit that we have together with other state departments like, for example, Health, Education, Social Development, Correctional Services, and so on. We must continue to lobby for more assistance.
In the past five years we have been reporting on the growth of the mass participation programme. We are satisfied that participation of our people in sport has improved. This is not my view, but that of the researchers of both the Centre for Information Systems Research, CISR, as well as the University of Pretoria. It has improved precisely because of our efforts in mass participation.
With regard to that, however, we have had to deal with the issue of developing that to a higher level because they can't just remain at a recreational level. Our people must also be part and parcel of the elite performance in all spheres of sport. Our strategy, which was announced in May 2004, is that we should start with school sport. Thereafter we have to go to community sport and rebuild the clubs with the basis being the schoolkids, who will go across to community sport.
I'm glad that hon MEC Kgothule from the Free State is here to hear what I have to say. I dub him "the gold medallist" in the delivery of our programmes in the development of sport. [Applause.] I know that his neighbour from Gauteng will contest the fact that they were the first province to have the co-ordinating sports structure launched by me. That is true; however, Free State will also say that we allowed them to be the first even though we were ready ahead of them. So Gauteng leads and others must just follow.
A few weeks ago I had the pleasure to go to Gauteng to launch - the first in the country - a school sports co-ordinating structure. I don't know how many people were there, but I know how enthusiastic and excited those people were. Again, MEC Kgothule, our congratulations to you and to Premier Ace Magashule for identifying you as MEC.
Communities in the Northern Cape continue to be plagued by the distances between places. One has to spend the whole day travelling from Kimberley to Upington. When one gets to Upington, one has to struggle to go back to Okiep and so on. But, nonetheless, they are doing a sterling job in terms of mobilisation and organisation. I have no doubt in my mind that the next school sports structure that we will put in place - no, it will not be the Western Cape - will be in the Northern Cape.
We want to make a call and a plea to all members of this august House to please go and help with the establishment of these structures. They are not going to be established by ghosts; they are going to be established by us in our communities and constituencies.
Our partners are also found outside state departments. They include the local authorities, international bodies like the European Union, UK Sport and the UN. Again, the Deputy Minister will talk about that.
All these partners have been able to release some funds for us to build facilities in areas like Ikhwezi in Jansenville, at Qunu in King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality, Batho location in Mangaung Local Municipality, Winterveld in the City of Tshwane, Melville in KwaDukuza Local Municipality, Gamanamela in Polokwane Local Municipality, and Lekgalong village in Rustenburg Local Municipality. With the little that we have, we are making a difference in those communities who never had much development.
In Vhembe we have just opened the largest indoor sports facility which will focus on boxing and related activities. This facility is rated as the largest south of the Sahara. It is a very important facility for that community and we have no doubt that it is going to produce more champions than old man Baloyi is already producing.
We have 11 students who are studying for qualifications in physical education and sport administration in Cuba. They come from all nine provinces. We can only make a call to the provinces to make use of them when they graduate. Some of them will graduate this June. I know MEC Kgothule will definitely make use of them to assist in the implementation of the physical education programme that we introduced in 2005. This programme is not taking place in 2010 because nobody will do it. But this time there will some people to do it.
We have always reported in this House that we are meeting a brick wall with respect to accessing the municipal infrastructure grant, MIG. These provinces and the local authorities are stealing that grant. All of them will agree - they steal that grant. When there is pressure to pave the streets, human-resource-related issues, or electricity problems they go for the MIG. However, I can announce that, at least from the side of the National Lottery, we now have a Minister and a national chairperson who seem to be in tandem with us in trying to use those funds for national development strategies.
The MIG is an embarrassment because if one compares it with the Building for Sport and Recreation project, which was terminated in 2004, one will see that over four years we had built over 364 facilities. During the years of the MIG, we have only built 155 facilities.
We are agitating and lobbying for this august House to stand with us in insisting that the MIG be reverted to a poverty alleviation grant, just as the Building for Sport and Recreation grant was. We were able to manage the Building for Sport and Recreation Project grant according to our prerogatives.
Our concern is also that sports facilities are not going to be sustainable without provinces and local municipalities budgeting for their maintenance when they are fully constructed. Even though we have the plans for everybody for whom we are building a facility, we also do need the provinces to make follow-ups on this.
In the field of sport and science, we must accede to the fact that gone are the days when you and I ran on the road, pulling a tractor tyre with two boulders in our hands, trying to be fit so that we could perform better. Today our children need proper scientific support and advice. To this end, we are strengthening that advisory service. We are not going to give those scientific support services but we will co-ordinate the scientists and institutions that have them for the purpose of providing those resources to our children. We pay the money, they provide the expertise.
To this end, we also pay for the Commonwealth Games. I heard somebody in the motions talking about the Commonwealth Games in India; we paid for that. We paid for the preparation, conditioning, transport and everything related to those games. All federations are recipients of that grant.
Chairperson, I have to report on Caster Semenya. I know you agree. Caster Semenya has been a model of what science can do in the field of sport. Instead of people talking in general terms, specialists say what needs to be done. I am glad to report that the third world war that we declared has been won. I know people don't think there was a war. There has been a war for the last five months and we won 99% of the issues that we went to war for.
The last battle, which I have no doubt will be won in the next three weeks, is the announcement that Caster will go back to the track. [Applause.] Scientists in South Africa and abroad agree on what should be done and they will make an announcement in due course. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Chairperson, I have a question. I am sure the Minister would like to take a question.
No, I will not allow a question. Hon Minister, you can take your seat. Hon member, you can see the Minister privately and ask your question. [Applause.]
Chairperson, Minister and Deputy Minister, hon members in the House ...
... a kwa tshimilogong ke tlhalose gore go na le dikgang tse Tona a di gatisitseng tse a di buileng mme jaaka modulasetilo wa komiti ke tlile go di gatelela le go feta. [... let me start by explaining that there are issues that the Minister spoke about and emphasised, and as the chairperson of the committee I'm going to overemphasise them.]
Today the Department of Sport and Recreation presents its Budget Vote, 22 days before the actual commencement of the first Fifa World Cup tournament on the African continent. It is time to welcome the world, time to do the Diski, time to fly the South African flag and blow vuvuzelas. Indeed, as Sepp Blatter, President of Fifa, said:
Plan A is South Africa; Plan B is South Africa and Plan C is South Africa.
Media suggestions were floating around that some countries were literally already standing by to take over this responsibility from us, since they were certain that we would fail to do the things Fifa required of us to ensure that the 2010 Soccer World Cup would take place in our country.
Certain desperate people went as far as to suggest a close proximity and correlation between the death of the AWB leader and the Royal Bafokeng Stadium. This reminded me of a similar technique used in the pre-1994 era, when the same AWB leader was given the freedom of Schweizer-Reneke by the AWB, and Comrade Joe Modise was given the freedom of Ipelegeng on 7 August 1993.
All the armed forces were deployed and the media galvanised by the anticipation of bloodshed, but this anticipation was unsuccessful, futile and worthless. These events confirmed that South Africans are peace-loving people.
Although South Africa has successfully hosted a number of events like the Rugby World Cup in 1995; the African Cup of Nations in 1996; the All Africa Games in 1999; and the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002, to mention but a few, the Fifa Soccer World Cup 2010 is clearly different. One needs to take domestic and international attention and interest into consideration.
