Sporting Codes for Transformation: deliberation

Meeting report

SPORT AND RECREATION PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE
19 February 2002
SPORTING CODES FOR TRANSFORMATION: DELIBERATION

Chairperson: Ms NR Bhengu

Documents handed out:
UDM Proposal (see Appendix 1)
ANC Proposal (see Appendix 2)

SUMMARY
The Committee sought to prioritise the sporting codes on which it would focus for transformation. It also selected Members to serve on sub-committees to deal with the clustered sporting codes to be focussed on.

MINUTES
Mr B Ntuli (ANC) was elected as Acting Chairperson in terms of Rule 130 to ensure the Committee continues its work when the Chairperson is away.

Sporting Codes for Transformation
The Chairperson said the Committee has to identify and prioritise sporting codes that they would deal with for transformation and to establish sub-committees to interact with the sporting federations in this regard.

She pointed out that Mr Frolick of the UDM has forwarded his apologies as he could not attend but that the UDM had a written proposal on the matter.

The ANC has identified the sporting codes in its proposal and also allotted Members to serve on the subcommittees. The ANC approach has been to identify all those sporting codes to be focussed on for transformation this year and cluster them because of their vastness. Then it has selected people from the party to serve on the cluster federations.

Mr PS Swartz (DP) asked what criteria the ANC used in putting the sporting codes into clusters as they have done.

The Chairperson said that the more high-profile sports such as cricket, rugby, soccer and netball have been clustered with low profile sports in the ANC proposal. Water sports were still subdivided into federations and the Committee needs to decide which of these to concentrate on.

Mr Swartz asked if the ANC had specific criteria except that the sport is high profile, or not ensuring proper transformation and that there is no hostility from the sporting federations.

Mr ET Ferreira (IFP) said that in principle they do not have a problem with the ANC list. But as a party they do not know which sport needs transformation more than the other. He said his concern is that the targeting of certain sports may be seen as an indication that some sports are on a "hit list" while others that are not might view themselves as adequately transformed and do nothing. This view was also shared by Mr Morkel (NNP).

The Chairperson said Members were now discussing the ANC list and the criteria it used. All study groups had to go to discuss the matter and other parties also have to bring forward their lists and motivation and these would be discussed. She said she viewed the DP and NP questions as an indication that they have not done their homework in this regard as only the ANC and UDM had written input.

She pointed out that when talking of transformation they must also be looking into development of sport. The development academies have to be evaluated on their progress of their work. Members should not look at transformation only in the narrow sense of numbers in sport but also at the ownership of clubs, facilities and so forth.

Mr Lucas (IFP) said it is impossible to work on all sports at the same time. The ANC proposal was the way the Committee should proceed and he also felt that tennis should be given priority.

Mr TD Lee (DP) urged Members to put more effort on development; all sports federations should be required to submit development plans. The Committee needed to talk to the Minister of Education about sport development in schools. The Department of Sport may also need to be involved in this regard.

The Chairperson said the proposed sub-committees need to sit down with the sport federations and seek to forge a common understanding of transformation.

Mr Swartz said the Committee does not have proper information to prioritise sporting codes and is led by perceptions such as the Minister's, with which he did not agree.

The Chairperson reminded Members that they were not there to discuss the views of the Minister or what these are perceived to be, as reported in the press. The task before the Committee was to decide on what sports federations it would start with for transformation. It would be useless for the Committee to focus on all sporting codes at once as this would not be possible practically. She said the Committee needs to bite off what it can chew and decide on priorities, having regard to its capacity and time available to it.

[Ed. Note that at this point the Monitor left the meeting. PMG is trying to obtain the final list of codes for transformation from the Committee Secretariat. Please email [email protected] to request a copy]

Appendix 1:
PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
15^th February 2002

Ms. R Bhengu, MP
Chairperson of the PC on Sport and Recreation
National Assembly
Parliament of the RSA
CAPE TOWN
S001

Dear Ruth

RE: PC MEETING ON TUESDAY 19 FEBRUARY 2002 :
ESTABLISHMENT OF SUB-COMMITTEES

Please accept my apologies for not being able to attend the above-mentioned
meeting, due to commitments in Port Elizabeth. However, I wish to make an
input on the federations to be identified in the committee's quest for sub-
committees.

There is no doubt that federations such as SAFA, SARFU, UCBSA; ASA,
USSASA, etc, will be earmarked by the portfolio committee for this purpose. In
this regard, I avail myself to serve on the sub-committee dealing with the
UCBSA. From the period preceding unity in cricket I have been extensively
involved in the code on all levels, i.e. school, provincial and national where I was
exposed to issues such as unity, transformation, fast-tracking of players, etc.

I humbly submit that the following core issues validate engagement with the
UCBSA:

- slow pace of transformation in certain provinces,
- gray areas in the selection process of players in representative teams
- clarity on ''development"
- the role of the UCBSA and USSASA in the expansion of school cricket,
- equitable distribution of resources;
-promotion of women cricket and cricket for persons with disabilities:
-engagement on the identification and building of cricket ovals in the country as envisaged by the Cricket World Cup Committee, etc.

Kind regards


C T FROLICK, MP
CHIEF WHIP

Appendix 2:
Codes identified by ANC Study Group on Sport and Recreation and
proposed clustering of Members

1. Cricket ; Karate ; Wargames
Cde Chauke. Bheki, Mbulawa-Hans, Ncinane
2. Rugby ; Ballroom ; Boxing
Cde Lamani, Joseph, Kgware
3. Football ; Golf ; Watersport
Cde Mlangeni ; Mzondeki ; Ruth
4. Netball ; Hockey ;Tennis, Athletics
Cde Ruth, Moropa, Schoeman

Watersports: members to decide on which federations
Angling
Canoeing
Casting and Surfing
Lifesaving
Lure and Fly Angling
Powerboat
Rowing
Sailing
Sea Angling
Surfing
Swimming
Underwater Hockey
Underwater Union
Waveski
Water Ski