Sport & Recreation SA Budget & Programmes for 2001

Meeting report

EDUCATION AND RECREATION SELECT COMMITTEE
27 March 2001
SPORT AND RECREATION SA: BUDGET AND PROGRAMME

Chairperson: Mr D Kgware

Documents issued:
Sport and Recreation SA: Briefing (see Appendix)
Sport and Recreation SA 2001/2002 Programmes & Budget: Vote 18 (.pdf file, Adobe Acrobat reader needed)

SUMMARY
On the issue of development of sport, the reluctance of certain federations to introduce their games to disadvantaged communities was noted. The topical issue of racism in some sporting federations was discussed at length. The Department explained the steps it is taking to address both sport development and racism. For example, federations need to make progress reports to the department on these issues.

The South African Boxing Bill and the Sports Commission were not discussed due to the absence of a legal advisor.

MINUTES
Mr G Fredericks (Director in the Department) gave a full briefing on the state of affairs in Sport and Recreation SA (see document). In addition, he mentioned the following:

International conference on racism
The Director General noted that all national sporting federations will be represented at the international conference on racism to be held in September this year.

Proceeds of the national lottery
The administrators of the lottery have advertised for applications from sporting bodies. These sporting bodies should meet the criteria set out by the department.

New funding policy
The department has adopted a new funding policy which would not fund federations who do not develop sport on the ground. He added that they would not be funded even for international games.

Discussion
Ms Kgwadi (ANC) noted that the briefing indicated no time frames for when the department will be doing this or that. She said this would help them when they brief their provinces around these issues. If the deadlines are set and not met, they can then ask the provincial department why?

The DG replied that the briefing he has just given is merely an overview. The details that the member requires will be contained in the department's business plan which has to be specific in terms of time frames. The business plan would be made available to the committee shortly.

Ms Kgwadi was concerned about how soon this would be.

Ms Nkuna (ANC) asked about the donated items that the department has given to some schools. During the first phase they gave to about 350 schools and now they are going to distribute items to 300 schools. How are these items distributed amongst the provinces?

The Chairperson pointed out that the second phase allocations would be to those provinces which had not received items in the first phase.

The Parliamentary Officer for the Department added that the project was in association with the Admiral Sportswear Company which had distributed sportswear kit as a means of marketing its products. The provincial departments of education had supplied them with the names of schools. During the first phase the Admiral Company requested that the department should concentrate on urban centers. For instance in Mpumalanga they had distributed in areas around Nelspruit where the Admiral Company has agencies. This time around they have requested provinces to submit the names of needy schools, especially in rural areas. The launch of this phase of the Admiral project will be broadcast on national television probably in the second week of April.

Ms Kgwadi asked what the department is doing in promoting and financing indigenous games. What is being done to assist provinces in this?

The DG said in the medium term the Department expects the provinces to coordinate indigenous games under the supervision of the Sports Commission which receives the biggest portion of the budget so they are capable of doing that. It is the responsibility of the Sports Commission to coordinate and popularise different sports throughout the provinces.

Ms Nkuna (ANC) raised her concern on the issue of racism in sport. She looks forward to a situation where there will be no particular stadium for a particular sport and a particular racial group. She said that certain games have "lily white" players in them and that should be dealt with as a matter of urgency.

The DG noted that there would be an international conference on racism held in September, not in December as indicated in the report. There will be many smaller conferences that will be run along with the international conference. One of them will be on sport and all the national federations will be there to discuss issues of racism in sport. He assured Ms Nkuna that this issue would be attended to.

Mr Mthimkulu (ANC) asked, besides this conference on racism, what programme has the department embarked on to fight racism in sport in South Africa? Racism is still rife in sport. He made an example of what had happened in Durban recently when there was an attempt to bring together soccer and rugby fans. This attempt ended up becoming a mockery. Rugby fans had passed abusive remarks to soccer fans saying that they cannot waste their time watching monkeys and they would rather enjoy their drinks and 'braai' until afternoon when the real sport (rugby) begins. Mr Mthimkulu was trying to illustrate how deep-rooted racism is in SA sport. He believed the problem should be faced head-on.

The DG replied that two years before they had held a national conference on racism with all sporting bodies. In this conference there was an admission by all the sporting federations that racism in sport is rife. At beginning of this year, the Department asked each of the federations to report three steps they have taken or are going to take in combating racism in sport. In the conference in September the federations are expected to furnish the department with information on what they have done on the subject. The DG added that in its performance agreement the Minister has asked each federation to give real targets that they have set in dealing with the issue.

