Question NW1130 to the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture

Reply:

Before providing a detailed breakdown and total cost of the SA Sport Awards that were held on Saturday, 25 March 2023, at the Sun City Superbowl in the North West it is important to share the strategic intent and steps being undertaken to realise such.

The National Sport and Recreation Plan (NSRP) specifically Strategic objective 8 is, “To acknowledge the achievements of individuals within the South African sport and recreation sector through the establishment of a recognition system. As a country it is important that we give recognition to the exceptional performances of our athletes, coaches, administrators and technical officials”. The South African Sport Awards is one of four programmes of the Department that are part of the Recognition System.

When the Department revised the South African Sport Awards in 2011, the vision was to build the Awards to a level of a self-funding premium brand. Remarkable strides were made towards the realization of an objective of attracting sponsors. To this end companies such Mercedes Benz came on board hence the Sports Star of the Year and the People’s Choice walked away with Mercedes Benz vehicles during the period up to 2016. During the same period other companies such as Carducci also partnered with the Department in dressing the nominees and other role-players with the Awards. The standard of the Awards declined over the years resulting in numerous negative feedback from the partners such as Official Broadcaster SABC, other partners such as SASCOC and Super Sport, the athletes and general sport enthusiasts.

After the Awards held in March 2022 at the Durban ICC the Department resolved to make appropriate investment to revise and reposition the Awards as the Premium Brand for Sport again. This to attract the sponsors and partners which will assist in attaining the vision of self-funding product.

(a) and (b) Below is a detailed breakdown and the total cost of the SA Sport Awards held on 25 March 2023;

COST AREA	AMOUNT
Prize Money	R3,390,000
Sports Star of the Year	R500,000
People Choice	R500,000
Steve Tshwete Life Time Achievers (5 x R100,000)	R500,000
Minister’s Excellence (9 X R50,000)	R450,000
Winners of 16 Categories (16 X R50,000)	R800,000
Non Winning Nominees in 16 Categories (16 x R20,000 X 2)	R640,000
Event Presentation (Below are the various covered)	R7,962,131.38
Invitation Management, Accreditation and Seating
Voting line
Presenters and Anchor of the Main Event
Set up and décor for Gala Dinner for 1000 people
Technical Production of the Show
Catering, meals, and refreshments (Set days)
Accommodation (Hosts, Anchors, Choreographers, Artists, and Crew
Transportation
Safety and Security
Emergency and Medical Services and Public Liability Insurances
Photography and Videographer
Public Relations, Marketing and Collaterals
Trophies and Medallions
Nominees Blazers and Local Apparel
Coffee Table Book
Panel Members (including debriefing)
Operations Venue Requirements and equipment
Researchers
Main Venue (Superbowl), Dinner (one thousand) Accommodation for Nominees, Panel Members (Adjudication Panel And Panel Of Journalists)	R2,052,122
TOTAL	R13,404,253