Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Budget Speech, responses by EFF & DA

Minister Nathi Mthethwa: Sport, Arts and Culture Dept Budget Vote 2021/22
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13 May 2021

Chairperson,
Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Honourable N Mafu,
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee,
Honourable Members,
Chairpersons and Chief Executives of Public Entities,
Distinguished Guests,
Members of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I extend my warmest greetings to all of you present on various digital platforms. I am delighted to appear before Parliament in order to present my budget vote and to also interact with you Honourable Members.

We live in an extra-ordinary epoch, as humanity the world over. We face unprecedented times due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The advent of COVID-19 compelled us to reprioritize our budget and cater for relief interventions. In the midst of all of this we appreciate that the African Union has declared the year 2021 as the year for Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for building the Africa we want.

Simultaneously, South Africa complimented the African Union by invoking the spirit of Mama Charlotte Maxeke, declaring 2021 as the Year of Mama Charlotte Maxeke - an artist, cultural activist, an educationist, a liberation heritage colossal figure amongst others.

In the 2021/22 financial year, the Department has a Budget of R5.7 billion. Of this R4.5 billion which constitutes 79% of the total Budget is allocated to Transfer Payments. Essentially, the Department will during this financial year be in direct control of R1.2 Billion.

COVID relief for the creative sector

The Department commissioned research which was done by the South African Cultural Observatory (SACO) to find out the impact of COVID-19 on the sector.

This study, conducted mid last year, showed that almost all (95%) of respondents had experienced cancellation or indefinite postponement of work. The impact (without the induced impact) on total output of the Covid-19 shutdown on the Covid Relief for the Creative and Cultural Industries (CCIs) is -R53,3 billion.

The research further showed that the CCIs are particularly vulnerable to economic downturns because many people who work in the sector are freelancers (individuals) working on short-term contracts.

Another study was undertaken on the Sport sector and this also produced a similar outcome as CCI.

In response to the plight of the sectors, the Department implemented a number of relief interventions. This was done through three phases of support and by forging partnership with Department of Small Business Development as well as teaming up with the Solidarity Fund.

• Phase 1 of the Relief Fund saw the disbursement of R84 million resulting in 4 925 beneficiaries. This included support for projects utilizing digital solutions.
• Phase 2 Relief Funding resulted in R4.5 million benefitting 683 beneficiaries.
• Phase 3 Relief Funding which is still in progress has so far seen R14.77 million awarded to 1 408 beneficiaries.
• The DSBD/DSAC Partnership saw each department contributing R11.1 Million to the benefit of 807 applicants.
• MiniThe Partnership with the Solidarity Fund resulted in issuing the food vouchers to the sectors under our care with 8 434 beneficiaries to the value of R5.9 Million.

The Department has also assisted DIRCO with the repatriation of 29 South African artists from Turkey whose work with Rainbow Events was cancelled as a result of COVID-19.

The Presidential Employment Stimulus Package:
• Has also provided a significant funding injection in targeted areas towards job creation and job retention. The Department received R665million from the PESP Budget allocation; and has to-date disbursed a total of R404.4m that has managed to create more than 40 815 jobs (against 33 032 projected by the National Treasury.) More organisations still stand to benefit from this intervention.

COVID relief in Recreation Development and Sport Promotion

The Department therefore provided support:

• To National Federations to ensure Job Retention, Organizational Sustainability to prevent the collapse of the sport and recreation bodies and further areas identified as priority by both the National Federation and the Department.
• Support was also provided to athletes, coaches, technical support personnel as well as fitness instructors and practitioners through the COVID-19 Relief Fund. Through this intervention a total of 423 beneficiaries accessed the support.

Support for talented athletes

• The Department provided 1 918 athletes with sport scientific support services through the National Athlete Support Programme and the Provincial Academies Programme. The Athlete Support Programme provides holistic support, nurtures and develops talented athletes.
• In the current year, the Department will also contribute towards a winning nation by coordinating scientific support services to 80 elite athletes.
• Thirty-seven (37) learners were supported through the Sport Bursary Programme. These athletes were identified during the National School Sport Championships held prior to the year 2020.
• Provided accessible infrastructure to communities by constructing 10 community gyms, play parks and 10 multipurpose sport courts.
• In an effort to expand the footprint of the 2023 Netball World Cup Legacy, as well as making sport facilities accessible to girls, the Department resolved to also build single-code Netball courts parallel to the construction of multi-sport courts.
• The partnership with Nedbank, the Premier Soccer League and the Sport Trust through which the partners contribute multi sport courts as part of the Nedbank Cup Social Responsibility Programme is appreciated. The Department urges more corporates to partner with Government in providing the much needed sport infrastructure in our schools and communities.