Mr Raju (DP) asked what is being done about existing municipal facilities that were reserved for specific communities such as sports fields, swimming pools and tennis courts. He said there must be sport facilities right in the townships. There should be coordination amongst the Ministries of Sport, Education and Housing that whenever they build a township, one of the conditions should be that there must be at least sports grounds.

The DG replied that there are a lot of facilities that are not utilised in the country. The problem is how they can be made accessible to the majority of the people. He is aware that there are some schools with better facilities than others and the department is busy addressing the problem at the moment. On the question of municipal facilities the local councils should deal with that as a matter of urgency.

On sports development, the DG said the department had adopted a new approach last year, whereby each federation has to give a progress report on what they have done.

Budget Presentation
Ms Elsie Cloete, Finance Manager in the Department, outlined the aims and objectives of the department and how the 2001/2002 financial year is being structured according to the different needs.

Aim of the department
To improve the quality of life of all South Africans through the promotion of sport and recreation in the country and through participation internationally.

Main divisions 2001/2002
· The department is structured in three programs, in order to perform its functions
These three programs are administration, sport and recreation and building for sport and recreation.
Each programme has its own budget.
· The restructuring of the department in three programs for 2001/2002, is due to funds received from the allocation for Poverty Relief, Infrastructure Investment and Job Summit projects.

For further details on the budget please refer to the attached document

Discussion
Ms Kgwadi remarked that all the money seems to go to the Sports Commission. She said that the Sports Commission should be called upon to explain how they utilise these funds. She added that the department allocates money to the Commission but they withhold funds for the federations. The department always says it is waiting for the federations to submit their requisitions. According to her observation this money has been withheld until the end of the financial year.

The DG said money is reserved for transfer payments. He said they then allocate money for federations who are in need. He added that the department looks at the requests and what the money is needed for. The DG said they have been criticised for giving money for example to cricket whereas cricket is not developed in disadvantaged communities.

In conclusion, the Chairperson said it would be important for the committee to invite the Sports Commission to give clarity on some issues. He agreed with the DG that there are a lot of underutilised facilities, especially soccer fields, and the Sports Commission will have to deal with that.

The meeting was adjourned.

Appendix 1:
BRIEFING TO SELECT COMMITTEE ON SPORT AND EDUCATION

Legislative programme for 2001
Bills
Sports Commission third Amendment Bill (1)
National Sport and Recreation Amendment Bill (2)
New Boxing Bill (3)

Object of Bill
(1)-Bill amends the current Act.
(2)-Bill amends the current Act.
(3)-All current Acts will be repealed.

Priority
(1)-second
(2)-third
(3)-first

Performance Indicator and Time Frames
(1)-Introduce in Parliament-Feb 2001
Promulgation-March 2001
(2)-Finalise draft-March 2001
Discuss internally-April 2001
Consult role-players-June 2001
Cabinet approval-July 2001
Certified by SLA-July 2001
Table in Parliament-Oct 2001
Promulgation-Nov 2001
(3)-Voting on Bill-Feb 2001l
Promulgation-March 2001

The Minister also intend to promulgate the following regulations in 2001:
 Boxing Regulations
 Bidding for major International Sports Events Regulations; and
 National Colours Awards Regulations. This is a responsibility of the Sports Commission.

Ministerial Task Team
During November 2000 Minister Balfour convened a meeting in Johannesburg with some of the key people involved in South African sport. The sole purpose of the meeting was to discuss, deliberate and debate the way forward for South African sport. The meeting agreed that a Ministerial Task Team should be appointed to investigate the matter and
a preliminary report will be presented at a consultative meeting to be held in March. Federations will then be given the opportunity to deliberate the preliminary report. It is expected that a final report will be ready by July this year.

Dr Joe Phaahla heads the Task Team that was appointed. Mr Sam Ramsamy has been appointed as Ministerial Advisor. The team was mandated to do the following:
 To identify key strategic objectives for Sport and Recreation for the country that will form the basis for developing a national sports plan;
 To look at greater unity in sport structures;
 To draft a plan that will address a unity of purpose in the area of securing resources and high-performance

One of the key areas will be to implement a system whereby resources are utilised more effectively and equitably.

Proceeds of the National Lottery
A Distribution Agency for Sport and Recreation has been established. The main focus of this Agency will be the establishment and consolidation of thriving, sustainable, mass-based Sport and Recreation structures and programmes, especially in disadvantaged, rural communities.

This will be achieved through:
 Training of Sport and Recreation leadership;
 Establishing co-ordinated partnerships with institutions of learning;
 Establishing co-ordinated monitoring and evaluation mechanisms;
 A visible increase of Sport and Recreation structures, activities and physical infrastructure in all provinces;
 Provision of equipment;
 The promotion of leagues and competitions.

