Cricket World Cup South Africa Final Report of Cricket World Cup 2003; Study Tour Reports of Provinces

Meeting report

SPORT AND RECREATION PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE
18 November 2003
CRICKET WORLD CUP SOUTH AFRICA FINAL REPORT OF CRICKET WORLD CUP 2003;
STUDY TOUR REPORTS OF PROVINCES

Chairperson: Ms N Bhengu (ANC)

Documents handed out:
ICC Cricket World Cup South Africa Report
Limpopo Study Tour Report
Northern Cape Study Tour Report
Analysis of Northwest Study Tour Report

SUMMARY
The Committee was briefed on the successful status of the Cricket World Cup 2003 that had been hosted by the United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA). Vice President of the cricket board, presented an overview of the world cup that included the success story of one of the objectives of UCBSA that had been to prove to the world that South Africa was capable of hosting such great events. No security hazards were experienced during that prestigious event and that on 23 March 2003, the attendance broke world records. Treasurer of UCBSA and the World Cup Committee presented the financial report that included administrative, operational and capital expenses of hosting the world cup and that was followed by a detailed discussion between committee members and UCBSA.

Study Tour Reports from the Provinces were discussed.

MINUTES
Cricket World Cup 2003 Final Report
The Chair asked Mr R Mali, President of UCBSA, to introduce the delegation that had consisted of three other members being Mr Blair, Mr Kurz and Mr Majola, CEO of UCBSA. Mr Mali tendered two apologies for the absence of Prof J Gerwe, Chairperson of the World Cup Committee and Dr Ali Bacher.

The delegation briefed the Committee on the final report of the Cricket World Cup 2003. There was a unanimous response of congratulations to the board after completion of the presentation for their outstanding commitment to host the best cricket world cup ever. South Africa is currently ranked as one of the foremost sporting and hosting nations.

Discussion
Mr Z Ncinane (ANC) congratulated the UCBSA for the successful hosting of the World Cup. He referred to the financial report, where there was extensive reference to the financial backing of government to the hosting of the world cup. How much funding was specifically received from the Department of Sport and Recreation?

Mr Blair said that the Department of Sport and Recreation had been a major facilitator in the financing of the world cup.

Mr Ncinane asked how facilities that were to be upgraded and proceeds, especially in rural areas, were located. Was there consultation with the municipality and other sport federations before facilities were constructed?

Mr Majola said that he understood that the former question related to the legacy projects and that funds provided to the provinces were monitored as there were sport checks and when a fund was rewarded, the provinces had to present business plans to the board. UCBSA engaged with local municipalities to maintain facilities and other sport federations were consulted about the sharing of facilities but that depended on the preferred sports in the individual communities.

Mr Majola stated that the final report that had just been presented was given to the Soccer World Cup 2010 Bid Committee and Committee members were taken to the various sport grounds to promote the concept of multi purpose facilities.

A member of the committee was curious about the percentage split in revenue and why Kenya had not received a slice of the cake. What he had referred to was the remaining money left of the financial budget for the cricket world cup that Mr Blair had said was split between the United Cricket Board, its eleven affiliates and Zimbabwe. Kenya had also hosted two matches why had they not been remunerated?

Mr Blair said that Kenya was assisted financially with over two million rands having been provided to them to upgrade their sport facilities to host two games. South African security members also rendered their services in Kenya and the South African Government had therefore provided its services and financial assistance to Kenya.

Mr Ncinane asked whether any world cup teams practiced at facilities in rural areas. The rumours that cash performance bonuses were handed out to top executive members of the cricket board was also mentioned.

Mr Majola said that in tour games, warm up sessions took place at those facilities in rural areas.

Mr Blair said that bonuses were given but that they were not enormous amounts and those who had received it deserved it because they had contributed to the successful campaign of the cricket world cup and the promotion of South African cricket on the global stage.

A renowned person in South African cricket, Ali Bacher (former Director of UCBSA, was given a bonus when he retired because no pension funds were available at the UCBSA. Mr Blair said that Mr Bacher received three million rand that was equivalent to R30, 000 rand per annum.

Mr Blair mentioned that three R100,000 bonus cheques were awarded to amongst others the communications and logistics departments.

Mr A Mlangeni (ANC) said that he had attended most of the cricket matches and everything including the security of the police and the well-mannered volunteers was "tops!"

