Chairperson, first of all I want ... Is there a point of order? I haven't even started and there is a point of order already! First of all, I want to congratulate the Minister and the Deputy Minister on their appointments. Well done, gentlemen.
Secondly, I can't really congratulate him ...
... maar ek kan darem vir die oud agb Jannie Momberg daar welkom heet. [... but I can at least welcome the former hon Jannie Momberg over there.]
I also see various people in the gallery and here I want to congratulate Cricket South Africa - I see Gerald Majola there - and also sportspeople who are involved with soccer in South Africa - I see Dr Irvin Khoza there - on their achievements.
I don't see Mr Hoskins here. I suppose he is busy with the Springboks ... You represent Mr Hoskins? I see that gentleman there. Welcome and congratulations on your achievements.
Then, lastly, I also see a homeboy here, Dr Danny Jordaan. Danny, we in this country are very proud of you for what you have done for soccer. [Applause.] We are very proud of the Confederations Cup that you have arranged. Very well done!
Now, back to my speech. [Laughter.] I would like to speak about Boxing South Africa today. It was mentioned by the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Sport and Recreation, but he did not elaborate enough, as far as I am concerned. I want to talk about Boxing South Africa, and propose that it be dissolved and privatised.
Boxing South Africa is one of the government's most poorly run institutions, which is saying something, especially when one considers that the South African taxpayer had to bail out various public entities to the sum of R100 billion over the last few years.
The principle that underlies my call is well established. Under the ANC, the South African state has overextended its reach and, perhaps more to the point, has repeatedly demonstrated that it is next to incapable of properly managing public money and institutions. I am not alone in arriving at this conclusion. The Minister of Public Enterprises, Ms Barbara Hogan, agrees with me. She said the following:
There is no longer a space for state-owned enterprises that are running with huge inefficiencies.
She is quite right. Boxing South Africa is a case in point. Certainly, the Portfolio Committee on Sport and Recreation agrees with me that Boxing South Africa's board and general administration is a disgrace and has been for quite a few years. The chairperson of that committee said it has been that way for the past five years.
The committee is proposing that the current board be dissolved. To quote from its draft report, that it -
... make a determination as to whether Boxing South Africa is a viable entity receiving monies and funding largely from the Department of Sport and Recreation.
You might recall that up till about a year ago, Boxing South Africa's chairman was Mr Dali Mpofu. When he left, he said:
I am very proud to be leaving at a time when we have turned the ship around.
You know, he should have said, "when we have overturned the ship".
Mr Mpofu left to focus on the SABC, of which he was the Chief Executive Officer. Let me do no more than point out that the SABC Board has also imploded and the public broadcaster had to be recapitalised to the tune of some R4,2 billion. No doubt, another ship successfully turned around, or should we say overturned, by Mr Mpofu. You know, there was a man called Winston Churchill and he would have said, "some ship, some turning around".
Yet, just five months ago, after Dali Mpofu left Boxing South Africa, the newspapers reported that, after years of maladministration, qualified audits and infighting, even the ANC government has reached a tipping point. The Minister of Sport and Recreation was quoted as saying this about Boxing South Africa's board:
I appointed them. I need to see them delivering as early as this December, failing which I will kick them out of office.
Why did he make this threat? Here is the Minister's reason:
I must say, I am disappointed by these guys because it looks like they are clueless in what they do.
Net 'n ANC-minister kan 'n administrasie saamstel en dan erken dat hulle nie weet wat hulle doen nie. Dan, om alles te kroon, te wil voorgee dat hy glad nie vir hul optrede verantwoordelik gehou kan word nie.
Ja, Minister, ek aanvaar dat die raad verantwoordelik is. Maar u moet mede- verantwoordelikheid aanvaar. Hulle is tog deur u aangestel. Die mense van hierdie land verwag van u om die regte aanstellings te maak, maar u het self erken dat u 'n groot fout gemaak het. Dit is baie keer goed om te erken dat ons 'n fout begaan het. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.) [Only an ANC Minister can put together an administration and then admits to the fact that they don't know what they are doing. Then, to crown it all, he pretends that he cannot in the least be held accountable for their conduct.
Yes, Minister, I accept that the board should take responsibility. But you should take co-responsibility. After all they were appointed by you. The people of this country expect you to make the appropriate appointments, but you yourself acknowledged the fact that you made a big mistake. Most of the time it is a good thing to acknowledge that we made a mistake.]
It is good, Minister, to admit to our mistakes. Let's talk about your department. Not that your own department is a model of excellence by any stretch of the imagination. To quote a City Press editorial of November last year about yet another qualified report for the department from the Auditor-General:
This mismanagement is par for the course in many other government departments, but it is especially ironic in sports, where leaders can't resist playing political games, unaware that people who live in glass houses should be wary of throwing stones. [Time expired.] Thank you. [Applause.]