Institutions and organisations will be invited to submit proposals for one or a combination of projects to be considered for funding from the National Lottery proceeds. It is envisaged that this initiative will kick-start by April this year, with a projected allocation of between of between 300 and 400 million Rand and being made available over a five-year period.

Indigenous Games
A few days ago the South African Sports Commission launched the Indigenous Games Programme in Qwa-Qwa in the Free State. This initiative is an attempt to generate interest and participation in social activities/games/sport that have been engaged in by our people for centuries but have been overshadowed by what is referred to as mainstream or primary sports activities. The activities at the Basotho Cultural Village were very special. It highlighted the rich cultural heritage of our people. It is Minister's view that the Indigenous Games on display can make a major impact in our communities if marketed and promoted effectively. The Select Committee is urged to put its weight behind this in line with the determination of our President that sport and youth programmes should be implemented to involve larger numbers of youth.

Throughout the next few months we envisage resurgence in the number of people engaged in these activities as provinces start to implement the programme. The Minister think it is in order to congratulate the SASC on a job well done.

Building for Sport and Recreation Project
This project is certainly the most challenging one for Sport and Recreation South Africa as we embark upon a three-year facility development project. With funds from the Reconstruction and Development Programme having been exhausted in the provision of facilities, this project is another phase in Government's determination to deliver in areas where the needs are the greatest.

The Minister am sure that on your travels around the country and the study tours that you as a committee have undertaken to the different provinces, you have seen some of those RDP facilities. Most of those facilities are already in a very poor condition, and there still exists a major need for more capital investment to address the backlog in so far as the provision of basic indoor and outdoor facilities is concerned.

Government has now set aside a sum of 260 million rand over the next three years, that will be utilised for this purpose with the emphasis on the priority areas as outlined by President Mbeki. For the next financial year, 2001-2002 a sum of 40 million rand has been set aside with the focus being on contributing towards the alleviation of unemployment through ensuring a labour-intensive approach to the provision of facilities. For the 2002-2003 financial year an amount of 90 million rand has been set aside and for the 2003-2004 financial year an amount of 129,5 million rand has been availed.

This project is set to be implemented by April although my Department has already done a lot of groundwork and consultation. Provinces have already submitted projects, which are in line with the Integrated Sustainable Rural Development Strategy and the Urban Renewal Programme, for consideration.

In short, through the provision of facilities, Sport and Recreation aims to address three fundamentals:
 Creating opportunities for the most needy to participate in Sport and Recreation activities;
 Bridging the imbalances that exist between rural and urban communities, insofar as accessibility to adequate facilities is concerned;
 Contributing towards poverty relief through the creation of job opportunities.

The main aim of the project will be the alleviation of poverty through the creation of temporary and permanent jobs in the construction and management of sport and recreation facilities, while contributing to increased participation in sport and recreation activities.

As was the case with the RDP Project, all tiers of government are involved in this programme and we are following an integrated approach in the project planning between departments (especially Housing, Social Development, Arts and Culture and Public Works). SRSA will be the overall financial-accountable Department as well as the national co-ordination, performance measurement and reporting agent.

Provincial departments will be responsible for recommending projects, monitoring, community consultation as well as the setting up of management committees. District, local municipalities and metropolitan councils will assist with the implementation of the project, longer-term maintenance and management as well as ensuring community participation. The South African Sports Commission is responsible for facility management and facilitator training as well as community consultation.

The Minister is presently reviewing the provincial budget allocations insofar as the project is concerned. It will be a topic of discussion at our next MINMEC which will be held on 13 March 2001, but it is safe to say that an amount of about 36 million rand will be transferred to provinces, with the remaining funding going into training and the marketing of the project. Our Minister is of the opinion that we should really go out and identify projects in our rural areas and not perpetuate a system where the rich gets richer and the poor, poorer.

This project is very important for Sport and Recreation South Africa for success in it will result in the poverty relief funds becoming part of their baseline budget. This will enable us to keep on building sport and recreation facilities for a long time to come and in so doing, start making up for the backlog in physical infrastructure that exists within disadvantaged communities in particular.

Admiral Project
The Admiral Sportswear programme that started last year saw 250 schools receiving soccer and netball attire during the first phase. We are about to kick-start phase 2 of the project, which will see approximately 300 schools benefiting from the project. The Minister would want to reiterate the fact that the programme is a clear indication of how much we can achieve if sound co-operation exists between Government and the private sector. The Minister am sure that with more such initiatives, we could really "Get the Nation to Play".

