Hansard: NA: Unrevised Hansard
House: National Assembly
Date of Meeting: 26 May 2017
Summary
No summary available.
Minutes
FRIDAY, 26 MAY 2017
PROCEEDINGS OF THE MINI PLENARY SESSION – NATIONAL ASSEMBLY CHAMBER
The mini plenary session met at 10:00.
The House Chairperson Mr C T Frolick, as Chairperson, took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayer or meditation.
APPROPRIATION BILL
Debate on Vote No 40 – Sport and Recreation:
The MINISTER OF SPORT AND RECREATION: Chairperson, Deputy Minister, Honourable Gert Oosthuizen, Ministers, Deputy Ministers, MECs and honourable members, the Chair of the Portfolio Committee, the director-general and officials of Sport and Recreation South Africa, as well as HODs, Chairperson of the Audit Committee, members of the Eminent Persons Group, EPG, leaders of public entities, the leadership of SA Sports
Confederation and Olympic Committee, Sascoc, and provincial sports confederations, leaders of National Sports Federations, community clubs and sporting entities, athletes, including paralympians and recipients of the Ministerial Sports Bursaries, members of the media, distinguished guests and I also have the special guests who are the sporting legends. I would love them to stand up as I recognise them one by one. We have ubaba uTap Tap Makhathini, [Applausse.] Bashen Mahlangu, Zola Yeye, our international Hezekiel Sepeng and we also have Mantsho Martha Machoga. These are our legends. They are representing many of them who are not recognised today and as Sports and Recreation South Africa we want to use them and we are going to use them successfully in promoting sport. [Applause.] Ladies and gentlemen, let us get straight into the budget.
The total budget for 2017/18 to Sports and Recreation South Africa is R1,67 billion. Of this, R689,1 million is allocated to mass participation sport and recreation activities under the banner of our Active Nation programme. This means that 64,4% of the budget goes directly to the sports development. Of this, that is the latter amount, R224,5 million which makes 21% of the total budget goes to Schools Sport.
The total allocation for transfers and subsidies stands at R796,1 million. Of that figure, R585,8 million is transferred to
provincial departments by way of conditional grants to support delivery in the provinces. The balance of the transfers and subsidies, R210,1 million is allocated to support the national sports bodies with an amount of R169 million, and R79,3 million largely to support high performance sport.
The Department has cut costs over the next three years by R27,8 million, cutting on advertising, contractors, travel and subsistence as well as the cost of venues and events. I am pleased to confirm that the department again achieved a clean audit for the last financial year. [Applause.] I want to first pay tribute to some of our sporting legends that passed on
during this last year: Joost van der Westhuizen, after a heroic battle with Motor Neuron disease; Gugu Zulu who perished in an attempt to conquer Mount Kilimanjaro, Dr Petros „White Head‟ Molemela, as well as Mr Nick Durandt – the larger-than-life boxing trainer. Our condolences go to their families and friends.
I would like to think that the rebirth of the amateur boxing in South Africa, in some small way, would ease the pain of the boxing community for their loss. Sports and Recreation SA, last year, selected the SA National Amateur Boxing Organisation, Sanabo, as the federation of the year, an annual programme to
strengthen a specific code and make that federation sustainable. The results include the creation of 90 new boxing clubs – 10 in each province; the training of officials and referees, including female referees; and the soon to be launched VukaSidlale Open Boxing League.
Televised interprovincial tournaments will take place in Gauteng and Eastern Cape,the home of South African boxing, with the nine provinces entering a minimum of 10 male and 5 female boxers. In restoring amateur boxing, we are also strengthening the skills pipeline along with professional boxing in preparation for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. By the way, for 2017 Volleyball is a designated federation of the year.]
This is also a time to acknowledge sporting achievements by South Africans. I am afraid the names are too many to mention. Just for the month of May alone we have winners in the following sports: Wheelchair tennis, Lithuania Open Wrestling, African championships, Morocco, Water Polo, Girls U17, Nations Cup in Prague, Water Polo Boys U17, European Union Nations Cup, Athletics, Diamond League in Doha, Caster Semenya 800 metres Gold, Akani Simbini 100 metres sprint Gold, LJ van Zyl 400 metres hurdles Bronze and Judo African Junior Championships in Egypt.
