Question NW8 to the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture
02 August 2024 - NW8
Marawu, Ms TL to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture
(1). (a) What is his policy position on the recent removal of Mr Luxolo Adams from the South African Paris Olympics 2024 team, despite having duly qualified in August 2023, (b) what specific steps has his department taken to date to address Mr Adams' concerns about his removal and (c) how does his department intend to ensure that Mr Adams is fairly reinstated to compete for the Republic. (2). what steps will his department take to (a) address the alleged boardroom politics behind the removal of Mr Adams and (b) ensure that athletic performance and dedication are the only factors determining team selection. (3). whether there are any specific policies and/or guidelines in place to protect the rights of athletes during selection processes; if not, why not; if so, (a)(i) what are the relevant details of such policies and/or guidelines and (ii) how will they be enforced and (b) what steps does his department intend to take to ensure that such instances of perceived injustice where qualified athletes are sidelined, are prevented in future; (4). what message of support would his department offer Mr Adams and other athletes like him, regarding their future participation in representing the Republic internationally, who may feel discouraged by such decisions? NW8E
Reply:
(1&2). This matter may be considered a dispute between an aggrieved athlete and the National Federation or any other relevant party. The athlete is alleging unfair de-selection or withdrawal from the Team. As such it should be dealt with in terms of Section 13 of the National Sport and Recreation Act 18 of 2007. Section 13(1)(a) of the said Act directs as follows “Every sport or recreation body must in accordance with its internal procedures and remedies provided for in its constitution, resolve any dispute arising among its members or with its governing body. Section further sets forth the processes and procedures to be followed in dealing with these matters.
In addition, Section 13(5)(a) sets out the conditions within which the Minister may intervene. In terms of Section 13 (5) (b) (ii) of the National Sport and Recreation Act, the Minister is debarred from involvement in matters relating to selection of teams. The Section states that “The Minister may not interfere in matters relating to selection of team, administration of sport and appointment of, or termination of the service of, the executive members of sport or recreation bodies.
The above provisions are premised on the directives of the Olympic Charter presented below for ease of reference. Article 27(3) “The National Olympic Committees (NOC) have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games and at the regional, continental or world multi-sports competitions patronised by the IOC. In addition, each NOC is obliged to participate in the Games of the Olympiad by sending athletes” Article 27(7) (7.2) “The NOCs have the right to send competitors, team officials and other team personnel to the Olympic Games in compliance with the Olympic Charter” Article 27(9) “Apart from the measures and sanctions provided in the case of infringement of the Olympic Charter, the IOC Executive Board may take any appropriate decisions for the protection of the Olympic Movement in the country of an NOC, including suspension of or withdrawal of recognition from such NOC if the constitution, law or other regulations in force in the country concerned, or any act by any governmental or other body causes the activity of the NOC or the making or expression of its will to be hampered”.
Section 29 of the Olympic extends the same provisions to the National Federations.
(3). In line with the above the Team and Athlete Selection Policies and Selection Criteria fall outside the jurisdiction of the Minister. The selection policy is set by the National Olympic Committee (SASCOC) through its General Council. National Federations further set their sport specific Selection Policies and Selection Criteria in line with their Constitutions.
(4). Participation at an elite level is highly competitive. Athletes should never lose hope but continuous strive to better themselves in preparation for future competitions.
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
QUESTION NO. 54-2024
WRITTEN REPLY
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 54 – 2024, DATE OF PUBLICATION 18 JULY 2024:
MR LG MOKOENA (EFF) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF SPORT, ARTS AND CULTURE:
(a) What is the total cost of maintaining the Art Bank of South Africa and (b) how has its
upkeep been financed on a yearly basis since its inception on 12 December 2017? NW55E
REPLY
(a) The average cost of maintenance of the Art Bank of South Africa has between R3.2million and R4.7million between 2016 and 2024. This cost is inclusive of the operational costs and annual spend on acquisitions.
(b) The programme is financially supported with an annual allocation of R3million in 2016/17, 2018/2019, 2019/2020, 2020/2021, 2021/2022 and R6million in 2022/2023 and 2023/2024.