More extensively, on the legacy issue it is worth noting that the economic legacy, according to the research by Grant Thornton, is that the 2010 Fifa World Cup will contribute R55,7 billion to the South African economy, generate about 450 000 jobs and contribute R19,3 billion in tax income to the government. There are also firm estimates that about 483 000 tourists will spend around R8,5 billion during their stay in South Africa.
The African economy in general will surely change in a more positive direction. It will display the continent's positive values, and the world media will relay these values to the entire world in a way that will surely attract foreign investors to our continent.
Regarding mass participation, I'm happy that the Minister talked about this, but the time has arrived for all of us to scrutinise the impact and link of sports development, not only from a school sport and professional leagues perspective, but also from that of the broader principle agenda of transformation. This should occur through assessing the impact of programmes such as mass participation and sport support services.
We cannot shy away from asking the following: How is school sport linked to mass participation? What is this programme producing in terms of national goals? How is mass participation linked to rural activities? How is mass participation linked to high performance? How is mass participation linked to the production of professional players? Why do we struggle to replace players like Bryan Habana, Makhaya Ntini and Benni McCarthy on our national teams?
I'm raising these questions because the mass participation programme conditional grant allocation has increased at an annual rate of 45,1% between 2006-07 and 2009-10. This programme is the major consumer of the department's budget.
The municipal infrastructure grant, MIG, is a consolidated grant mechanism incorporating various programmes which were managed by different departments and was targeted at the provision of municipal infrastructure. The primary aim of the MIG is purely to provide basic infrastructure for the poor and to all South Africans.
The introduction of the MIG in 2004 saw a sharp decline in the number of sport and recreation facilities implemented, compared to the period of the Building for Sport and Recreation Programme, BSRP.
In 2004-05, for example, under the Building for Sport and Recreation Programme, compared to the MIG, the following facilities were built: In 2003-04, the BSRP had 114 facilities and the MIG 0 facilities; in 2004-05, the BSRP had 109 and the MIG 0 facilities. Based on the above information, it can be deduced that sport and recreation is not well catered for through the MIG.
The MIG funds for public municipal infrastructure, which includes, amongst other things, public transport such as bus shelters, children's facilities, cemeteries and local sport and recreation facilities are not adequate to address all these needs. However, the manner in which it is used prompts us to suggest that it be retrieved from the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs.
There are further constraints due to the fact that in terms of MIG policy, MIG funds can only be used for basic levels of service whilst most municipalities, except for some metropolitan and larger municipalities, do not have funds for intermediate and higher-level services, which are necessary for the development of sport.
The MIG funds are also only for services to the poor. Areas which are classified as not poor, but which may not have access to sport and recreation facilities have to source alternative funding. This funding is currently nonexistent, except in some metropolitan municipalities and provincial departments that receive allocations for sport and recreation facilities from their provincial treasuries. It is therefore evident that the sport and recreation facilities backlog, which is estimated at R14 billion, will not be met unless a different approach is employed in this country.
Mind you, the facilities co-ordination programme receives an allocation of R6,6 million. According to the annual report, some of the money in this programme is used for the compensation of departmental employees and other personnel-related costs. This obviously indicates the long way we still have to go if we are to make significant changes in the provision of basic facilities for our children. So, as members of this Council, it remains crucial that when we embark on our oversight role we consider the following: firstly, make practical follow-ups on the unsatisfactory revelations shared by the committee of public accounts in the annual report; secondly, conduct oversight on basic facilities built and upgraded to have first-hand evidence on public spending; thirdly, monitor the success and weaknesses of mass participation; and lastly, elaborate on an integrated and comprehensive antipoverty strategy, which addresses sections of the population most affected by the scourge of poverty such as youth, women, children, people living in informal settlements and people with disabilities. Ke Nako. [Now is the time.] Thank you. Ayoba!
Chair, Minister, Deputy Minister, MEC Williams of the Northern Cape, and hon members, it is indeed a pleasure to announce that tomorrow we will be counting down the 21 days before the kickoff between South Africa's Bafana Bafana and Mexico.
All the stadiums are ready and waiting for the biggest event ever held in this beautiful country of ours. I am sure that it is going to be a unique and spectacular event that the world has never seen before or expected from Africa, and in particular South Africa.
It is also a pleasure for Kimberley and its people to be able to host the Uruguayan soccer team; and we thank you, Minister, as well as our MEC, that you assisted us with that.
In die jaar dat Suid-Afrika die grootste skouspel ter wreld, die Sokkerwreldbekertoernooi, aanbied, is dit egter teleurstellend dat die departement wat ten nouste hierby betrokke is 'n gekwalifiseerde ouditverslag gekry het. Ons pluk nou die vrugte van die aanstel van persone wat nie bekwaam genoeg was vir hul poste nie.
Ek hoop dat die huidige direkteur-generaal, mnr Petersen, nie dieselfde fout sal maak as sy voorganger nie. Ek vertrou dat die nuwe aanstellings wat deur hom gemaak is, die gevolg sal h dat die departement op die vorige gekwalifiseerde ouditverslag sal verbeter. Hoor jy, Freddie?
Die DA kan u verseker dat waar die DA in die Wes-Kaap regeer, hy hom nie sal skuldig maak aan wanpraktyke wat tot 'n gekwalifiseerde ouditverslag sal lei nie. Freddie, jy moet mooi luister. Na 2014 se nasionale verkiesing, sal die Noord-Kaap provinsie, waar die DA dan ook sal regeer, hom by die Wes-Kaap aansluit om goeie bestuurspraktyke te bevorder. [Tussenwerpsels.]
Voorsitter, een van die grootste tragedies wat hom ook hierdie afgelope jaar in sport afgespeel het, is die Caster Semenya-fiasko. Op 'n hartelose en onverantwoordelike wyse is een van ons mees belowende atlete se lewe, sowel as haar sportloopbaan, verwoes. Die optrede van mnr Chuene, die oud- president van Atletiek Suid-Afrika, ASA, en sy mede-raadslede was onaanvaarbaar.
Die DA is verlig dat die regering van hom en sy trawante ontslae geraak het, en dit na vele vrae aan die Minister deur die DA en druk van die publiek. Wanpraktyke in ASA vier ongelukkig steeds hoogty, en die DA is ook dan verheug dat die Suid-Afrikaanse Sportkonfederasie en Olimpiese Komitee, SASKOK, nou besluit het om die bedrywighede van ASA te ondersoek.
Die begroting is heelwat kleiner as vir die vorige boekjaar met 'n bedrag van R1 245 miljoen teenoor die vorige jaar se R2 872 miljoen. Hiervan gaan R558 miljoen vir die Fifa Wreldbekersokkertoernooi. Van dit wat oorbly, neem administrasie R88 miljoen. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[In the year that South Africa is hosting the most spectacular event in the world, the Fifa Soccer World Cup, it is rather disappointing that the department which is so closely involved in this received a qualified audit report. We are now bearing the consequences for employing individuals who were not competent enough for their positions. I hope that the current director-general, Mr Petersen, will not make the same mistake as his predecessor. I trust that the new appointments that have been made by him will result in the department improving on the previous qualified audit report. Did you hear, Freddie?