In our own PSL, Bid Vest Wits winning the League with the finals of the Nedbank Cup still to come.
IsiXhosa:
Niqhwabe izandla ke noba ningamanye amaqela. Ndiyayazi ukuba kubuhlungu. [Kwahlekwa.]
English:
Let us also congratulate the Blitz Bokke, this week, officially crowned the 2016/17 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series champions. [Applause.] They are with us today. Where are they? Can you all stand? [Applause.] Hopefully they brought the Trophy with them. Can you rise and show us that trophy again? Thank you very much. Tuks Womens Rugby Sevens may not have won the tournament in Paris but their captain, Janse van Rensburg, was named best player of the tournament and all of that just during the month of May. [Applause.]
So, there is much to celebrate in South African sport and yet there remains an elephant in the room. The majority of our schools in the townships and rural areas provide little or no physical education and sports opportunities. How many of us in the past benefitted from the Sports Wednesdays which used to be
bussing in all the schools? Where is that Sports Wednesday today? At the same time, many of the national teams draw most of their players from a relatively small number of private and former Model C Schools. There are a number of problems with this.
By the way, if you are looking into the likes of all those who have made us proud in cricket, rugby and so on are drawn from former Model C Schools where there are good coaches. Amongst them from Grey College today we do have in cricket Monde Zondeki.
IsiXhosa:
Uphi Monde?
English:
Monde Zondeki is here. [Applause.] There are a number of problems with this. Firstly, it is morally wrong to exclude any child from fulfilling their potential because they are poor and from the rural areas. Secondly, it weakens the health of the nation. We all know that the healthy mind goes with the healthy body. Thirdly, from a high performance sport stance, it is extremely short sighted. Just think of all that potential talent out there.
The 2015/16 Annual Report into Transformation in Sport released by the independent Eminent Persons Group argues that Schools Sport is the „Achilles heel‟ of the entire sporting system. They suggest that some national codes may not be sustainable in the medium to long term due to projected demographic changes. In brief, the number and percentage of kids in township and rural schools is rising; the percentage in traditionally sporting schools will fall.
Transformation of sport is a process, not an event and it starts with development at school and community level. If we dream that we are going to see the demographics represented in the national sport at a national or international level but we do very little on sport development, we are dreaming. But this is a process that needs to be measured and evaluated. That is the role of the Eminent Persons Group‟s Annual Audit and Barometer and as the saying goes: “if you can‟t measure it, you can‟t manage it.”
Transformation is not simply about the racial make up of the national teams. The EPG audits, what is happening across the whole sport system? For the Transformation Barometer, federations based on their circumstances set transformation targets to be achieved annually. It is a system which has been
embraced by the national federations, both to support transformation, and for strategic reasons to increase the pool of talent. Ours is to ramp up the process, ensuring that goals for the transformation of school and community sport are progressively raised.
The EPG Report provides the scientific underpinning to the vision of government: for An Active and Winning Nation. In other words, an active and healthy nation which requires sports development in schools and communities, and from there an integrated and aligned sport system which recognises and channels talent to the highest levels of sport to ensure a winning nation.
So, we will not neglect the programmes to support high performance sport such as the academies, the sport focus schools, sports bursaries, the National Training Centre, the sports science programme, as well as funding to support national federations.
As the national department, together with provincial departments, Sports Recreation South Africa organises annual national school competitions across 16 prioritised sporting codes. The system works well from the district level up to
province and national. But the challenge is the poor participation rates at circuit and school level. Approximately
6 000 schools participate out of 25 000. That is an embarrassment.
When I met with MECs last week to workshop the School Sport Programme, they gave me a clear message. They said they have the policies and what they want is for them to see the implementation. For this, we have to provide coordination and alignment.
In line with this, MinMec adopted the following recommendations: To review and fully implement the Memorandum of Agreement that exists with the Department of Basic Education to ensure that access to Physical Education and sport is expanded across the school system. This process is already underway. To co-ordinate with the Department of Social Development in relation to their Expanded Public Works Programme, EPWP, to train Early Childhood Development, ECD practitioners, providing trainers and materials so that children in the ECD phase can be trained in fine motor skills critical to physical and sports development as they grow older.
Those of you who have been following football must look into the history of Lionel Messi. He was taken when he was very young from Latin America to Portugal and given to be adopted by parents but to develop his motor skills. To think that you will develop them at 13 or 15 years of age, it is already late. So, the issue of development at the lower level is very critical.