Ms N Lamani (ANC) said that after scanning through the report, she had not seen one report of criminal activity. She mentioned that in the hotels reserved for cricket players and tourists, 40% of the staff were blacks from previously disadvantaged backgrounds. UCBSA was portraying the basis of a democracy.

Mr Ncinane argued that any high official like Ali Bacher would be properly funded because that was part of labour relations and that bonuses that were given were tax payers' money and should not be used for that purpose.

The Chair intervened and said that she recognised the rights of Mr Ncinane to state his opinion but that the UCBSA should not take it as the view of the Committee. She stated that the meeting was about the report on the Cricket World Cup 2003 and that members could deliberate, view their opinions and then come to possible solutions to problems only after that meeting.

Mr Mlangeni said that he fully agreed with the Chair and turned to Ncinane and told him that he knew that the procedure was to first raise problems with the Committee.

The Chair repeated that he had the right to voice his opinion but that he had raised his concerns in the wrong meeting.

Mr B Dhlamini (IFP) said that one of the objectives of UCBSA for the cricket world cup had been for South Africa to win it. He was therefore concerned with what UCBSA could do to produce the best cricketers to win.

Mr Mali said that if good sport facilities and administration systems were lacking then progress would not be made. One should start at the grass roots and ensure that there were strong club structures, coaching and administration at the school level.

Mr Majola added that winning was critical and that with the help of sponsorships proper structures for facilities at school level could ensure the growth in competent cricketers ready to beat the world.

The Chair praised the UCBSA for its positive contribution to South African cricket as the World Cup raised the profile of cricket in South Africa. In rural areas, older members of the community had followed the game during the World Cup.

The Chair said that the impact of sport was great for the social morale of a society as it captured the minds of people and could ultimately reduce crime levels. The Cricket World Cup helped the 2010 Soccer Bid as it was witnessed globally that South Africa was capable of hosting such a mammoth event.

The questions that she posed to the board was whether education sessions were held with the media and with federations so that the media in particular received background information on matters concerning the game of cricket and could then deliver accurate reports to the larger public. The Chair said that she felt disturbed when media reports on issues reflected inaccuracy and then negatively affected public view. She enquired on the board's opinion on what steps could be taken when the media reported incorrectly.

The Chair mentioned that the final report entailed that without the positive involvement of government, the Cricket World Cup 2003 would not have been as successful but that that image of government was never portrayed in the media. The image always displayed was that the government always fueled disaster. Therefore she said that it should be the responsibility of UCBSA and the Committee to communicate with the media.

Mr Majola said that there was consultation between UCBSA and the media and that outside consultants had been called in to deal with the media. There had been a marked improvement with regard to the cooperation of the media.

Mr Majola suggested that the government and federations should become partners and after a meeting, engage the media with a joint statement.

Provincial Study Tour Reports
The Committee discussed findings of the study tour reports on provinces and what recommendations the Committee had to questions drawn up by the researcher.

Eastern Cape
One question that was posed was what the Committee could recommend be done on the availability of stadiums for people with disabilities.

The Chair said that there had to be a uniformed plan for each province that included the structural plans of constructing sport facilities accessible to disabled persons. She referred to the suggestion made by Mr M Moss (ANC) in the previous Committee meeting when the study tour report of the Northwest was discussed (14 November 2003). Mr Moss who is physically disabled was adamant that no decisions for the construction of facilities for the disabled should be done without a disabled person being present as he would know how to go forward with such a development.

Mr Ncinane said that there should be a project steering committee that included a representative for the disabled. He mentioned the important fact that six months after the Olympic Games in 1992 South African participants (disabled) of the Special Olympics brought home more medals than the abled sportsmen of the aforementioned Games. It was therefore important to make sport facilities user friendly for disabled people. There was also no indication in the province of sport facilities for women and girls. The Chair said that in matters related to sport there was a biased towards men.

Ms Lamani stated that there were netball courts in schools for instance but that more courts should be built in community areas and should be opened to the public.

Mr Ncinane said that a multi purpose facility should be sufficient for women sports as well where in one corner, a netball court could be constructed. It would be too expensive to set up separate netball courts.

The Chair interjected comparing the cost of soccer stadiums.

The Chair suggested that a quota was drawn up where for example out of seventeen facilities, 50% should be accessible to the disabled as well as women. She asked if everyone was in agreement and Ms Lamani was happy with her suggestion.