The DA can assure you that wherever the DA is governing in the Western Cape, it will not be guilty of corrupt practices that would lead to a qualified audit report. Freddie, you should pay attention. After the 2014 national election the Northern Cape province, which the DA will be governing by that time, will join with the Western Cape in the promotion of good governance. [Interjections.]
Chairperson, one of the biggest tragedies that also took place this past year in sport is the Caster Semenya fiasco. In a heartless and irresponsible manner the life of one of our most promising athletes, as well as her sporting career, were destroyed. The conduct of Mr Chuene, the former president of Athletics South Africa, ASA, and his fellow board members was unacceptable.
The DA is relieved that the government got rid of him and his henchmen, and this after numerous questions to the Minister by the DA and pressure from the public. Corrupt practices in ASA are unfortunately still rampant and the DA is therefore pleased that the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee, Sascoc, has now decided to investigate the activities of ASA. The budget is considerably less than that of the previous financial year, with an amount of R1 245 million as opposed to the R2 872 million the previous year. Of this R558 million will be for the Fifa Soccer World Cup. Of that which is left, R88 million is taken up by administration.]
Contrary to what is done in a country like Australia to become a top sporting nation, very little effort in terms of assistance is being put into sport to get ultimate achievements from our athletes. This is evident from the amount for sport support services, which has decreased by R21 million.
Of the R102,1 million, R28,7 million goes to loveLife, which doesn't contribute to the success of our country's sporting achievements, as it is more geared towards social services. I am very concerned about the lack of accountability that also plagues loveLife. This is also a Department of Social Development programme.
Die bedrag van R28,7 miljoen is meer as wat al die sportfederasies gesamentlik kry, naamlik maar R27,6 miljoen. Ek beveel aan dat die loveLife- program uitgeskakel en die fondse vir ander programme aangewend word. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[The amount of R28,7 million is more than that jointly received by all the sports federations, namely just R27,6 million. I would suggest that the loveLife programme be phased out and the funds be allocated to other programmes.]
This will ensure that the objectives for sport support services can be met. We are nearing the 2010 Commonwealth Games where we want our teams to win medals. In the 2012 Olympic Games, we want our athletes to perform, but little is being done to prepare them thoroughly. Finally, I would like to draw your attention to the National Lottery's R6 billion that has still gone unspent. It is unacceptable that sport projects around the country suffer because of a lack of funds when such large amounts go unallocated.
The DA would like to see a portion of these funds ploughed into creating opportunities for talented sportsmen and women to thrive. We believe that the best way to do this is through the establishment of a South African sporting academy that would develop a national programme of action across as many sporting codes as possible; identify and recruit those with genuine sporting potential; pursue a programme of excellence in developing talent and, thus, assist the next generation of sportsmen and women to compete at the highest level; and finally place South Africa on par with the superpowers of the sporting world.
South Africa is a nation of sport lovers. As citizens, we deserve more for our sporting institutions. I hope that the department takes this criticism to heart and has the courage and, especially, the political will to make the necessary policy changes. I thank you. [Applause.]
Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister, MECs, and hon members, our new stadiums are a source of pride. Will they become a source of grief tomorrow? That is the R1 billion question.
I therefore want to ask whether the department has a properly envisioned strategy plan to keep the stadiums viable for the future. Two months ago, speaking in London, Mr Danny Jordaan said:
We need to make the stadiums viable. The central issue is whether rugby will move to the new stadiums. I think it will. Their stadiums were built in the 1950s.
Is this wishful thinking or a done deal? What if rugby does not move to the new stadiums; what will happen then? Is there a Plan B and a Plan C? A particular concern to all of us is Mbombela Stadium with a capacity of 64 000 seats. How will this stadium be kept viable after the Fifa Soccer World Cup?
I now come to the question of ownership of Bafana Bafana rights. According to the media, things are hidden behind opaque shareholding structures comprising shelf companies, complicated indirect stakes and confidential licensing agreements. The pointed question to the Minister is whether Mr Smidt had indeed acquired a 49,9% stake in Slam Holdings, which controls the Bafana Bafana trademark, through a series of secretive deals. We would also like to know whether Smidt and Kaizer and Bobby Motaung are going to rake in millions out of the secret deals.
In terms of school sport, many youngsters in our country are already caught up in the football fever. Is the Department of Sport and Recreation co- operating with the Department of Basic Education to ensure that all schools have coaching manuals and DVDs to encourage learners not only to take up sport but to master the basics early in life?
The ideal, however, is to appoint coaches. In the absence of coaches, printed and audiovisual coaching materials should be available to schools so that all educators can play a role in teaching learners the essentials.
This brings me to the second point, which concerns sports grounds. Many schools do not have a surface suitable for playing sport. In South Africa, with an increasing number of children becoming obese, it is vitally important for sport to be taken up by children everywhere in the country. It is far better to invest in healthy children than in health per se.
We all know that the coming of the Fifa Soccer World Cup concentrates our minds on football. What is now going to happen after the games are played and the event moves on? How is the interest in sport going to be kept red hot? Is the government viewing the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup as an event or a process? If it is viewing it as a process, how will this process unfold?
Sport science and coaching are pivotal to our country's future. Whilst there are many overseas-trained coaches willing to conduct clinics, we do not have any suitable venues. Talented young people will therefore not be able to develop their potential. There is much that needs to be done. Now that the Fifa Soccer World Cup will soon be behind us, let us concentrate on stepping back and filling in the gaps. I thank you.
Chairperson, Minister of Sport and Recreation, MECs, members of the Council, ladies and gentlemen, it gives me great pleasure to address you today, and I am thankful for this opportunity.
The vision of my department is one of a social, cohesive, active and creative Western Cape. There are many factors which mitigate against us achieving this vision, but there are many factors which assist us. Today, I want to talk about some of the progress we have made in this regard.
Social cohesion is a measure of the extent to which people live together harmoniously, feel a sense of belonging and ownership as citizens and participate in the civic and social life of their communities.
As practitioners of sport and recreation, it is our challenge to try meeting these conditions and make our people feel that they are meaningful contributors to our society.
Research suggests that the advent of technology, the high penetration rate of television and other electronic communications forms and a worldwide emphasis on high-performance sports have all contributed to a shift by citizens of the Western Cape from being active participants in sport and recreation to being consumers of sport and recreation.
The decline in the economy has also impacted on the ability of citizens to participate in sport and recreational activities. In addition, a decreased emphasis on school sport, a lack of adequate opportunities to engage in sport, the advent of professional sport and the crowding out of amateur sport have all conspired to making our task even more challenging.
These factors have resulted in the decline of participation rates in the fields of sport and recreation. The socioeconomic implications of these shifts are important since it means that more effort and more emphasis has to be put into improving healthy lifestyles whilst at the same time involving youth in social life, including sports and recreational activities.
The challenge for the government is to build a socially cohesive Western Cape community by creating opportunities for all to unite and fully participate in society at large. Sport is a tool that can be used to assist in building this united and cohesive Western Cape community.
We have determined the following main indicators for measuring progress made by the Department of cultural affairs and sport, DCAS, in providing opportunities for social cohesion: the increase in the number of participants in sport and recreation; the increase in the number of beneficiaries of the services of DCAS; and the increase in the number of learners participating in school sport. We have a plan to achieve these outcomes. I want to share some of them with you today.