The Art Bank of South Africa programme was placed within the National Museum, an entity of DSAC to keep the staffing needs and operational costs of the programme low.
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
QUESTION NO.135-2024
WRITTEN REPLY
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 02-2024 DATED 26 JULY 2024
“MR T P MOGALE (EFF) TO ASK THE MINISTER OF SPORT, ARTS AND CULTURE:
1. What (a) actions will he undertake to fast-track name changes across the Republic and (b) what are his intentions regarding statues of colonial and apartheid leaders which are still publicly displayed.
2. Whether the Minister will consider introducing a Bill giving him powers to institute name change processes and not rely on municipalities to facilitate the process of name changes; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details. NW150E
REPLY
1(a). The South African Geographical Names Council (SAGNC) working together with the Provincial Geographical Names Committees (PGNCs) has been embarking on an ongoing public awareness campaign on the need to transform the geographical names landscape.
It will continue with this process and is currently planning to conduct national awareness using both national broadcasting and social media platforms.
(b). Following National Consultation across the nine provinces, the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture appointed a Ministerial Task Team to advise on the transformation of South Africa’s heritage landscape in the 2017/2018 financial year.
The Ministerial Task Team produced a report with recommendations.
The report was tabled to Cabinet for endorsement 2020/2021.
As part of implementation of the recommendations, the Department through the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) conducted a national audit of all statues in South Africa in the 2021/2022 financial year. The process for the relocation and repositioning of the symbols and statues was to be guided by National Heritage Resources Act. No. 25 of 1999.
However, the National Treasury declined the Department’s request for the budget allocation regarding the relocation, repositioning and curation into Regional Cultural Nation Building Parks of statues and monuments not in line with the values and spirit of the constitution.
Once the budget is made available, SAHRA together with Provincial Heritage Resources Authorities and local authorities and guided by National Heritage Resources Act, 1999 (Act 25 of 1999) will ensure stakeholder involvement and public consultation with all the relevant and interested parties in the relocation, repositioning and curation into Regional Cultural Nation Building Parks of statues.
2. The South African Geographical Names Council (SAGNC) Act No. 118 of 1998, the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (PAJA) Act No. 3 of 2000, and the United Nations Resolutions on geographical names stress on public involvement/inclusion concerning the standardization of geographical names.
All members of the public, especially those who have been historically marginalised have the right to have their voices heard in the transformation of geographical names. Communities must identity/support the new names where old names are being replaced. Municipalities facilitate public consultations.
Thus, it is crucial for the Minister to rely on the involvement of both municipalities and the public.
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
QUESTION PAPER NO. 6
FOR WRITTEN REPLY
INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO. 1- 2024 DATED 18 JULY 2024:
“Ms N N Chirwa-Mpungose (Gauteng: EFF) to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts
and Culture”
(1) Whether, in light of his department’s provision of annual bursaries to heritage, anthropology and archaeology students to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate studies, he will expand such bursaries to accommodate a bigger group of students in pursuit of such courses; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details.
REPLY
The heritage bursaries programme aims to bridge the heritage sector skills gap in arears of critical and scarce heritage skills such as forensic anthropology, forensic and marine archaeology, conservation, intangible cultural heritage and IKS protection and promotion, digitization, marketing of heritage.
The programme has an annual target of 45 students with a total budget of R5 030.000. The target number can be increased if resources allow.
(2) Whether he will include internship programmes that will absorb the beneficiaries and/or graduates in the said course codes; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details.
REPLY
The Department also developed a placement strategy that seeks to equip unemployed graduates with the necessary skills in the sector. This placement programme was implemented in April 2023 and runs for a period of two (2) years before the next intake of interns (unemployed graduates) takes place.
Currently, there are 15 interns (unemployed heritage graduates) that are employed in the sector. The DSAC has also developed a database of all unemployed graduates which is updated every third quarter of each financial year. During the past financial year, four (4) interns were absorbed into the heritage sector by accepting permanent positions. These previously unemployed graduates have since been replaced with new interns from the database.