To co-operate with the Department of Higher Education which is piloting the delivery of training courses for Physical Education teachers and coaches through the Tvet colleges. We are also working with Sascoc representing the national federations so that we all align with the Long Term Player Development strategy to build a unified and expanded skills pipeline across the schooling system.
This will make talent to be identified and channelled from a larger pool. To this end, we will be training more talent scouts, amongst others drawing on retired sportspeople and utilising them as coaches for that matter, especially in the rural areas for that matter. That is why I have brought these legends today. We are going to be starting a programme and we will be talking to a number of sponsors because we must reach each and every village.
IsiXhosa:
Siza kufika phaya eHerschel qabane uSkwatsha.
English:
From the side of the federations, annual transformation targets and projects in disadvantaged communities will be progressively ramped up. I have also said that there can be no schools sport without teachers. So, one of my priorities, hon Filtane, is to engage with teacher unions including the South African Democratic Teachers Union which I formed. [Applause.] For that matter, I also want to meet with parent bodies to see how they can be mobilised. In the former Model C Schools parents are there to watch their kids on Saturdays and Sundays. In our black schools parents are not there. So, we must mobilise them to cheer up their children.
The sheer number of stakeholders required to strengthen schools sport requires that we establish a co-ordinating platform to provide the kind of co-ordination and alignment which the sector requires.
At community sports level we are seeking to co-operate with the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Authorities and municipalities for the sharing of sports and
recreational facilities. From last year it has been agreed to ring fence a percentage of the Municipal Infrastructure Grant to build community sports facilities and we want to make sure that that money is spent for that.
I am also pleased to announce that the Rural Sports Development Programme is already underway across all provinces. This is based on a partnership with traditional authorities as well as farming communities in the Western Cape. The early knock-out rounds have taken place with national championships scheduled for mid-year.
Let me also mention the Indigenous Games Festival which will take place during heritage month in September.
IsiXhosa:
Siyawafuna ke la mahashi phaya ezilalini maqabane eze siwabone.
English:
We have declared 2017 to be the Year of Oliver Reginald Tambo recognised for his role in the liberation struggle. But there was another side to Comrade O R. At school, Tambo excelled in cricket, football, athletics and tennis. At Fort Hare, Tambo led an initiative for students to rebuild a disused tennis court on
the campus. When the authorities declined permission for their students to play on Sundays, this led to protests and Tambo was amongst those expelled.
His first career was as a science and maths teacher but I have no doubt that he also passed on his sporting skills and enthusiasm to his learners. I would like to believe that Tambo‟s holistic education, physical as well as academic contributed to making him an outstanding leader in later life because in sport that is where you learn discipline.
We honour the legacy of Oliver Tambo by restoring physical education in all our schools and developing sport across the whole school system and at community level. This is where transformation starts. It starts at school and in so doing we contribute to a healthier nation, in mind and in body as well as helping to combat antisocial behaviour amongst the youth.
We also build a larger, stronger skills pipeline channelling talent into the wider schools sport and ensuring the sustainability in the national sports codes. I cannot conclude without thanking my wife and family for their support, as well as the director-general and his team for smoothing the transition to the new Ministry. I thank you very much.
[Aplause.] I will thank the DA once I have heard what they are going to say. [Laughter.] [Applause.]
IsiXhosa:
Ms B N DLULANE: Mandibulise kuSihlalo ochophele le Ndlu namhlanje nakuye wonke umntu okhoyo apha. Phambi kokuba ndiqale ndenze intetho yam ndifuna ukuthi: Kwanele madoda aseMzantsi Afrika. Angekhe nisidlwengulwe nide nibulale amakhosazana kunye nabantwana bethu. Inimba mayibe bafazi nani madoda.
English:
Not in our name again that you must kill our daughter and our kids. [Applause.]
Hon Chairperson, hon Ministers, Deputy Minister of Sport and Recreation, hon Members of Parliament, representatives of the Sports Movement, Director-General and your staff, invited guests and friends of South African Sport
Allow me at the outset to welcome the Minister of Sport and Recreation, Comrade Thulas Nxesi, as the newest member of the South African sports fraternity.