We believe that excellence in sport and culture arises where talent meets opportunity and is nurtured, supported and sustained. We believe that talent is evenly spread across all communities, but that opportunities, facilities, structures and support are unevenly distributed. We know that our past inequalities and resource allocation live on in our current circumstances, and that these inequalities limit our talent pool dramatically. Therefore, we commit ourselves to creating conditions for talent to emerge from across all communities in an equitable manner and to be nurtured and supported so that excellence can flourish.
According to the current statistical analysis, 36,1% of the population of the Western Cape can be classified as youths. It is this area of the population that needs to be targeted to ensure a healthy lifestyle, social cohesion and the building of a responsible society which is productive, active, goal-directed and has a sense of belonging.
Therefore, the nucleus of our efforts will be engaging the youth in meaningful sport and cultural activities. The DCAS has developed an idiomatic saying, "A child in sport is a child out of court" - and I noted yesterday that the Northern Cape is following us!
Whilst we believe that our first objective should be to get our people to participate in sport, be it as athletes, coaches or administrators, we also believe that having our youth involved in some kind of meaningful activity will give direction to their lives, whether such activity is physical or not.
This view has seen us also engage in strategic activities which boost our spectator numbers in sports: the promotion of fan clubs and fan support; making provision for nonphysical sport and recreational games, for example mind games, war games, board games, etc. In particular, we will use the following programmes, projects and activities to help us achieve more outcomes and achieve social cohesion.
With regard to sport development, we will use the Siyadlala programme; the Mass participation programme, MPP; Club Development Sport and Recreation 2010; the Social Legacy programme; and school sport.
With regard to events, we will use sports event to ensure demographic, regional and language integration and to build a shared appreciation for the things that bind us together as a nation and as a society.
In combating substance abuse, we will utilise school sport and sport programmes to raise awareness of the dangers of substance abuse, messaging around social inclusion.
I want to take this opportunity to thank Minister Stofile and his department for the R40 million funding which was made available via the sport conditional grant. We could not have executed these programmes to the extent that we have without that assistance. We thank you, Reverend.
The 2010 Fifa World Cup is a mere 21 days away, and the Western Cape is working hard to ensure that all our citizens do touch the World Cup. We are aware that eight games will take place at the Cape Town Stadium. People from the City of Cape Town will view these events either from inside the stadium, at the fan fest at the Grand Parade or from four other public viewing areas dotted around the metro.
Our focus as a province has been on the peri-urban and rural areas and consequently we have provided five public viewing areas, one in each district of our province. In the Western Cape, we call them "fan jols". These are places where our people can watch soccer, have a good time and feel the spirit of the World Cup. These five fan jols will be held in the towns of George, Beaufort West, Worcester, Bredasdorp and Vredenburg.
We will use our local football ambassadors to entertain and teach kids the skills of football during these fan jols. Our province will also display and host three teams, namely Japan, Denmark and France, who have chosen to base themselves in the Eden district of our province.
If you manage to visit this area, you can feel the excitement of the World Cup with flags, street banners, vuvuzelas and kuduzelas being the order of the day.
My department has entered into a partnership with the South African Football Association, Safa, and the Dutch coaching programme called "Stars in their Eyes". This programme has trained 40 coaches and they have ploughed what they have learnt back into the sport of football.
My department also ran volunteer training, referee, and sport administration courses, all of which have seen the sport of football being put on the map. These activities have built, and continue to build, sport and football as well as developing our young people in general, and deepening democracy in particular.
More importantly, all of these actions and activities have assisted our people to touch the World Cup, and will help us to achieve our vision of a socially cohesive, active and creative Western Cape. I am confident that with your assistance and our effort, we will bear fruits.
In conclusion, I want to take this opportunity to wish our team, Bafana Bafana, all the best for this Cup. The nation's hope, dreams and aspirations are riding on them. May they achieve the highest possible success. Qala, gqiba qhubeka [Start, finish and keep going]. I thank you. [Applause.]
Ha ke nke monyetla ona ho dumedisa Motsamaisi wa Dipuisano, ke dumedise Letona le Motlatsa Letona, Matona ohle, ka ho qolleha ntate Kgothule ho tswa mane porofensing ya Foreisetata, ke dumedise maloko a rona a hlomphehang a Palamente. Ke tlotla ho nna ho nka karolo Ditekanyetsong tsena tsa lefapha. Maemo ao batjha ba naha ya rona ba Maaforika ba iphumanang ba le ho ona, a ntse a hlobaetsa ha o a bapisa le a merabe e meng. Moo eleng tokelo merabeng e meng, ho batjha ba rona ba Aforika ke monyetla oo ba e so kang ba o fihlella hohang. Ditekanyetso tsena di tlamehile ho qala tumellanong ya rona hore ngwana e mong le e mong o tswalwa a na le bokgoni ba ntho efe kapa efe ka boemo bo hodimo. Ha feela a ka fuwa monyetla wa ho ipabola le ho fumana kwetliso e nepahetseng.
Re utlwisisa maemo ao re tswang ho ona a kgethollo le kgatello moo Maaforika re neng re sa fumantshwe monyetla wa ho bontsha bokgoni ba rona ka lebaka la maano a kgethollo a mmuso o fetileng. Leha re ke ke ra lebala bohloko ba moo re tswang teng, empa boikarabelo ha jwale bo mmusong wa ANC, ho lokisa moo kgethollo e sentseng teng.
Ngwana e mong le e mong a kgothalletswe ho nka karolo dipapading hobane ho molemong wa bana ho etsa jwalo, le hore dipapading tsa matjhaba ba tla phahamisa lebitso la naha ebe tlotla e kgolo ho rona. Ditekanyetso tsena di tlamehile ho hlokomela ka ho qolleha bohlokwa ba ho bokella batho ba tswang merabeng e fapaneng mmoho, mme ka lebaka la dipapadi merabe e fapaneng e kgona ho ithabisa mmoho.
Monyetla o moholo o tlamehile ho lebiswa dikolong moo bana ba bangata ba dilemong tse tlase ba leng teng. Dikolo di tlamehile ho ahelwa mabala a boikwetliso le boithapollo, mme mesuwe e lokela ho fuwa kwetliso ya maemo a hodimo e tla ba fa tsebo e tjhatsi ya ho hlwaya le ho kwetlisa bana ba nang le thahasello. Mefuta e fapaneng ya dipapadi e tlamehile ho rutwa bana ba sa le dilemong tse tlase hore ha ba ntse ba hola, ba bontshe bokgoni le boiphihlelo dipapading tseo ba di rutuweng. Mabala ana a boikwetliso a tlamehile ho ba teng le dibakeng tsa mahae hore le bona, ba se ke ba lebalwa. Bana ba sa itekanelang le bona ba tlamehile ho fuwa monyetla wa ho nka karolo.
Ditjhankane tsa rona di tletse bana ba banyane mme ba fetohile mashodu hobane ho se letho leo ba le etsang le ba tswelang molemo. Mananeo a tlhabollo ditjhankaneng a tlamehile ho kenyelletsa kwetliso le thuto ya dipapadi. Sena, se etswe e le hore ba tloswe mekgweng e mebe e sa lokang, ba tsebe ho iphedisa ka dipapadi. Ntle le dipapadi tse kotsi bakeng sa bona tse jwaloka, ho sesa, kolofo, kerikete, ditebele, karate le tse ding.
