Hon Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister, hon members and guests in the gallery, I just quickly want to respond to the EFF member who spoke earlier. Yes, the ANC agrees with you that it is not true that blacks can't swim; blacks can swim. By the same token, it is also not true that if you wear a red overall and a beret, you won't be able to participate in sport. Maybe you should just get into some sports gear! [Applause.]
Hon Chairperson, I would like to quote our former President Nelson Mandela:
Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power ... to unite people in a way that little else does.
I believe that sport can unite and heal our nation. Each person just needs the opportunity to show that it is possible and it can be done.
I am looking forward to the day, hopefully very soon, when we see all our children participate in sport together, united, and building a nation that is not divided by race, class, religion or culture. Let's all work together to move South Africa forward so that our sportswomen and sportsmen can achieve their best results and be proud to represent our beloved country, South Africa.
South Africa is now indeed a better place to live in than it was in 1994. I clearly remember how my dad, my brothers, my husband and many other South Africans could not participate in soccer because of apartheid. Sadly, because of that, they could not represent their country. My father was allowed to be a soldier and to fight for his country, but he was not allowed to participate in sport. Upon returning from the battlefield, he was not allowed to participate in any kind of sport. Never. It breaks my heart to think that he could have been killed, but he was not allowed to participate in sport. That was what apartheid did. It killed and robbed, not just people like my father, but many, many other South Africans simply because they were not the right colour or race.
Today, I stand here in this august House and say without a doubt that South Africa is indeed a better place to live in now than prior to 1994. [Applause.] I am proud to be a South African, where there is a place and an opportunity for all of us. I will never ever be part of any system that promotes apartheid. I won't be.
I think everybody knows Smiley Moosa. Imagine this; he could not play for his own country! He had to change his name. That is so sad. People used to call him "Mr Williams". He was one of the best dribblers a country could ever dream of having. People would wonder in amazement how a white guy was able to play and dribble so well. That is what apartheid did to us.
I would also like to quote the late Hassan Howa, who said: "You can't play normal sports in an abnormal society." That is what apartheid did to us. There is no denying that South Africa is indeed a better place now than it was prior to 1994.
As the Minister mentioned, sports infrastructure development and maintenance has been identified as a key priority. It was identified as such in the National Sport and Recreation Plan of 2011. In addition, the need for a multipronged and multilevel approach to the development and maintenance of sports infrastructure has also been identified.
Development of sports facilities without maintenance should not take place, hon Minister. The department needs a continuous maintenance plan for all facilities.
As stated in the ANC's 53rd conference resolutions, social transformation is important. We need to redress past imbalances. We need to work together towards the implementation of the 2030 NDP as a long and sustainable vision that can serve as the basis for partnerships in society so that we can attain the South Africa of our dreams, our rainbow nation, in which the colour of one's skin will not determine who one is and what sport one may participate in, but that such determinations would rather be based on equality and fairness.
The ANC-led government will continue to fight against any form of discrimination that poses a threat to social cohesion and nation-building.
After 20 years of democracy many infrastructure developments have taken place throughout our country where previously no infrastructure existed. There are still many facilities that are not available for use by communities that live but a few metres away from them. Such communities then have to travel long distances to another facility because the one closest to them is not available to them to use. Government sports facilities must be available for use by all South Africans. In some instances, it is costly for people to travel to other facilities, and this where they drive past facilities that are used only by certain communities. This is still happening in the new South Africa. This is not acceptable if we claim to be a South Africa for all the people. This needs to change sooner rather than later, Mr Minister. It is long overdue.
In both rural and urban areas all communities should have access to local sports facilities. We need to have outreach programmes in rural areas and townships across the country through which we can distribute sports equipment and roll out outdoor gyms and other sport and recreation materials and facilities to those communities.
Developing outdoor gyms throughout the country is a good idea. It has been proven that the outdoor gyms in Soweto and Eldorado Park have broken down barriers separating communities. People are allowed to use these gyms even though they do not reside in the area. In Mitchells Plain an outdoor gym was installed and the community is ecstatic! They are very happy. This is an innovative initiative that can be replicated in all communities. These outdoor gyms have proved to be enjoyable for the whole family as everyone in the family can go to the park and participate in walking, cycling and just enjoying themselves. This is indeed a good and a healthy story to tell.
This sort of development has built our nation as facilities developed in the various provinces are used by everybody. Sporting facilities and equipment in rural schools and communities are important for future development in our country. The absence of these facilities in disadvantaged communities must be ranked as one of the cruelest legacies of apartheid. That is why it is important to build more sports and recreation infrastructure, particularly in the townships and rural communities.
The Rural Sport Improvement Programme, under the guidance of the National House of Traditional Leaders, needs to be advanced as it is critical for the development of rural areas. This will play a role in the resuscitation and development of rural sport.
In conclusion, allow me to quote the Freedom Charter: "Rest, leisure and recreation shall be the right of all." This is such a profound statement. We should not only quote it, but also live it. The ANC supports this budget. Siyabonga. [Thank you.]