Question NW443 to the MINISTER OF SPORT, ARTS AND CULTURE
20 March 2024 - NW443
Luthuli, Mr BN to ask the MINISTER OF SPORT, ARTS AND CULTURE
(a). What specific initiatives and/or programmes are being considered by his department to empower legends in sport and the arts and (b) how will such initiatives be implemented?
Reply:
(a). With reference to the Sport Sector, the Department noted and realised the absence of programmes catering for life after active careers of our sports heroes/heroines, as well as the need for more hands in the effective implementation of current and future initiatives in sport, and decided to develop a programme that would match the skills and experience of these sports heroes/heroines with the existing gaps within the initiatives that we wishes to introduce and/or enhance in the sport sector.
In the Cultural and Creative Sector, the Department established the Living Legends Legacy Fraternity Programme. This program is funded and created a Trust (Living Legends Legacy Fraternity Trust), with a board of trustees entrusted with ensuring that Legends come up with life skills transfer projects, to avoid industry pitfalls.
The Masterclasses are done to empower the next generations of artists and creatives, and in the process the Legends get remunerated in order for them to sustain their livelihood.
(b). The Sport Ambassador Programme is being implemented through the Active Nation Chief Directorate of the Department, wherein the sport legends are required to deliver coaching, mentoring and life-skills as well their self-initiated programmes within the school sport programme and in communities.
The Sport Ambassadors have further served as role models addressing the Youth at the Department’s annual Youth Camps, coaching, and providing life-skills at the National School Sport Championships
The Programme has also provided opportunities for other facets of the sport sector where legends of the Sport media sector have been involved in mobilisation of communities as South Africa hosts major Sporting events, like the Netball World Cup, and facilitating discussions during strategic gatherings of the Sporting sector, like the School Sport Indaba.
The Sports Ambassador Programme is also catered for in Provincial Activities and budget for this is catered for in the Conditional Grant.
Sector organisations in the Creativity Industry are enlisted to assist the Legends in various categories to conceptualise projects to be supported by the Department as our Legends are of an advanced age and need to be assisted by individuals that have insight about the Sector.
Thank you