Ho bohlokwa hore ditekanyetso tsena di kenyelletse dipapadi tsa setso. Setso sa rona se ruile dipapadi tse ngata tse thabisang, tse ka thusang bana ba rona ho ba ntsha mekgweng ya boshodu le ho ba tataisa ba sa le dilemong tse tlase, jwaloka morabaraba, kgati, diketo, molamu, dibeke, tshipo, ho tsoma, mokgibo le tse ding. Ke tse ding tsa dipapadi tse ngata tsa setso tseo re ka di bontshang baeti ba tlileng ho tshehetsa mohope wa lefatshe.
Naha ya rona e bile le monyetla wa ho tshwara dipapadi tsa matjhaba e leng rakebi, kerikete, mohope wa kolofo ya basadi, mohope wa kopanelo wa dinaha tsa Aforika le mohope wa Fifa wa lefatshe. Re thoholetsa mmuso wa rona ka dithuso tsa ditjhelete tse entseng hore ho ahwe mabala a bolo le ho lokisa a mang a ntseng a le teng, ho lokiswa le ho ahwa botjha ha boemafofane le mebila. Tse ding tsa dintho le ha re eso ka re di fihlella, re tshepa hore re tla di fihlella.
Re kopa sepolesa ho fana ka tshireletso e nepahetseng ho baeti ba rona. Ho kwalla ditlokotsebe tse tla beng di hweba ka batho, dithethefatsi le dintho tsohle tse sa lokang tseo e leng tlolo ya molao. Re tshepa hore re tla ithuta dintho tse ngata mohopeng ona wa lefatshe mme ho baahi ba naha ena re re: "Tshireletso ya baeti ke boikarabelo ba rona baahi, ka tshebedisanommoho le sepolesa".
Re leboha le bahlophisi ba mohope ona hore o tle mona naheng ya rona re sa ntse re phela, mme re re: "E utlwe, e mona".
Ha ke tla dihela dikgala, Motsamaisi wa Dipuisano, ho Bafana Bafana ke re, le lwane ya sedula matswapong, le lwane kgakgaulane molamu wa tshepe. Re tlo le tshehetsa ho fihlela motsotsong wa ho qetela. Ya kgaola ya ya. ANC e tshehetsa Ditekanyetso tsena. Ke a leboha Motsamaisi wa Dipuisano. [Mahofi.] (Translation of Sesotho speech follows.)
[Ms M L MOSHODI: Let me take this opportunity to warmly greet the hon Chairperson, Minister and Deputy Minister, all the delegates, especially hon Kgothule from the Free State province, and Members of Parliament. It is a great honour for me to take part in the Budget Vote debate of this department.
The situations in which our African youth find themselves are still a cause for concern when they are compared to their counterparts from other races. That which was a right for other races is a privilege for our African youth, a privilege that they have not achieved yet. This Budget Vote should complement the view that every child has the ability to be anything extraordinary in life if they are given the opportunity and necessary guidance to prove themselves.
We understand the conditions we have gone through of discrimination and oppression where we as Africans were not given the opportunity to show our capabilities because of the apartheid government. It is presently the responsibility of the ANC government to repair the damage caused by apartheid, although we won't forget the pain of where we come from.
Every child must be encouraged to take part in sport because it is to their advantage to do so, and they would be promoting the country in international sport and this would then be an honour for us. This budget must address specifically the importance of bringing people of different races together and allowing people to celebrate because of sports. Many opportunities must be created in schools where a lot of young people remain. Sport and recreational facilities must be built at schools and teachers must be given adequate training of a high standard to enable them to identify learners who have potential. Learners must be taught different types of sports while they are still young so that they can show their ability in sport as they grow up. These training facilities must be made available in rural areas so that the people there are not forgotten. Disabled children must also be given the opportunity to take part.
Our prisons are full of young children who have become criminals because there is nothing they can do that is beneficial to them. Correctional programmes in prisons must include training and sport education. This must be done to keep them out of trouble and to teach them to make a living out of sport, with the exception of dangerous sports such as swimming, golf, cricket, boxing, karate and others.
It is important for this budget to include cultural activities. Our culture has a number of entertaining sports, which can help keep our children away from criminal activities and guide them from a young age, such as morabaraba [African board game], skipping, diketo [game played by putting stones in a hole], stick fighting, dibeke [game played with tins and a ball], tshipo [jumping kangaroo game], hunting, mokgibo [Basotho women dancing on their knees] and others. These are just some of our many cultural sports that we can show visitors who come to support the World Cup.
Our country has the opportunity to host international sports events with regard to rugby, cricket, women's golf, the African Confederation Cup and the Fifa World Cup. We commend our government for making budget allocations that enabled the construction and renovation of soccer stadiums, airports and roads. Even if we have not been able to achieve some of the things yet, we trust that we will.
We plead with the police to provide the necessary safety for our visitors. They should arrest those involved with human trafficking, drugs and everything that is illegal. We hope that we will learn a lot from the World Cup and we say to the citizens of this country, "The safety of our visitors is the responsibility of us all, in co-operation with the police".
We also thank the organisers of this World Cup for bringing it to our country while we are still alive, and we say: "Feel it, it is here".
In conclusion, Chairperson, I would like to say to Bafana Bafana, they must go and fight these battles, they must fight until the very end. We will support them until the last minute. The ANC supports this Budget Vote. Thank you, Chairperson. [Applause.]]
Chairperson of the NCOP, hon members, hon MECs, and hon Minister Mfundisi, before I go to my prepared speech, I would like to draw the attention of hon members to something. What we say here is recorded by Hansard for coming generations to read.
I've been listening to hon member Feldman from Cope. I can understand, when following the media, that he is a bit confused and can't cope with the figures, facts and audits. However, I want to tell him that we didn't build a 64 000-seater in Mbombela; it was a 48 000-seater. But when I read the newspapers, I can understand why he is confused; he can't cope with that.
Deputy Minister, will you take a question?
If I have time at the end, with pleasure.
He will not take a question now, but he will take a question at the end, if he still has time.
I will wait. Thank you very much.
In 2009, there was also a 21- day period. The 21 days we had was to ensure as a country that we were ready to host the IPL cricket tournament. It took place amidst our election campaign, while India had their election, which they claimed posed a security threat. We know today that we successfully hosted that event in 21 days, and we had no incidents whatsoever.
Today, we are 21 days from the opening of the World Cup and our country is abuzz with excitement. Our media has dedicated programmes and space to showcase the build-up to the tournament. The private sector is fully behind all campaigns such as Football Friday, Fly the Flag, and the 2010 Countdown programme. We see South Africans united in hosting the best ever Fifa World Cup. In fact, we are united in our diversity.
We have no doubt that the socioeconomic impact of the Fifa 2010 World Cup will be felt long after the event. During the construction phase of our preparations, we were clear as government that low-income households should benefit from the infrastructure development programme.
We now know that more than 100 000 workers have been employed either directly or indirectly through the 2010 construction programme. We also know that many workers moved from being unskilled to semiskilled, and from being semiskilled to skilled. We now know that more women have entered the construction industry.
With the games being hosted in 10 venues, we were able to spread the benefit of this investment, reaching far and wide across society. It is to this end that the African Six Pack project requires strong support from all corners of our country and the rest of the African continent.
Each of the six African countries that participate in the tournament must treat each of the stadia as their home ground and feel at home. As South Africans, we must provide home-crowd support to our brothers and sisters in our quest to restore the dignity of our continent's people.
