Sport and Recreation Budgetary Review and Recommendations Report

Meeting report

The Chairperson welcomed everyone and asked for the adoption of the agenda of the day which included the 2017 BRRR draft deliberation, committee minutes and announcements. 

Ms B Abrahams (ANC) proposed that the agenda be adopted while Mr S Mmusi (ANC) seconded the motion and the agenda was subsequently adopted.

Sport and Recreation Budgetary Review and Recommendations Report  

(BRRR)

The Chairperson asked the Members to take five minutes to look at the documents before them.  

The Committee then resolved to go page by page in dealing with the document to ensure that all the inputs made by the Committee is reflected in the document.

Mr T Mhlongo (DA) referred to the last page of the document where the recommendations should have a paragraph in which the national department must obtain an action plan from the provincial departments so that the Committee can monitor and evaluate that plan. The Committee cannot accuse Sport and Recreation South Africa (SRSA) of non-implementation in the last quarter when there is no action plan embedded in the recommendations.

The Chairperson referred to page eight of the document bullet (d) where it states; Consequences for provinces, which did not comply with requirements for provincial grant transfers, and impact on service delivery of programmes and projects such as the national school championships. 

Mr Mhlongo suggested that the Committee not only should raise concerns but also include recommendations that should be forceful on consequences for provinces. The Committee Secretary should craft a proper wording to this effect. 

This was adopted by the Committee.

The Chairperson emphasised the need for a Content Adviser for the Committee as the Secretary is overworked. She should be appreciated because she is combining her duties with that of a Content Adviser. 

Mr S Ralegoma (ANC) asked the Committee Secretary what the timelines are so that the Committee can resolve to review and return another day after reading the document because it is very voluminous. This is because the Committee has just received the document. The document looks clumsy and there is no need to put the Secretary under even more pressure. 

The Committee Secretary said the Committee still has some leeway but the end of the year is always busy in parliament. It would be appreciated if the Committee could make their input so that the document could be finalised.

The Chairperson proposed that the Secretary and the Researcher sit together to finalise the document before the scheduled debate to that Members will be well informed. The absence of a Content Adviser is hindering the smooth running of the committee.

Mr P Moteka (EFF) supported the Chairperson’s suggestion and asked how the process of recruiting a Content Adviser going? The Committee cannot function without one for much longer.

Ms Abrahams agreed with the last speaker but also suggested that the Researcher be given additional responsibility of acting as a Content Adviser because the Secretary is already over-burdened.

Mr S Mmusi (ANC) further agreed but also suggested that the Committee motivate that management compensate the Researcher whilst acting as a Content Adviser. The Content Adviser is the engine of the Committee.

The Chairperson asserted that the issue was already raised informally with Mr Tshabalala, the secretary of labour. However because it was not put into writing, they might deny if confronted about that meeting; so a formal letter will be written today requesting that a Content Adviser be recruited for the Committee.  Even the employment of the current Researcher is not yet confirmed although interviews have been conducted. The Portfolio Committee on Arts and Culture Chairperson just informed him that their own Content Adviser who is very competent has left Parliament to work for the Western Cape government.

The Researcher said that he has already approached his line manager to avail himself to assist the Committee but it must be put in writing so that during the work assessment period this extra duty will be put into consideration in rating his performance.  The letter should not come across as if the Committee is being pushed by the Researcher and the Secretary to do so.

The Chairperson reassured them that it is the recommendation of the Committee and the letter will be written to reflect this view.

 The Committee agreed to convene again next week to deliberate on the document after Researcher and Committee Secretary edited it.

Committee Minutes dated 10 October 2017

The Chairperson told Members that the minutes of 10 October is served and is before them. There might be errors and the Committee will now go through them and make necessary corrections. Committee members were given three minutes to go through them. 

Ms D Manana (ANC) referred to page two of the minutes and stressed that a distinction be made between members who were absent and those that sent apologies to which the Committee acceded to.

Ms Manana indicated that there was a misrepresentation on page nine where it was written that the best fighters were in the rural areas. Since there is no way to scientifically prove that, the text should read that fighters from the rural areas are amongst the best in the country.

Ms Manana again referred to page eleven where it should read that SRSA has launched an open boxing league for girls and boys to compete on an equal footing.

Mr Ralegoma proposed the adoption of the minutes of 10 October 2017 with amendments and was seconded by Mr Mhlongo.

Committee Minutes dated 11 October 2017

The Chairperson asked the committee members to take a few minutes to read the draft minutes of 11 October 2017. In page two, the same suggestion of separation and identification of members that were absent and those who sent apologies should be done as was just agreed to.

The Committee referred to page four and tried to make sense out of the sentences and put them into context.

The Committee Secretary explained that according to her recollection, there was a discussion about transformation. And what was really foundational to transformation was a successful schools sports programme and that includes the provision of modern facilities and sponsorships. Broadcasting also has to be in the mix which means SABC has to come to the party. All this should not be restricted to only one cluster but rather a collective effort of government departments and other stakeholders. 

Members agreed to her assertion.

Matters arising from the minutes

On matters arising from the study visit to Cuba in the minutes, the Secretary said she has obtained ticket costs but has not done any other work on the matter because of time constraints.

The Chairperson told the committee that when the Content Adviser left, he went with the concept documents. However the right procedure is not to start by costing the trip rather by input and trying to explain the aim/motive/objectives for the trip and benefits such a trip will bring to the Committee and Parliament in general.

The Secretary was asked to apply to Parliament for permission for the trip and that application should include the purpose for the trip.

The Committee agreed that the trip should be in January 2018 and the programme of Parliament should be looked into so as to know when it will be viable. 

The Secretary replied that Parliament also has to liaise with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) because the visit period proposed also has to suit with the Cuban Parliament as well.

Another issue that got the Committee disturbed was SASCOC because they continued to postpone appearing before the Committee since May. A new letter is not needed to be written to them rather the office should remind them based on the letter written in May.

The Secretary was then asked to write a reminder letter to SASCOC and follow it up. That letter must be firm because according to Ms Manana, SASCOC is not showing any respect to the Committee.  Ms Manana proposed the adoption of the minutes of 11 October with amendments and was seconded by Mr Mmusi.

The meeting was adjourned.