In our brief engagement with you in your new position, we are already encouraged by your commitment to continue building on the strides that sport and recreation have made in the country under the guidance and facilitation of your Department, Sport and Recreation SA.
You have already expressed your desire to work closely with the portfolio committee and have given recognition to the oversight role of the portfolio committee and by extension, Parliament.
As a former teacher, we know where your passion lies. It is with the children and youth of South Africa and we look forward to marching alongside with you as you give expression to the ANC‟s determination to ensure that every school in our country engages in active sports programmes.
We all know that the ANC declared this year as the year of O R Tambo. This reminds me of what is it that he actually struggled for and I find it difficult to close my eyes on the fact that; it was 61 year ago in 1956, I was not yet born when the Minister of Interior in the apartheid government, Mr T.E Donges, drew up the first apartheid sport policy and legally separated Sport in our country. However, this could not destroy the determination
of O R Tambo and many others, especially in the sport fraternity at the time.
The Department of Sport and Recreation South Africa has been a shining light with regard to the management of its finances. For three consecutive years, the department has delivered clean audits.
IsiXhosa:
Ezandleni mawethu.
English:
Before that, the department had received two unqualified audit opinions. We are awaiting the outcome of the 2016-17 opinion from the office of the Auditor-General, and I need to say, that Sport and Recreation South Africa is likely to perform true to form by delivering another clean audit.
IsiXhosa:
Ndinithembile.
English:
The department must be applauded for this. Not only has it accounted for public funds, but it has also ensured that top
class sport programmes are rolled out under its leadership and guidance. Director-General, Alec Moemi...
IsiXhosa:
... uyandazi andisazi kakuhle iSesotho...
English:
... and your committed staff, continue pursuing your mandate of overseeing the development and management of sport in our country. We salute you. Your rewards for the sterling work you do are to be found in the numerous programmes that you, sports federations and your partners deliver throughout the country despite the tremendous shortage of resources at your disposal.
In your budget allocation for the 2017/2018 financial year, you have just over one billion rand to ensure access, development and excellence for millions of South Africans who want to participate in sport. This is certainly not close to being enough for the huge responsibility that you have with regard to working towards an active and healthy South African society.
The National Sport and Recreation Plan that had been so carefully crafted in 2011 after a long period of consultation and debate, still remains our blueprint for ensuring an upward
trajectory for South African sport. This policy document has guided you in your work at the department and despite the sport and guided you in your work at the department, the Sport and Recreation Plan not being fully funded since 2011 and let alone that we are having this problem of junk state, but in 2011 the money was there but is not yet funded therefore Minister must do something with your colleagues in the Cabinet.
We have found innovative and strategic ways to continue delivering on your programmes. Your Active Nation Programme and Winning Nation Programme have delivered results which not even the other side not all of them in opposition in the House today can deny or challenge. I know some and not all of them.
In motivating for supporting this Budget Vote, allow me to briefly touch on some of the significant achievements. It is a historical fact that the funding of sport in this country has always been skewed in favour of some codes. It is also a fact that a few codes of sport dominate resources made available by the private sector whilst most other codes of sport must scrape around for measly crumbs. The department has been encouraging codes of sport such as rugby, soccer and cricket to grow their respective sports; they have also done something proactive about other codes.
Amongst the 16 priority codes that have been identified by the department and the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee, SASCOC, we have already seen the growth of number of semi-professional competitions which would not have existed if it was not for the vision and foresight of the department and SASCOC. However, we are worried about the attacks and the in fights within the SASCOC, as such we would like you, hon Minister to have a meeting between the department and the entire SASCOC board in trying to iron out issues amicably.
We are seeing you in papers. We just had your conference. You are not yet even coming to our committee to talk about what happened but we see on the media. We are doing our oversight before we do anything, call them hon Minister. You must give a report on why now they are like any other committee which I am not going to talk about that this board now is following what we have seen in one of the committee of this Parliament. It is not on. Please, it is not on.
Today, we boast a semi-professional netball league that is growing in leaps and bounds. The popular netball league has attracted a title sponsor and their matches are broadcasted live on television. This netball league has had a knock-off effect of
contributing towards the improvement of our senior women‟s national team, the Proteas. Currently, they are ranked fifth in the world and number one in Africa, that‟s great. Later in July, our under-21 ladies national team will be playing in the Under
21 World Cup in Botswana. Many of the young players in this team come from the league.
In the same way that this department has contributed towards the netball league, they have also funded semi-professional leagues in basketball and hockey. This year, department will be instrumental in establishing a semi-professional league in volleyball as well as a boxing league for amateur boxers. By any measure, these are major achievements by our department, the national federations and their partners from the private sector.
