Question NW3535 to the Minister of Sport Arts and Culture
12 October 2022 - NW3535
Mhlongo, Mr TW to ask the Minister of Sport Arts and Culture
(1) whether his department intends to facilitate a soccer and/or football indaba of the SA Football Association (SAFA); if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, how far are the preparations. (2)(a) on what date is it envisaged that the football indaba will be held, (b) what is the total budget for the indaba, (c) what are the challenges his department is experiencing with regard to the indaba and (d) what steps has he taken to put pressure on safa to ensure that the soccer indaba takes place; (3) how far are the negotiations with SAFA regarding school sports? NW4350E
Reply:
1. Yes. The Department is working with SAFA to host a Football Indaba. The goal of the National Football Indaba is to objectively assess all facets of the South African football system, identify the challenges, problems, critical failures, and success factors and formulate a turnaround plan and/or approach to reposition and restore South African football as a premier sport in the country. The concept documents and draft programme for the indaba are in place, however, a suitable date is yet to be confirmed.
2(a). No date has been confirmed as yet, however, on 03 October 2022, the Department met with SAFA and resolved that the Indaba would take place in the 4th quarter of 2022/23, ideally in February 2023. SAFA committed to confirm a date by 14 October 2022.
(c). The budget for Indaba has not been determined. The budget is dependent on the final plans, operations, and logistical arrangements.
(d).The challenge has been in terms of coordinating the diaries of all the key stakeholders considering a range of factors such as the National, Continental and International Football Calendar. It is worth noting that 2022 concludes the full cycle of SAFA Vision 2022 which would form the basis of the review and Indaba Agenda. This was resolved at the last meeting held with SAFA.
(e). There has not been any reason or need identified to pressure SAFA.
3. SAFA is working closely with the Department in terms of the implementation of Schools Football, whereby football is part of the Winter National School Sport Championship. Subsequently, both parties with the Department of Basic Education manage the participation of the two winning schools in the continental championship. Additionally, SAFA and the Department jointly launched the FIFA ‘Football for Schools’ programme, which is to be officially rolled out in the fourth quarter of the current fiscal year. SAFA further provides technical support by offering the training of educators and school-linked volunteers in coaching and refereeing.