Question NW2996 to the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture
18 October 2023 - NW2996
Joseph, Mr D to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture
(1). whether any progress has been made with the investigation regarding the temporary closure of softball at lavender hill care facility in cape town; if not, why not; if so, (2), whether any of the staff members were suspended; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what number. (3). (a) who is responsible for the facility, (b) who is funding the facility, (c) what is the annual budget for the facility and (d) which sport codes used the facility. (4), whether the sport codes signed an agreement for the use of the facility; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
Because the facility is owned and operated by the City of Cape Town, the Department relies on assistance through the Western Cape Provincial Cultural Affairs & Sport to request information from the City of Cape Town. The Department hereby requests and require more time to submit a response.
The response as provided by the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport refers:
(1) No formal investigation has taken place regarding the facility.
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- There was an investigation instituted by a school for an incident which happened on the school premises, which is not part of the Lavender Hill Shared Facility.
- The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS), consulted and decided that the Lavender Hill Shared Facility (previously referred to as the Lavender Hill CARES Complexes), be made accessible to the primary beneficiaries, the schools in the cluster and surrounding areas where the facility is built.
- The facility was closed on 12 May 2023 for the departments to finalize access for the schools.
- The facility was re – opened on 05 June 2023 for schools to use.
(2).
2.1. One staff member was placed on precautionary suspension on full pay as from 15 May 2023, whilst an incident of alleged theft and/or use of sport equipment belonging to a school, without permission being granted by the school, was being investigated.
2.2. The school however decided not to proceed with the case, and the employee was informed that he may return to duty as from 01 September 2023.
(3)(a). The facility is built on land where schools are built and thus falls under the jurisdiction of the WCED. There is an agreement in principle between the WCED and DCAS, for DCAS to manage the facilities on behalf of the WCED.
(b). Funding is allocated by WC Government Provincial Treasury to the WCED to build the facilities. Earmarked allocations are made available to the WCED to maintain the facilities and provide equipment. DCAS pays the stipends of staff to manage and maintain the facility on behalf of the WCED.
(c). WCED to provide this information.
(d). The facility is a shared multi – purpose facility catering for different codes, namely:
- Baseball – focus code.
- Basketball – secondary code
- Chess – secondary code
- Football – focus code.
- Hockey – focus code.
- Indigenous Games
- Netball – secondary code
- Rugby – secondary code
- Softball – focus code.
- Table Tennis – secondary code
- Tennis – secondary code
- Volleyball – focus code.
Thus no one code can lay claim to the facility.
(4). As mentioned above, no code or club can lay claim to the facility. The above – mentioned codes have access to the facility through a booking system for schools.
THANK YOU