Focus for the coming financial year

The Department will promote sport through the following initiatives:

• Building an ethical sporting sector by financially supporting the South African Institute for a Drug-Free Sport and ensuring that commitments to the World Anti-Doping Agency are upheld.
• Providing financial and non-financial support to 60 sport and recreation bodies.
• Fostering transformation within the sport and recreation sector by monitoring the transformation statutes of 19 sport federations and broadly helping them to reach their respective transformation targets by March 2023.
• In ensuring access to infrastructure, a further ten outdoor gyms and children’s play parks are being constructed.
• Allocating R252 Million to 29 municipalities from the municipal infrastructure grant to build sport facilities responsive to their needs.
• The National Sport and Recreation Amendment bill is in a process of being submitted to Cabinet for approval, before it is brought to Parliament.

The Department will provide support to the South African Sport Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) through a focused approach to ensure maximum return on investment. To this end the support provided by the Department for the preparation and delivery of the Tokyo 2020 South African Olympic and Paralympic Team is specifically earmarked for athletes and teams ranked top ten in the World and those with a proven track record of medaling at major international events.

The Department is also collaborating with the National Lotteries Commission in an effort to ensure better coordination of support provided towards Team South Africa. The contribution made by the National Lotteries Commission and other corporate partners needs to be commended.

Cabinet has approved South Africa’s hosting of the Netball World Cup from July to August 2023, demonstrating our commitment to the advancement of sport, particularly for women in the country. Preparations for the 2023 Netball World Cup (NWC) are well under way.

Proper Governance of Federations at all levels remain a priority: The Department continues to work with all key stakeholders in ensuring that proper, efficient and effective governance structures are the cornerstone of all sport bodies including the confederation. We commend the Cricket South Africa interim Board and Member’s Council on their historic milestone agreement to transform Cricket, thus ensuring good corporate governance. This needs to be supported by all patriots who want to see a new and clean start to the game. We note descending voices but we are not deterred or shaken by their misgivings. What we have been dealing with in the past six months in particular is, on the one hand, conservative thinking that seeks the status quo and on the other hand, progressive transformative voices. Our choice is clear: transformation is sacrosanct. Transformation is our agenda.

Working with various key partners, the Department will continue to support the campaign aimed at fighting the unjust Differences of Sexual Development (DSD) Regulations introduced by World Athletics (Deputy Minister will expand on this).

Creating spaces, undermining apartheid spatial patterns:

As regards to infrastructure development, last year we completed the upgrade to the Winnie Mandela House in Brandfort, as well as the OR Tambo Garden of Remembrance in Mbizana.

Declaration of the Port Elizabeth Opera House in Gqebera.

We are pleased to announce that the Port Elizabeth Opera House in Gqebera, constructed in 1892, will become a Declared Cultural Institution which will help to better serve the performing arts sector.

Northern Cape Theatre.

The Department is delighted to announce the refurbishment into a fully-fledged theatre space. The Department contributed R12 million towards the construction and the theatre has been operational since 2020.

Limpopo Provincial Theatre.

The Department committed the sum of R45 million over Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for the construction of the new Limpopo Provincial Theatre. Professional Services have concluded and construction is expected to commence in February 2022.

Casterbridge Music Academy in Mpumalanga Province.

The Department is supporting Casterbridge Music Development Academy (CMDA), a non-profit organisation geared towards empowering youth with music skills, with the aim of taking this academy to a higher level as a dedicated centre of music and technological excellence and as a theatre space that can be utilized by the creative sector in Mpumalanga. The demand is growing, therefore we are working towards building a provincial theatre in Mpumalanga.

Film

The National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) successfully launched phase 1 of the Eastern Cape Film Hub located in East London last year. The Film Hub provides filmmakers, editors and entrepreneurs with incubation, access to a state-of-the-art space and resources. In 2021/22 financial year the Department has committed R7 million for the completion of phase 2 of the Film Hub. Once phase 2 is complete, the Film Hub will be officially named the Nomhle Nkonyeni Film Hub in honour of the film legend who was born in the Eastern Cape, Mama Nomhle Nkonyeni.

In line with Section 18 of the NFVF Act, and the 2019 Film Summit resolution, the NFVF is working towards establishing a Film Fund. This will create a funding model that will propel the local industry to a higher level.

National Academy of Africa’s performing Arts.

The Academy will offer professional art training in music, dance and drama. It will promote the highest level of human aspiration and artistic integrity through the composition, documentation and performance to the art.

The Academy’s development is towards the last phase.

Thabo Mbeki Foundation.