It is in this context that we have to caution those who are using the World Cup as a bargaining stick for benefits and service delivery. The vision should not be, "What is in it for me?". The attitude should rather be, "What is in it for our country and our continent, and what are the long- term prospects and benefits to us as Africans?" Ke Nako is not to introduce challenges. Ke Nako [Now is the time] is to celebrate Africa's humanity, it is to live the spirit of ubuntu for a better future for all.
Sport at the elite level, as well as at community level, is increasingly being used in a wide variety of ways to promote social cohesion, to prevent conflict, and to enhance peace within and among nations. In this regard, the UN General Assembly has adopted a series of resolutions on sport and development for peace. Although sport alone cannot prevent conflict or build peace, it can contribute to broader, more comprehensive efforts in a number of important ways. Sports equipment provides a positive and accessible alternative to the guns of internal conflict. As a strategic initiative, our department will carefully look at ways and means to use sport and recreation as a tool in promoting development and peace.
Our work with the UN goes beyond the programme of sport for peace and development. One other initiative in which we are working with them is the One Goal for co-operation on the Establishment of an African Fund for Education. The UN, through its office for drug control, Unicef and the International Organisation for Migration, IOM, has also been working closely with the office for sexual offences under the National Prosecuting Authority, NPA, on issues of human trafficking. This includes the Red Card campaign, which is aimed at discouraging foreign visitors from getting involved in activities that may get them into trouble when visiting the country.
In line with the Millennium Development Goals, MDGs, the UN involved eight African artists, such as Hugh Masekela, to write a song entitled 8 Goals for Africa, authored and recorded by the eight artists. They each sing about a specific goal. We launched this project on 14 May in Alexandra. We did this mindful of the fact that the Fifa World Cup presents us with an ideal forum to globally renew our commitment to the MDGs. For the benefit of members, the song can be downloaded free from the website up to the end of the World Cup.
We are grateful for the support we are receiving from our partners, who give generously to enable us to better the lives of our people. The existing relationship between our department and German Technical Co- operation, GTZ, has been a good catalyst that has encouraged the EU to support our development programmes. Amongst the areas of agreement is capacity-building, developing a toolkit for sport as a catalyst for development and peace, and as skills in project management.
We have recently signed the implementation agreement on the Youth Development Through Sport programme with the GTZ. The project is in line with our mass participation programme and supports three of our key strategic objectives: to contribute to a healthy nation by increasing the number of participants; to raise the profile of sport and recreation through addressing issues of national importance; and to contribute to making the 2010 Fifa World Cup the best ever.
The programme will take physical activity to poor, disadvantaged communities across South Africa and will help to promote both ownership of and leadership in beneficiary communities. The empowering of youth in rural areas will, without doubt, contribute positively towards the improvement of school sport, which is in most cases still being dominated by urban schools. Another partner with whom we directly impact on grass-roots sport through the Youth Development against Violence through Sport programme, is KfW, the German development bank. The overall objective of this programme is to use sport, specifically football, as a catalyst for transmitting life skills to children and youth in order to reduce violence and social ills. Children get off the streets, learn about rules and fair play and practice conflict resolution without violence.
Within the framework of the programme, it is envisaged to construct or rehabilitate over 100 kick-abouts - modified small-sized pitches that could be used for various codes - and full-sized pitches, as well as to provide basic football equipment to children in townships and poor rural areas of our country. At the request of the municipalities and communities, the kick- abouts and pitches can also be designed as multipurpose sites for various sporting codes.
In addition, the concept of the programme foresees the involvement of NGOs and other development partners to provide training and educational activities for the children who participate in the programmes. The training will cover, among other things, life skills, specifically with regard to violence prevention and conflict resolution, and also HIV and Aids.
The Minister spoke about and named the seven areas that will benefit from fast-tracking the erection of some of these facilities. We will see that this is done before the kick-off of the World Cup.
Let me to inform the House that we have also conducted a legacy audit of whatever we will have after the World Cup. This audit should be completed by the end of August this year and will inform us on the broad spectrum of all the initiatives taken so that we, as a country, can be informed and, as a department, be able to direct what we want to leverage for a better legacy for our people.
The hon Minister also referred to our agreement with Cuba, where we have students graduating. May I urge the provincial departments to ensure that we employ these students when they come home on leave and ensure we employ them once they have graduated.
The Minister also deliberated on lottery funds. Let me stress that we are absolutely excited that the National Lotteries Board, the Minister and the chairperson there share our vision. Therefore, in this regard, we must also support them as they try to bring the Lotteries Act onto the right track. We must encourage them to introduce required amendments so that the sport distribution agency of the Lotteries Act falls under Sport and Recreation South Africa, SRSA, where we believe it rightly belongs.
We unpacked the municipal infrastructure grant, MIG. Our fight to access the sport and recreation portion of MIG seems far from over. The stark reality presented by the delivery records of our Building for Sport and Recreation Programme, BSRP, which was our programme in the department, in comparison to those of the consolidated MIG, motivates us to continue the debate which will see SRSA receiving our share of the MIG funds.
For the record, since the inception of the MIG in 2005 until the end of March 2010 - I'm talking five financial years - a total of 155 sport and recreation facilities were completed, compared to 364 projects implemented over only four years under our BSRP.
This, in essence, means that the MIG projects over five financial years represent only 43% of what we did in four years with our BSRP. We are not willing to give up this fight, even if it makes us a lot of enemies.
Our concern is also that sport and recreation facilities projects in the top-spending provinces are concentrated in the bigger municipalities. The cumulative amount committed to sport and recreation facilities projects from 2005 until the end of March 2010, is R2,6 billion. This relates to projects that are either completed, under construction, being designed, on tender or have been registered.
The highest share of this amount goes to Gauteng at 40%, and the lowest to the Northern Cape at 2%. KwaZulu-Natal, for example, spends R482 million on 105 projects while Gauteng spends more than double that amount on only 68 projects. The implication is that while some provinces are for wider reach and accessibility, others are for big projects such as stadia, which may not necessarily be easily accessible to grass-roots sport.
I want the hon Faber from the DA to listen now. The 2008-09 annual report shows a significant decline in the number of audit queries - in fact we only have one - and a reduction in qualified reports from three to one, compared to the previous financial year. In our determination to further improve the internal control environment, a risk management policy was approved. A risk committee became operational, introducing in the department a new vibrancy with regard to the identification, assessment and mitigation of identified risks.
We have come a long way since the staff of the department amalgamated with the staff of the SA Sports Commission and it is time that we examine how we are organised as a department. We are about to commence with the public participation process to review the White Paper. This must culminate in a national sports plan. All sectors must buy into the plan and commit to the strategic direction that will emerge from this process. To gear the department to respond to these developments, we have started a parallel process to develop a functional organisational structure.
We must admit that the previous structure did not sufficiently take into account the mandate and specific functions of the national department. We envisage that the process will be followed by job evaluation, competency assessment and, where needed, the retraining of staff. Let me assure staff that we do not anticipate that any staff member will become redundant. These processes are necessary to ensure better results and outcomes for our sport and recreation sector.
In conclusion, I wish to place on record the ground-breaking work done by Minister Stofile in international bodies such as the World Anti-Doping Agency, Wada. After five long years, during which he served as a board member, South Africa will now be succeeded for one year by Tunisia.