With regard to the Winning Nation Programme, which largely supports the elite and high performance athletes, the department also funds this but not on the scale of development sport. The winning nation programme is clearly intended to ensure that the mandate of SASCOC, which is to prepare and support high performance and elite athletes to compete at national and international events, is not compromised. We know that we are doing that, but what you‟re doing is not on. This clearly indicates the balance that the department maintains between
ensuring both an active and a winning nation. Some of our members will be surprised that I am not going to talk about me which is the passionate about me about me the facilities and hon Bev will talk about and you as Director-General and when I wany to talk about transformation, I am not going to dwell because the youngest girl and hon member in my committee, Dudu Manana is going to do that.
At the same time, I need to point out that in our interaction with Lottery Board, portfolio committee members raised critical questions about the extent and the length of the lottery application process and its impact on rural people. Let us say as a committee that once the department face limitation with its budget, it is still the National Lottery of that sport has to run in each honour of need. We want to compliment the National Lottery and its Chairperson, for coming to the aid of our sports sons part of the contribution, we might not have the champions that we have today.
IsiXhosa:
Siyakubulela Njingalwazi.
English:
There are some in society who now want to use the courts to keep young, talented black sportspersons out of national teams. To them, we say, we have news for you. We will use every means at our disposal to show you up for what you are. Stop believing that you have a monopoly on excellence. Stop believing that only sportspersons of a certain hue should be in national teams. The very notion that you want to challenge the transformation of sport in this country, points to the fact that you are nothing, but racists, wanting to hang onto your privileged position which enjoyed prior to 1994. There are those, though not all in the committee and not all in the opposition. Those who are doing this know themselves
The Springbok team just announced this week to play a series of test matches against France and the Proteas Cricket team due to play in the ICC Champions Trophy are best in the country and all those players are in those teams because they are the best in their positions. To those with bigotry and prejudice; know that we will continue transforming sport despite you opposing EPG.
The EPG report still points out that we continue experiencing challenges in federations in areas of governance and leadership. We are going to continue robustly engaging with some federations and transformation, particularly at governance level.
IsiXhosa:
Xa ndisiya ekuphetheni...
English:
... this year marks five years since the two departments signed this agreement. That agreement which I was saying that in 2011 it was signed between two departments but we have seen nothing happening, Minister and the DG and we are watching YOU and we will be whipping you that we want to see the results.
IsiXhosa:
Siyabulela kwaye siyaluxhasa olu hlahlo-lwabiwo-mali. Ndibulela onke amalungu ale komiti. [Kwaqhwatywa.]
Mr T W MHLONGO: Chairperson, hon members, I want to acknowledge all sports men in the gallery, you are all welcome, ...
IsiZulu:
... siyabonga ukufika kwenu. Asikhulumeni ngezemidlalo.
English:
Let‟s talk about sports. The purpose of this vote is to transform the delivery of sport and recreation to ensure equitable access,
development and excellence at all levels of participation. This will bring social cohesion in our community, nation-building and the quality of life to all South Africans. The sports arena should be a place of unity and hope for our people. Our great rainbow nation should be one that will be displayed at every possible opportunity. Not only at the national level, but at all levels.
Chairperson, I wanted to ensure that we must make sports arena safe for our kids, future leaders, development, growth and for big dreams. Sports must be allowed to fulfil the purpose.
Unfortunately Minister, your predecessor Razzmatazz was more interested in facebook, twitter, and other things like posing in the media. We wanted him to make sure that he promotes and develops sports ...
IsiZulu:
... kodwa yena ke ebeku-facebook ezibona ukuthi uphambili elibele ama-basics.
English:
Let us make sports a priority. Let‟s advocate for transformation in sports for us to have one nation and one future. Let us open
the debate on Sports in South Africa.
IsiZulu:
Asikhulumeni njengoba ukhulumile Sihlalo ngodaba lwe-SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee, Sascoc.
English:
It‟s an issue on its own
IsiZulu:
Asikhulumeni ngezemidlalo.