The Department has entered into a partnership with the Thabo Mbeki Foundation (TMF) for the establishment of the Thabo Mbeki Presidential Library (TMPL), an African Centre of Excellence. The design of the library was launched in November 2020.

Africa Month.

What started as the South African programme has now been endorsed at the African Union Level. The fifth Pan African Cultural Conngress endorsed Africa Month Porgramme as a flagship for the continental body. Further, South Africa was chosen to be the champion for the ratification of the Charter for the African Cultural Renaissance in the region of SADC.

Arts, Culture Promotion and Development Silapha Wellness Intervention Programmes

• In response to the vulnerabilities of creatives and athletes to societal ills, the Department has intervened and launched a guided wellness programme in February 2021.
• This focuses on Lifestyle Management, Financial Management, Mental Health Management, Substance Abuse and Legal Advice. Athletes and creatives from Mpumalanga province are the first beneficiaries of the roll out intervention.

Baqhawafazi

• In response to gender-based violence which is prevalent in our society and which flared during the hard lockdown, the Department has partnered with Baqhawafazi, a multi-sectoral movement raising awareness on gender-based violence, intimate partner violence and femicide in South Africa.
• This project will work to raise consciousness in the GBVF hotspots, produce awareness books and do a feasibility study on a Wall of Remembrance.

Golekane Campaign

The Golekane Movement, supported by the Department, focuses on the socialization of the boy child and fathers, teaching sons acceptable norms in order to build a more caring society, that acts collectively against gender-based violence.

Living Legends Legacy Fraternity.

The Living Legends Legacy Trust elected a new Board in December 2020, led by South African veteran actor, Dr John Kani. This board will continue implementing master classes, workshops and skills sharing programmes between Legends and young artists, and forge partnerships.

The Debut Fund Programme with a subsidy of R10 million over a 3-year period provides young artists with opportunities to develop new local content. In the past year, 425 young creatives were accepted into the Programme. Of these, 180 are receiving catalyst grants that will culminate in a Provincial Online Art Fair.

Language Bursaries.

In the last financial year, 486 bursaries were provided for language studies, including South African Sign Language. At least 250 bursaries will be allocated for the current financial year.

As part of the Implementation Framework for the South African Language Practitioners’ Council Act a Working Committee made up of key stakeholders has been established.

South African Sign Language (SASL)

The Department of Justice and Correctional Services has commenced with the process of amending section 6 of the Constitution to include South African Sign Language (SASL) as an official language.

The first working session to afford SASL stakeholders to make contributions to the draft 19th Constitutional Amendment Bill was held in March 2021. A follow-up working session that was facilitated by the Department was held in April, where affected stakeholders gave input to the draft Bill.

The Department will be the key implementer of the constitutional amendment and therefore is playing a critical role in ensuring the finalization of the Bill.

Revised White Paper

Since the adoption of the Revised White Paper on Arts, Culture and Heritage, work has commenced on the implementation of new initiatives and a new funding model for the sector. The feasibility study on the amalgamation of public entities has been completed. The process of reviewing legislation has commenced. An audit of arts and culture facilities in the country (including public and private theatres) will be a focus of the current financial year’s programme.

The Department is also seized with the finalisation of strategies and policies in Literature, Visual Arts and Craft and the standardisation of Funding Policy.

• We congratulate Pippa Ehrlich, James Reed, Craig Foster and their crew for the international awards they have received for the documentary film, My Octopus Teacher, including the Best Documentary Feature at the 93rd Academy Awards. Their victory has also been a triumph for the cause of safeguarding the environment and for the preservation of marine diversity, which is part of our culture and heritage.
• In this financial year the Department will also be supporting emerging film makers by commissioning them to produce 10 short films and documentaries; where they will be telling stories of the history of liberation, and matters of cultural and heritage importance.

Ministerial Advisory Team

In consultation with the sector, I have appointed an Advisory Team to advise me on COVID-19 and the resultant challenges faced by cultural and creative sector practitioners. The six member team is working on key activities and deliverables pertaining to different work-streams, including Banking and landlords, Wellness, School fees, Retail and Transport as well as the private sector.

Prioritization of the Copyright Amendment Bill (CAB) and Performers Protection Bill (PPB).

• Regarding the two Bills (Copyright Amendment Bill and the Performers Protection Amendment Bill), we are thrilled that deliberations have resumed in parliament yesterday on the bills and look forward to their conclusion soon, so that arts practitioners can practise their craft in a conducive environment.

South African Creative Industry Masterplan Project

• The South African government, recognising the importance of the creative economy and the role it can play in growing an inclusive economy, has established an Interdepartmental Team which has widely consulted with the creative sector on the South African Creative Industry Masterplan.
• As part of finalizing this process, together with the Minister of Small Business Development, we shall soon be finalizing discussions on this plan.