No doubt, we can be proud of the contributions and the role played by Minister Stofile at this level. We also know that he will use the extra time to take up responsibilities in the Southern African Development Community, SADC, and the African Union, AU. These are leadership roles we have to play for the benefit of our region and continent.
I wish to thank the following entities for their support and co-operation: the select committee, MECs, leaders in the sports movement, NGOs and the media. A big thank you also goes to our managers, staff and administrators, who are the foot soldiers and implementers. Working together, we can do more. Ke Nako! Let us celebrate Africa's humanity. I thank you. [Applause.]
Ms W G THUSI (Kwazulu-Natal): Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy Ministers, my colleagues, MECs and hon members of the Council, thank you, Chairperson, for inviting us as KwaZulu-Natal to come and contribute to the budget debate.
I wish to start by thanking the Minister and congratulating him on the informative report he gave us this afternoon. I'm sure that the cynics know that South Africa is ready for 2010. Indeed, Minister, the provinces are ready. You have seen the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium and our beautiful King Shaka International Airport. We are really ready as KwaZulu-Natal.
The KwaZulu-Natal department of sport and recreation has placed a greater emphasis on sport development and recreation programmes in disadvantaged and rural communities, and on programmes aimed at creating more opportunities for the youth, women and people with disabilities.
Programmes are aimed at fostering strong partnerships between government departments, nongovernmental organisations, sports federations and community organisations. The department remains committed to supporting the development of a sustainable and diverse sport and recreation system in KwaZulu-Natal, one that encourages participation, develops talent, and contributes to the health and wellbeing of individuals and groups throughout the province.
The department is committed to the attainment of priorities outlined in the new government's programme of action. In KwaZulu-Natal we have begun a process of co-ordination, joint planning and implementation initiatives with other provincial government departments.
The department is committed to the provincial flagship programme that is responsible for the co-ordination and integration of service delivery across the spheres of government and social partners. The campaign is aimed at profiling wards and then households and identifies their needs.
I will quickly inform the Council about the achievements of our department in 2009 and 2010 and what we are doing in this current financial year. The department created 1 770 jobs in the mass participation programme and targeted unemployed youth. The department's development programme has focused on sustainable development and capacity-building programmes conducted with sports federations. The programme is aimed at increasing the skill levels of coaches, administrators, volunteers, technical officials and referees.
To date, the department has capacitated 4 069 individuals. In spite of its limited budget, the department of sport and recreation has delivered 22 sports facilities in 2009-10 to mostly disadvantaged communities in the deep rural areas.
The total investment in facilities over this period amounted to R22 million. Four sports facilities were renovated over this period with an additional two carried over to 2010-11. Combination courts were completed with 12 carried over and a total of 12 futsal courts with a budget spend of R1,6 million were completed.
The department will invest in 71 sports facilities in this financial year, ranging from the development, upgrade and repair of sports fields, combination courts, and futsal courts to kick-abouts, as well as legacy parks in disadvantaged and rural communities. The department has set aside R36 million from its facilities programme and a further R7,7 million from the Fifa 2010 World Cup budget towards the development of facilities, including combination courts providing for netball, basketball and volleyball.
In addition to the provision and development of facilities, we will be investing in the provision of gym equipment to four municipalities.
The sustainability of facilities that have been erected and developed at considerable cost has proven to be an insurmountable challenge for the department. The provision of maintenance equipment and maintenance support grants to identified municipalities is expected to go a long way towards eradicating these challenges and ensuring that communities make maximum use of these facilities.
The mass school sport programme was successfully delivered to 645 schools and focused on the promotion and development of sports amongst learners. A total of 262 338 learners benefited from this programme. The community mass participation programme seeks to address the modern daily ills facing communities and reduce the levels of poverty by employing youth aged 18 to 35 years. The number of activity hubs to implement this programme rose to 106 and were located in 61 local municipalities throughout KwaZulu-Natal. Over one million people in mostly rural communities were exposed to the programme.
A total of 40 new clubs were formed in the club development programme bringing to 169 the cumulative number of clubs formed. The club development programme focuses in the promotion and development of clubs in previously disadvantaged communities with priority given to rural areas.
In preparation for the 2010 Fifa World Cup, the department has invested heavily in the development of football in partnership with each of the 11 South African Football Association, Safa, regions. A total number of 7 000 players, out of an annual target of 5 000, have benefited from being involved in sustained leagues.
A total of 172 high-performance athletes, out of a target of 60, benefited from intensive coaching and specialised training programmes. A total of 120 Safa level-one coaches have been trained in the province with these coaches being identified by the Safa regions.
Successful mass mobilisation campaigns have been held in Marburg, Gamalakhe, Esikhawini, Ezakheni and at the Qokololo Stadium in Imbali. Mass mobilisation events in Nkandla and Enseleni, in partnership with Sport and Recreation South Africa, SRSA, also included a public viewing of Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates; so, we are really taking the 2010 World Cup fever to the rural areas.
The department successfully hosted, on behalf of SRSA, the South African Schools Winter Games and the National Indigenous Games at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Recreation programmes targeting an active and healthy lifestyle have benefited more than 360 people across the province. Mostly rural communities were targeted.
In the mass participation programme, the following individual successes are worth a mention: A head teacher, three educators and 10 learners from Inyakanyaka High School, Nkandla, have been invited to the United Kingdom as part of a UK Link programme funded by St Mary's School in Leeds.
Sihle Mngomezulu from the Manyiseni cluster has used his volunteer's stipend to pay for his studies in sport management. He is in his third year of studies at Varsity College and we will definitely give him a post to work with us in the department.
Bongiwe Msomi, an MSP assistant from Emaxulwini Primary School in Mpumalanga, represented South Africa in the under-21 Netball World Cup in Iceland.
Nontobeko Mabizela from Inyanyezi special school represented South Africa in the International Cross-Country Championships in Hungary, where she won two silver medals and one bronze medal.
A success story in recreation worth mentioning is that of Nkululeko Kunene, who was identified in the Rural Horse Riding Programme as a horseman, pro- driver and farrier in harness racing. In partnership with the Harness Racing Association, the department succeeded in sending him to Sweden, where he trained and qualified with professional trainer Johan Nilsson. Now he is an accomplished driver and farrier, and his skills will be extremely valuable to both his community and the equine industry.
The focus areas for the 2010-11 mass school sport programme will target 645 schools. By the end of the year, this programme is expected to reach 250 learners. Some 95% of the learners are females and 1 200 of them are learners with disabilities. The success of the mass school sport programme, funded through the Division of Revenue, Dora, grant, has increased participation in sport and has developed sports champions.
Many learners from the schools in the programme are now representing their provinces in the schools national championship. This calls for stakeholders in sport to work together to intensify the development of sport at local delivery points such as schools, clubs and communities and sports academies and high-performance centres in the province to deliver support to learners who display talent. Hon Minister, we are busy holding talks with the department of education with regard to a co-ordination structure. We will take lessons from the Free State.
To address government's call for creating healthy and sustainable communities, the department will focus on delivering on the Community Mass Participation and Recreation Programme. The department's recreation programme with a budget of R8,7 million will be delivered in seven key ongoing, recreation programmes.