Mr Ncinane argued that men played more sports and should have more access to sporting facilities. He was not happy with the quota percentage.

Mr Mlangeni said that there was no sport for men and women only. Women played soccer, rugby and why should a gender division be made. He opted for multi purpose usage of sport facilities.

The Chair argued that men had more time to play whereas women had the tasks in the past to fetch water, make the food and fetch wood in the forest. She said that the situation was being reversed.

Mr Ncinane said that he thought the Chair was going too far into politics but that he would agree that it was necessary to build sport facilities for women.

The Chair thanked Mr Ncinane for finally agreeing to her proposal of a quota system but she said that he was totally wrong about taking that too far because what had been discussed was a political situation (gender roles).

The next question related to the negative effect of privatisation of facilities on community participation.

Mr Ncinane made the suggestion that privatisation should be condemned under the South African legal system. Leases of sport facilities should not be given to only one federation and when the lease period had ended, there should be no extension.

Mr Mlangeni agreed that leases should not be renewed and that all sport facilities should belong to city councils or local government of that province.

Mr Ncinane said that Committee should communicate with the legal department of the Ministry so that a law to deny privatisation of sport facilities was drafted.

The Chair said that that matter had to be revisited but that the Committee should engage with legal advisors.

Ms Lamani said that there were former colleges whose facilities were underutilised and that something should be done to increase usability and communities located near those former colleges could then practice and play sport there.

Another issue that was raised was the lack of information on the transformation process in sport and Mr Ncinane proposed that there should be a director of transformation in the Department of Sport who reported to the Minister of Sport and to the Committee on transformation results. That information should also be made available to the public.

The problem of vandalism and poor maintenance of sport facilities was discussed and Mr Ncinane who said that a portion of municipal funds should be allocated for security at night.

Ms Lamani said that the public would respect the grounds if the sense of ownership was instilled. The public should be involved in the decision making in regard to sport facilities.

The Chair said that there should be a sustainability plan that included the voice of the community so that they were also held responsible to uphold sport grounds.

The question around poverty and how those affected by it had a limited or almost impossible chance to participate in sports programmes was addressed. The Chair said that there should be development at grassroots level and that visits to the Sport and Recreation Department and the Sport Commission were vital to discuss the development of a sponsorship programme for poverty stricken children who deeply wanted sports training.

Mr Ncinane agreed and said that the Budget should be influenced to include government subsidies for sports training programmes for children.

The Chair said that there should be a further debate on that issue.

Northern Cape
The only issue mentioned was the problem of cross borders and that entailed the distances between the Northern Cape cities and the issues of political demarcation of provinces and those of federations. The Committee decided that they should consult with the Sports Commission and provincial departments on that.

Mpumalanga
The problem of accessibility to the lottery funds that sponsored the development of school sports was discussed. The Chair said that the application forms were complicated and she suggested that the National Distribution Agency trained people to help individual schools to fill out the form.

Ms Lamani said that there should also be workshops that were run by the local governments on financial management.

The Chair said that each and every municipality should have a sports desk that could assist schools in the filling out of applications for the lottery fund.

Limpopo
The huge problem in Limpopo was financial bankruptcy and the need to develop and sustain sports activities and grounds in most areas.

Mr Ncinane stated that the provincial department should be biased to that municipality (Modali). The Sport's Commission as part of their objectives as juristic persons should raise funds.

Mr Mlangeni was in agreement.

Ms Lamani said that there was a split along racial lines as municipalities were of the opinion that that poverty stricken areas would not be interested in sports when they were struggling with survival.

The Chair said that this issue needed urgent attention.

Kwazulu Natal
The Chair said that the study tour had to be cancelled for many reasons. Meeting venues kept on changing. The meeting with the mayor of Durban was cancelled due to Committee's unexpected visit when the chief director had already been told of their arrival a week earlier. The Chair continued to view her frustration at the lack of a well-coordinated study tour and the disrespect shown to the Committee by the MEC of KZN. The work of the Committee was not taken seriously. A media briefing was called where members announced that the study tour of KZN was called off.

The Chair proposed that in 2004 local departments and the Sport Commission should make a presentation on the study tours. There should then be a mandate by the Committee to make a presentation. Once the reports were adopted copies should be sent to the provinces. For future purposes photographs should be included in the reports. She hoped that the study tour reports could be adopted at the following meeting on Tuesday 25 November 2003.

Meeting was adjourned.