WADA/IICGADS
South Africa will host the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Executive
Committee meeting as well as the International Intergovernmental Consultative
Group on Anti-Doping Conference during the period 30-31 May, and 1 June 2001.
The meetings will take place in Cape Town and will be attended by approximately 50
Ministers from around the world.

The mere fact that we are hosting these very prestigious meetings, should send out a clear message to all that South Africa in general, and my Department and Ministry in particular, are serious about addressing issues relating to doping, cheating and all forms of foul-play in sport.

Performance Agreements with Federations
During the course of 2000, the Minister signed a number of Performance Agreements with some of our National Federations. During this year Minister Balfour will identify more Federations with whom he will sign such agreements. My Department as well as the South African Sports Commission are monitoring the implementation of these agreements and will continue to find ways and means through which to ensure that Federations are held accountable for their actions with regard to implementing their own agreements, especially with regard to transformation and representivity. As you know, this is a project that emerges from one of our White Paper priorities and The Minister am serious about ensuring that we deliver in this regard.

Commission of Inquiry into Cricket Match Fixing and Related Matters
Judge Edwin King has formally requested the President to close the Commission, subject to the compilation of a final report. In briefings with the Judge, he informed me of his reasoning behind the request. The Minister have no reason to differ with him on this and The Minister have given him my support in this regard. The Judge is of the view that the Commission has achieved its objectives as outlined in the terms of reference of the Commission.

International Agreements
We are in the process of activating a number of our international agreements to the benefit of sport and recreation in South Africa and we are busy concluding several new ones that we believe to be important. With regard to the former, we are receiving our Canadian counterparts next week who will be working with us on the South African Games. Their Canadian Games as you may be aware is world famous for the positive impact that it has in that society. We will also be receiving an Algerian Volleyball coach and exchanges with Rumania, France (on school sport) and Russia are also lined up for this year. We are hoping to conclude agreements with Cuba and China during the course of this year as well

Racism Conference
My department and the Sports Commission is in the process of putting together a programme that will constitute part of the International Racism conference in Durban in December. We will be asking all federations to identify three projects that they will involve themselves in to combat this scourge that continues to prevail in our society. We are also looking into the possibility of hosting a high-level club soccer match during the conference week that will highlight the 'no racism in sport" theme.

New funding policy
The Department, in conjunction with the Commission is finalising a new funding policy that will, in line with the Public Finance Management Act, focus on delivery (outputs) rather than on compliance per se. The Minister am of the belief that this will auger in a new era in sport in South Africa aimed at achieving results. Federations who do not perform will have to account for their failure. This will also impact on future funding that they will be eligible for.

In the same regard The Minister will be raising my concerns with federations who fail to take up their development subsidies. This is a crucial aspect in the development of our sport and performance in this sphere will also impact on the access that they will enjoy to other subsidies from the Department.

Revision of the White Paper
The Minister am of the opinion that the White Paper on Sport and Recreation is as relevant today as it was when it was first launched. It is, however, necessary to revise the document to take cognisance of our changed reality. In particular it needs to reflect the existence of the Sports Commission and the dissolution of the National Sports Council, as well as the restructuring of my Department. The Minister will also launch an initiative to draft a White Paper for the next five years. As you know, the current white paper is a five-year document whose life span comes to an end in 2002.

Presidential Sports Awards
The timing of the Presidential Sports Awards has been adjusted so as to cover a calendar year, and will, therefore, in future take place early in the year rather than in November/December. This year the awards will take place on 23 March and The Minister trust that some of you will be attending it. The Minister have gone out of my way to ensure that this year, the ceremony will be more representatives of the all the citizens of this country.

Audit Committee and Internal Auditors
In accordance with the PFMA, the Department has finally managed to appoint a firm of auditors that will be performing the internal audit function. The Audit Committee has also been appointed and will commence with their work shortly.

Cricket World Cup 2003
The Minister have been briefed by the Executive Director of the World Cup Organising Committee, Dr. Ali Bacher, and will be receiving such briefings on a regular basis in future. The Minister have set up meeting for the Organising Committee to meet with all the Premiers, MECs for Sport and Recreation, and Mayors of the cities that will be involved in presenting the competition in 2003. The Minister am satisfied with the organisation to date but will be monitoring progress regularly. The Head of my Department represents me on the Policy Committee for World Cup 2003.

International Marketing Council
The newly established International Marketing Council has recognised the important role that sport can play in marketing South Africa abroad. The Department is, therefore, also represented on this Council to look after our interests in that sphere. Of course, this links up very well with the initiative of the South African Sports Commission to develop sports tourism in the country.