Among other things, the key programmes are Recre-Hab, an active rehabilitation programme for prisoners and street children; active seniors delivering innovative programmes aimed at ...Oh, my time has expired. Thank you.
I wish to say to Bafana Bafana that this is your opportunity; take it! [Applause.] [Time expired.]
I am sorry, hon MEC Thusi, we do it the nice way; we do not want to shout at you.
Chair, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister, hon MECs and special greetings to our MEC from the Northern Cape, the hon Pauline Williams - welcome to the House. The Department of Sport and Recreation has received a qualified audit report for two consecutive years. We, in the ID, are hoping that 2010 will be different.
It is our belief that this department should use the opportunity of hosting a world-class sporting event like the 2010 Fifa World Cup to become a world- class department. If we have the ability to host the 2010 Fifa World Cup, then, surely, we can get an unqualified audit report.
Sport het die vermo om ons kinders te help ontwikkel en om 'n toekoms vir hulle te kan bou. Dit maak 'n kind bewus dat omstandighede jou nie kan terughou om dit te kan bereik wat jy graag wil bereik nie. Sportgeriewe by ons voorheen benadeelde skole, is glad nie na wense nie en dit maak sommige kinders mismoedig. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraph follows.)
[Sport has the ability to help with the development of our children and to build a future for them. It makes children aware of not allowing conditions to prevent them from achieving what they really want to achieve. Sports facilities at our previously disadvantaged schools are not up to scratch and this makes some children discouraged.]
We, as the ID, are mindful that the 2010 Fifa World Cup has the ability to boost the department's morale, which has suffered over the past few years. I would like to quote former Presidents. Firstly, let me quote the words of former President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela:
The World Cup will help unify our people. If there is one thing on this planet that has the power to bind people together, it is soccer.
Let me quote the former President, Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki:
The Soccer World Cup in Africa reaffirms our common humanity and proves we all belong to one family.
I would like to repeat what I have said many times before: In a nation with the highest inequalities in the world, the real challenge will be to translate the billions we have spent on the 2010 Fifa World Cup into something tangible and sustainable for our people in the months and years after the final whistle has blown.
The ID also supports the portfolio committee's decision to summon the department before each quarter to report back on the Division of Revenue Act grant-spending progress in the provinces.
I am happy to announce here today that there is no need for me to say anything negative about our team Bafana Bafana, who are putting in their best; the coach, whom we have come to accept; the Gautrain, which is basically ready; the vuvuzelas, which we are all going to blow very hard on 11 June; and the beautiful stadiums. The ID supports this Budget Vote. I thank you. [Applause.]
Chairperson, Minister, Deputy Minister, MECs, MPs, officials, and distinguished guests, let me start by saying ...
...Mphathiswa, mna ndingowaseJansenville, uthe xa ukhankanya iJansenville apha ndaziva ndonwabile, kuba kusekhaya phaya. Ndiyavuya xa nithe nafikelela naphaya. [...Minister, I am originally from Jansenville. When you mentioned Jansenville here, I felt happy because that is my home. I am glad that you have even reached that part of the country.]
The ANC lives. The ANC leads. This Budget Vote could not have come at a better time than this one. The year 2010 has been an exciting year since its beginning. Everybody is looking forward to the World Cup, and we are all full of hope that this is going to be a good year for all of us. Feel it! It is here!
This year has kept us looking forward to the first World Cup ever held on African soil. Today we mark the 21st day until our dream comes true. We will be making history during our time as the ANC-led government. Our promise to the nation will be honoured. We also hope that Bafana Bafana will make us proud, and we wish them to win every match they play. But even if they do not win, we will still remain proud of them.
Nyawuza, Thahla, Ndayeni, Hlamba ngobubende, eMpuma Koloni ... [Nyawuza, Thahla, Ndayeni, Hlamba ngobubende, in the Eastern Cape ...]
...we have produced many sportswomen and sportsmen, for example Makhaya Ntini, who is from the Eastern Cape. Recently we produced Andile Jali who has been selected to be part of the soccer national team. Our young generation will share experiences with other people from other countries. Our government takes decisive steps as we move forward.
Some of the government priorities are growth and transforming the economy to create decent jobs and sustainable livelihoods; strengthening the education, skills and human resource base; and building cohesive, caring, and sustainable communities. If we work together we can do this and more.
We, as the people of this continent, will be able to show the outside world our different cultures as Africans. South Africa is a diverse and democratic country. Our democracy has extended outside this country. This opportunity will uplift our economy, and, at the same time people will be left with good and unforgettable memories.
Playing sport is a healthy way of living. It has to be considered fairly because it is crosscutting. The health Minister will benefit as he has already said that he is trying to make sure that everybody lives a healthy life. The Minister of Social Development will also benefit because we will have fewer street kids, and this would benefit safety and education as well. The same applies to all other departments. We, as government, cannot let provinces underspend on sport because there is a lot that needs to be done in our provinces.
In our rural communities there are people known as sports veterans. They also need to be brought back as sports trainers, as they have the experience that we need. They also have the discipline that needs to be instilled in our professional players.
They can help guide our children in taking up sport as a profession, because some of our kids are not good academically, but can be good at sport. There are also codes of sport that the country should focus on. Those sporting codes are not regularly played in our country, such as baseball, basketball and others.
School sport is also slowly fading away in our provinces through the lack of resources in our schools. We need to revive the spirit of going to the playgrounds every Wednesday and Friday afternoons, and even on Saturdays. Seventy per cent of our grants need to be used to develop our youth so as to take them away from drugs and alcohol. Indigenous games should also be considered.
Men in our communities are misdirecting their energy, because they do not have anything to do after hours. I think that if we put more emphasis on sport, the rate of sexual offences would be reduced.
Tat'uThahla, iLusikisiki yenye yemimandla eyaziwayo ngokuxhatshazwa ngokwesondo, kodwa kwakhona ikwayingingqi enabadlali abaninzi nasele bebadala abanye babo, abangasetyenziswa ukuphuhlisa ulutsha kwezemidlalo kula ngingqi. [Thahla, Lusikisiki is one of the areas not only notorious for sexual abuse, but is also renowned for having many sporting personalities, some of whom have already retired and could still be utilised to develop youth in sport in that area.]
The programme of mass participation is also good, but is it really serving a purpose? I know we are creating jobs, but these jobs must be relevant to the economy of the country, because we have to create jobs and develop the economy at the same time, as our focus is to ensure the accessibility of sport to all.
Participation, development and excellence are key elements in building our nation. They engender unity, discipline and reconciliation amongst individuals and communities. They are also key elements to economic growth as they generate employment and alleviate poverty.
As I have already said, participating in sport is a healthy lifestyle. We therefore have to introduce it in our hospitals as well. People should not be lying on beds the whole day. There should be time reserved for sporting activities. We should help the Department of Health make sports grounds available in hospitals, especially in TB hospitals, even if this is for an indoor sport.
This government also needs to focus on developing women in sport. I salute the three black women who are mountain climbers here in Cape Town. Their skill and interest are very scarce within the black community. One of them also actually declared on national TV that she is HIV-positive.
Chairperson and hon Minister, it would be good to see fewer funerals and more sports activities during weekends in our communities. There are too many young people being buried. I would just be sorry for the funeral parlours, because this would mean less business for them! So, if we work together, we will have more ideas for developing our communities. The ANC supports this Budget Vote. I thank you. [Applause.]