English:
Let‟s not talk but let us implement for our people. Chairperson, I will talk about the Municipal Infrastructure Grant, Mig, which is not used in different provinces. Do you want to live in a free and fair South Africa with equitable access to sports facilities for all? As long as we have underperforming provinces which do not use even their budgets. We cannot hope to achieve this access to sports facilities. We cannot hope to create the sports arenas for our future leaders. Out of nine provinces only two provinces are utilising their Mig funds. One of them is Western Cape where we are now.
IsiZulu:
Asibashayeleni izandla. [Ihlombe.] Bashayeleni izandla. [Ihlombe.]
English:
They are using their Mig. Thank you.
IsiZulu:
Okunye engifuna ukukuxwayisa lana.
English:
There are provinces Minister whereby they do use Mig One of the provinces is Free State Free and the North West, both which are run by a so-called “premier league”. You know them. They don‟t use Mig funding and one of the things that we wanted to highlight Minister is that you made sure that you gave them workshops, but they failed to listen. My question is: How can we hope to achieve transformation in sport in our schools whereby system is failing our kids? Sport is so important, especially school sports.
IsiZulu:
Ngiyathanda ukuthi ukhulumile ngokuthi sinosuku olubalulekile. Nami ngikhulela lapho bekuthiwa uLwesithathu wusuku
lwezemidlalo. Asazi ukuthi kwenzakalana ngalesiko. Njengoba unguthisha sikubhekile sizokwenza isiqinisekiso sokuthi kube khona i-oversight ukuthi wenze lokhu obukhuluma ngako namuhla.
English:
Chairperson, teacher must instil sports in our children. Right now we cannot even access data in different provinces, especially in an ANC-run government. All the provinces of the ANC do not have data. We cannot track even the performance of school sports in different municipalities or stakeholders, for example municipalities do not understand what sports desk is.
There is a budget of plus minus 21% which is allocated. We will monitor that. They do not even adhere to different sporting codes. Let us talk about those former model C schools. It‟s so embarrassing that they resist change. They do not want even to introduce soccer in their schools. There must be monitoring and evaluation for this and they must adhere to for us to have one nation, one future.
Minister, it is so shocking that you do not have asset register in South Africa for our facilities. We do not know how many facilities we have per province and per municipality.
IsiZulu:
Akwaziwa.
English:
I believe the department is failing. They don‟t understand what facility management is.
IsiZulu:
Abanayo futhi abayazi.
English:
How many facilities we have?
IsiZulu:
Akwaziwa.
English:
At local level even other stakeholders do not observe the national norm. Minister, the total budget which is estimate at just over R1 billion, for the first time since 2013-14 financial year. It is imperative for us to use this budget accordingly.
Not on fancy award, not on fancy such extravagances for example the budget has been reduced. There is R 8,5 million decrease in the allocation to the community support.
IsiZulu:
Isabiwomali sincishisiwe ikakhulukazi emiphakathini eyayincishwe amathuba.
English:
It is clear we do not know what our priorities are. We should be placing greater focus on disadvantaged communities and encouraging participation, especially in the rural areas and Ndwendwe.
IsiZulu:
Imali yethu isetshenziswa ngokungafanele
There is unnecessary expenditure. Money intended to improve the access to sport must be used for that purpose. What happens in R3,5 million was used for the Gauteng Sports Awards. What is shocking last year, they spent R10 million for these awards.
IsiZulu:
Hhayi bo! Imali yethu ayisetshenziswa kahle. [Ubuwelewele.]
English:
The money must be spent accordingly to all provinces. The department is failing to do its work and we will monitor it.
IsiZulu:
Sebenzisani imali yethu ngezinga elibonakalayo. Asithuthukise omama izimbokodo. Niyasazi nalesisho esithi: Wathint‟ abafazi wathint‟imbokodo. [Ubuwelewele.] Kodwa kwenzakalani, abathuthukiswa omama bethu kwezemidlalo nakwezinye izinto.
Kunodaba olungathathwa kahle i-Commission for Gender Equality.
English:
Minister, we are concern because all sporting codes do not adhere to this. We call upon the department to make sure all federations are allocated their money on time.