Technical Services

Working with the Transformation Forum for Technical Services, the Department is working on a Transformation Charter and BBBEE Codes. The Roll-out Plan, includes Roadshows to provinces, to allow the practitioners within this domain to make inputs.

Heritage Promotion and Preservation.

In the financial year 2020-21 the following commitments were made:

• The National Policy on the Repatriation and Restitution of Human Remains and Heritage Objects was approved by Cabinet in March 2021. This contributes to the restoration and re-humanisation of people who were stripped of their dignity during their lifetimes as well as in death.
• The National Policy on the Digitisation of Arts, Culture and Heritage will be finalised by March 2022. This is our contribution in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
• Cabinet approved the implementation of the National Khoi and San Heritage Route on 02 June 2020. This will ensure that we restore the legacies of our ancestors who fought the first battles against colonialism and imperialism, in defence of their land and livelihood. This is based on footprints and 15 nodal points throughout the country of this foremost indigenous inhabitants. Each node has a key entry site in all the provinces.
• The Department has finalised the Feasibility Study for the establishment of the Resistance and Liberation Movement Museum (RLMM) with the final Report approved by Cabinet on 02 June 2020.
• In September 2020, the Department presented a Cabinet Memorandum on the Transformation of the Heritage Landscape. We have addressed the National House of Traditional Leaders (NHTL), all nine Provincial Legislatures and tomorrow we are addressing South African Local Government Association (SALGA). Following Cabinet approval, South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) has enlisted the assistance of 265 graduates to conduct an audit of all the statues and monuments that are not in line with the spirit and the values of the South African Constitution. Regional Nation Building Parks that will be the tapestry of history that will impel all of us to say “Lest we forget”.
• The National Indigenous Knowledge Advisory Committee will be appointed in the 2021/2022 financial year, to assist the department with the documentation of South Africa’s vast indigenous knowledge.
• Two books have been completed documenting South Africa’s Living Human Treasures, Baba Mgwaqo Enoch Mabika and Mama Beauty Mgxongo, in line with our Living Heritage policy. In the current financial year we aim to produce five such books.
• The Community Library Conditional Grant has financially supported 33 newly built libraries for the provision of free internet access, high-level technology and provision of services for the visually impaired readers. Five new libraries were completed in the last financial year. They are located in Emalahleni in Mpumalanga, Kheis local municipality in Northern Cape, Masilonyana Local Municipality in Free State, Emfuleni Municipality in Gauteng and Drakenstein Municipality in Western Cape.
• The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture is embarking on a project to install the South African Monumental Flag which, will serve as a lasting icon to symbolise South African Freedom and Democracy at a prominent site.
• The Department funded 70 heritage bursaries in the last financial year. For the 2021/2022 financial year, we plan to grant at least 65 heritage bursaries.

In support of internationalism, South Africa will continue to strengthen its bilateral and multilateral relations. In September 2020, we participated in the Gothenburg Book Fair in Sweden on a virtual platform and in October 2020 we participated in a virtual panel of experts during the official opening of the Creative Mexico Forum.

The People’s Republic of China and the government of the Republic of South Africa are engaged in the People to People Exchange Mechanism. It is co-chaired by Her Excellency, Vice Premier Sun Chunlan and Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture respectively, and its objectives are to contribute to the knowledge and understanding between South Africa and China through the enhancement of contacts between the people of both countries in areas of culture, international relations, education, communication, health, science and technology, sports, tourism, women affairs and youth.

As part of the BRICS Programme of events and activities to be held in India forming part of the 15th BRICS summit, the BRICS Ministers of Culture have agreed to increase cultural exchanges and to open up markets among each other for cultural goods.

The Department will also participate in the Dubai Expo from October 2021 – March 2022 as part of a government-wide programme that seeks to position South Africa on the global map for investment opportunities.

Cultural Diplomacy

Our Africa Seasons’ program which is part of our cultural diplomacy endeavours, has suffered a heavy blow since the covid-19 pandemic. This is the program where we export our goods and services around the continent through our artists. The last cultural programme was in Angola, just before the pandemic. Other countries visited so far are Gabon, Ghana, Algeria and Kenya. Our aim is to cover the whole continent.

As we craft our work to meet the needs of this era, we pledge that our work will never be an end to itself, but rather be a means of serving our people with the sport, arts and culture that they need, that we need, to propel us as a nation into the future.

I thank you for your attention.

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Speech by Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts & Culture, Hon. Nocawe Mafu, on the occasion of the Budget Vote, Parliament of RSA, Cape Town