France and Northern Cape Studytour Reports: adoption

Meeting report

SPORT AND RECREATION PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE
6 August 2005
FRANCE AND NORTHERN CAPE STUDYTOUR REPORTS: ADOPTION

Chairperson: Mr B Kompela (ANC)

Documents handed out:
Committee report on France visit
Committee report on Northern Cape visit

SUMMARY
The Committee adopted its reports on Members’ studytour visits to France and the Northern Cape with minor technical amendments.

Regarding preparations for the 2010 Soccer World Cup, the Committee decided to write to the municipalities and provinces hosting World Cup matches to discover progress. Members recommended more multi-purpose stadiums to serve different sporting codes, as was the case in France. They also suggested the Committee workshop the issue of greater state involvement in sports management and budgets. They should research other international practices in this regard.

MINUTES
The Chairperson related that there had last been a Committee oversight visit to KwaZulu-Natal in 2003. At that time, the Committee had been informed that Empilweni Stadium had been completed and that the Minister had officially opened it. Upon arrival however, the Committee had found cows grazing and some of the budgeted facilities were not in place. The matter had not yet been solved. This was an example of the fact that some of the issues debated in Parliament were not carried out by departments.

France studytour report
The Committee had investigated the role of the French Parliament and public around preparations for their Soccer World Cup event. The Committee had gathered a list of provinces, municipalities and corporations that had relationships and agreements with France. Concerns were raised about the lack of feedback on FIFA agreements and developments. The Embassy had suggested re-examination of some of these agreements with FIFA, and possible intervention by the Committee.

Northern Cape study tour report
Members had discovered that there were generic problems facing the administration of sport in that province. The provincial government was not supporting municipalities. Other problems included the lack of mass participation, poor facilities and the problematic issue of leases.

The expectations of the public regarding hosting the 2010 World Cup differed from realities. Citizens had constantly asked the Committee to clarify their participation in the hosting of that event, so intervention was needed. National Lottery distribution of funds to sports federations was in fragmented "chaos". Municipalities were receiving different amounts of money, but much of that money was wasted and corruption was rife.

Local Councils lacked proper facilities, and were uninformed about their functions. The Committee had agreed that the provincial department had not adequately informed sports councils and municipalities what the government expected of them. The Cycling Federation had never tried to transform to include members from all sectors of society. The white community was not participating in programmes formulated by the Department. The province had been given R1 million to kickstart the mass participation process. All the provinces were facing challenges in terms of transport and the Committee would include that issue in their debate.

Discussion
The Chairperson said they would write letters to the municipalities and provinces hosting World Cup matches, to find out progress in preparations for the games. They needed to follow protocols and co-operate with directives from France. FIFA had been complaining that provinces in South Africa were not following agreements and that was jeopardising plans.

European and black American women in business had requested to meet with black women in business in South Africa. That would make the role of women clear for the 2010 World Cup events. It was Ms Morobi's duty to mobilise other women and strengthen those ties.

Mr Dhlamini (IFP) recommended multi-purpose stadiums for South Africa to serve different sporting codes, as was the case in France. Mr Frolick (ANC) added that the French legal framework bound all municipalities to building multi-purpose stadiums.

The Chairperson related that in France, the government employed one person to manage administrative and capacity matters across all levels of sport. In South Africa, there were 100 sport federations - France had 40, with 14 staff employed by government.

Mr Dhlamini (IFP) said that in South Africa, there was a belief that sport was a private and voluntary activity that government should ‘just fund’. In France, all federations formulated their programmes with a mandate in line with government policies. The Committee should have a workshop on that issue.

Ms Rhaxwane (ANC) said that government should not only intervene when there were problems, but it should play a major role in sport governance in South Africa. Mr Louw (ANC) suggested the Committee research other international practices. The Chairperson said they should also look at how other African countries formulated their sport budgets

The meeting was adjourned.