Finally Minister, it is important ... I want to make my personal observation on your political leadership. We had Minister of Razzmatazz. Today, we have Minister of Nkandla, but at least, we are happy because you know more about pools and fire pools. [Laughter.] Swimming South Africa will be happy ... [Time expired.]
Mr N PAULSEN: Hon Chairperson, good morning members and our guests today and there are few faces I know, there is a president sitting up there, Mark Alexander, and also the
President of the Western Province Rugby Football Union, Thelo Wakefield and also the first female member of the Western Province Rugby Union Executive Shamila Sulayman, welcome and uncle Tobias Titus, and welcome the BlitzBokke Neil Power and his world champion team and also I see Mark Williams a football legend from Cape Town, welcome.
Minister, I know you are very new in your position, and I am sure you are going to do much better than Beyonce did when he was doing this job. We must never underestimate the importance of sports and recreation in helping to build and unite the people of South Africa. Look at that BlitzBokke, very transformed and did great. Well done! Sport is the most important for the development of a well rounded, healthy and productive nation. But in order for the Department of Sports and Recreation to do this, there needs to be a complete change in strategy, Minister, and vision on what the role of sport and recreation is and what the purpose of the department should be. This department views sport as the domain of elite athletes who entertain people while turning ordinary people into passive participants who gain little from sports beyond entertainment.
As the EFF, we are saying that the department must not make sports at the elite level their main focus, but rather pay more
attention to sport at grassroots level and I am grateful that you‟ve said that you will do that. If you sort out sports at this level, Minister, it will organically become competitive at the elite level. Minister, you forgot to tell us which sport you played. My sport is rugby. This is proven in the cricket and rugby sports codes. The success of cricket and rugby is because of how the former government made sport a huge part of childhood development and schooling for whites and white schools. That is why 40 schools supply nearly 85% of all Springboks and Proteas. At these schools, it was and still is mandatory that learners be engaged in sports from an early age, but Minister you are correct. Soccer, rugby and cricket aren‟t the only sports. Like I said I love rugby, but not everyone enjoys the thrill of pitting their skill on the rugby field. There are other codes, hockey, netball, basketball and your favourite swimming and boxing that really lack the development and support.
The same was and still is being done throughout world, and has proven a great success in the former socialist block with countries like the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, USSR, Cuba and China integrating sport as a part of living in a socialist state, which eventually had a positive impact on the quality of athletes produced. But this was not achieved by putting resources in at the elite level, by then it is too late.
It was a result of putting in resources at the grassroots level, and not for the purpose of creating elite athletes, although this was a natural consequence, but for the purpose of having healthy well-rounded citizens needed to build the nation and society.
I cannot help but think of the great Primrose Rugby Football Club, with a proud 120-year history, based in Kenilworth, who is co-hosts to the Kenyan national team. When players reach a certain age, they are recruited by former whites only boys‟ schools and only then given more professional training and development. Its shocking that there is so little investment, if at all, for sports and recreation for children, particularly in black communities. How can it be that there are some schools in South Africa with 10 sports fields, while 10 schools in a township don‟t even have one sports field?
This department must push for legislature that compels big business to invest at least a percentage of their profits in clubs like Collegians Rugby in Mitchell‟s Plain, Crescent Cricket Club in Johannesburg, Khanyiso Soccer Association in Khayelitsha, Dolphins Netball Club in Mitchells Plain, Evergreens Rugby in Paarl, and also Play Sports 4 Life, an NPO who uses sport as a means to improve the lives and wellbeing of
disadvantaged communities. Because thus far, this department has been doing none of this; instead, they have been paying for beyond set to fly around the world and be a celebrity. Until you prove to us your commitment to grassroots sports. [Interjections.] We reject this budget. Thank you very much, Chairperson. ... [Time expired.]
Mr K P SITHOLE: Chairperson and the Minister, first let us congratulate the IFP on its overwhelming victory in Nquthu municipal bi-elections held on Wednesday. [Applause.] This resounding victory must send a clear message to the ruling party that the people of South Africa will no longer support state capture, empty promises or Gupta family and their servants. At the outset allow me to congratulate the Minister on his appointment and demotion. The IFP further states that it looks forward to working together with him in developing sports and recreation for the access and enjoyment of all South Africans.