HIVIAIDS
The Minister recognise that sport and recreation presents an ideal medium for transferring information and messages that can be useful in the battle against this pandemic that is threatening our society. The SASC and my department will constantly strive to make use 0 our medium to help in the battle against HIV/AIDS and will involve all national federations and clubs to join us in the fight. We shall endeavour to display banners at sports venues, distribute information leaflets and condoms at matches and encourage teams and individuals to identify with the campaign.

We are also happy with the association of USSASA with the LoveLife project that will see top-level school sports events becoming sites for promoting the fight against aids. My department is investigating the possibility of extending the campaign to inter-schools competitions at the local level as well.

Television coverage of minor sports
We are looking at reviving the effort of last year where we secured television airtime through the SportUp programme to enable the smaller federations to get television coverage and, in so doing. ensure that they become more marketable in terms of raising sponsorship. The SASC and my Department are finalising plans to implement a similar and hopefully better programme, later this year.

School Sport
Sport at school level continues to present us with a major headache. The Minister of Education and The Minister have, however, agreed that the curricular aspect of school sport and physical education will remain the responsibility of his Department, while my Department and the SASC will take responsibility for the competitive aspects of school sport. This initiative will be finalised shortly and will contribute, The Minister believe, to addressing some of the problems that arise from our young people not participating in physical education programmes during school hours, and having nothing constructive to do during their free time. The Minister believe also, that participation in Physical Education and sport will contribute positively toward inculcating a culture of learning in our schools that is lacking presently. The Minister have to admit that The Minister am concerned about teacher involvement in these programmes and hope to meet the teacher unions to address the matter. The Minister would also like to see USSASA adjust itself to meet the huge challenge that it faces in pursuit of the goals that we have set for school sport.

The Youth
The call by our President for specific Departments to become involved in youth programmes will be taken up shortly. The Minister am due to meet with my Cabinet Colleagues who have been identified to be part of this project shortly, with a view to decide on the course of action to take. Your ideas in this regard will be welcome and The Minister look forward to your support in it.

Woman and Sport
The Minister am still very concerned about the lack of progress within sport to elevate the levels of participation of women. The Minister have, through MINMEC instituted a team that will be investigating the matter and hope to hear from them shortly. The team comprises MECs on MINMEC as well as the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee. The SASC is responsible for the Women and Sport Project and The Minister trust that they will brief us on progress in that regard shortly

Recreation
The Recreation project is similarly disappointing and The Minister want to see the matter resolved this year. Financial impropriety continues to hamper progress and the matter is being investigated by the Office of the Auditor General presently. The Minister would like to see recreation being devolved to the Provinces and local authorities, with the SASC playing some kind of co-ordinating role at the national level, albeit different to the national co-ordination of sport.

Drug Free Sport
The Minister have already reported on the fact that we will be hosting the WADA conference in May, but consider it important to laud the successes of the Institute for Drug Free Sport that has been going from strength to strength. They have been involved in projects in Africa as well as at the Olympic Games. Algeria has approached us about the possibility of having their samples analysed in South Africa. The Minister am of the opinion that this is another area in which we have a marketable project that can bring in valuable revenue to the country. The Minister shall encourage the Institute to take up this challenge.

Our Institute for Drug-Free Sport was entrusted by SARFU, as is the case with most of our national federations, to handle its anti-doping programme. The fact that Cobus Visagie was found guilty of a doping offence, bears testimony to the high standards of the SAIDS testing procedures. The SAIDS is in the final process of attaining certification for the International Anti-Doping Control Standards and this will further enhance South Africa's standing internationally.

South African Games
The SASC is planning to host the first South African Games later this year. This is a project that The Minister believe, will inject new vitality into South African sport at the development level and bridge the prevailing gap between junior and development sport and elite sport. It will also form part of the four-year cycle of sports development that culminates in the Olympic Games.

Discretionary fund
In my capacity as Chairperson of the Sports Trust. The Minister have established a discretionary fund with which The Minister hope to support struggling individuals and teams that fall outside of the funding loop, with resources for small items such as equipment, sports kit, travelling expenses and other such expenses. The Minister am often perturbed by the lack of access that some people have to sport and recreation because of the stumbling blocks. The Minister shall endeavour to raise funds for this purpose and would welcome your support in the effort.

Audit Report
The audit report on my Department will be tabled shortly, if this has not already happened today. The Minister have seen the report that is a vast improvement on last years one. The Minister have urged my Department that we have an even better report next time around.