Sports unify people regardless of ethnicity, culture, religion, language or skin colour. The social cohesiveness of sports and sports development can never be understated or overrated. Sports development on this basis alone should warrant adequate allocation of resources. With an allocation of just R1 billion, how is this department expected to develop youth sports, scout
for talent, implement sporting codes to all schools, create sports fields in rural areas and to maintain our existing sports facilities? This budget falls far short of the mark of what is required for these challenges.
Chair, the continued failure of this department together with the Department of Basic Education to implement schools sports programmes especially in our township and rural areas, is a disgrace. Sporting activities for children are imperative in the development of their proper physical and mental attributes as well as social skills. This is a programme that requires immediate prioritisation and I hope Minister that as a former teacher you understand the challenge.
The great loss of the 2022 commonwealth games in Durban because of a significant departure from the undertakings provided in Durban‟s bid and as a result a number of key obligations and commitments in areas such as governance, venues, funding and risk management and assurance. We have not been met is sports development money that has been wasted on a project we could never afford in the first place. The R100 million plus could have been far better spent on uplifting township and rural infrastructure in KwaZulu Natal that is currently so dilapidated so as to be unusable.
Chair, those are the issues that need to be addressed by the new Minister and the department going forward, but let us not take away from our many successes as a sporting nation either. We congratulate the Springbok sevens, the Blitzbokke, when just a few days ago they lifted the World Sevens Series Trophy as world champions. You do us proud and we salute you.
Chairperson, these examples cite the spirit and levels of achievement that are so abundant and achievable in our people that proudly call the southern tip of this continent their home. This department must therefore see to it that all South Africans have the opportunity to realise their utmost sporting potential. We are gold medallists, one and all!
IsiZulu:
Sihlalo, i-Boxing South Africa idlala ku-SABC. I-SABC ixhumana nabantu abathile ukuthi bathuthukise abantu abathile ku-Boxing South Africa kodwa ingaxhumananga ne-Boxing South Africa. Sicela uNgqongqoshe ukuthi angenelele ngoba ngaleyo ndlela kuchaza ukuthi ... [Isikhathi siphelile.]
English:
The IFP supports the budget.
Mr S C MNCWABE: Chairperson of the House, hon Minister, the brand new Minister from the box and your deputy, the chair of the committee, members of the committee although I am not a member of a committee but today I am here on behalf of my colleague, distinguished guests on the gallery, my own father in particular Tap-tap Makhathini Gqabhashe and all other sports veterans. By the way Minister, Mncwabe and Makhathini is one and the same thing. I just wanted to clarify that.
Chairperson, allow me to say heita to the world champions, heita! You have made us proud, thank you very much. The NFP recognises the vital role which the Department of Sport and Recreation has to play as an instrument of social cohesion in South Africa.
Chairperson, sport is a passion that cuts across racial and class lines which so often divides our nation. Sport is a unifier, a source of common and collective pride or dismay, and a cross-cultural bridge of note. The department has a budget of R1.06 billion to spend through its five programmes in the 2017-
18 financial year. This is a slight increase on the R1.02 billion allocated in the previous financial year. Considering the vital role that sport has to play as an
instrument of social cohesion, as the NFP we believes that the funds allocated are not enough.
The report tabled here today contains several observations and recommendations which we support. The NFP notes with approval that the department has received a clean audit report for three consecutive financial years and we commend the department for this achievement.
IsiZulu:
Ngicabanga ukuthi nosihlalo wekomidi naye uyithintile le futhi nathi siyavuyisana nalokho. [Ihlombe.]
English:
We are, however, concerned with the finding of the committee that provision of sport and recreation infrastructure through the Municipal Infrastructure Grant is not being prioritised. This is a worrying situation because our people in smaller municipalities, and in particular our rural municipalities, have limited access to sport facilities and programs, and in some instances, virtually none at all. The NFP would like to see the department taking this observation to heart and develop a tangible strategy to remedy the situation, in particular to ensure that there is an operational sports desk in every
municipality and to work closely with these desks to promote sport at municipal level.
The NFP urges the department heed the committee recommendation that it should continue with its policy dialogue for urgent implementation of physical education in schools. There is an old saying which says: “a healthy body fosters a healthy mind” and we must take cognisance of the real impact and benefits which physical education offers us in stimulating health awareness amongst our scholars.
IsiZulu:
Okokugcina, Ngqongqoshe, umuntu omusha oxakekile kwezemidlalo akanaso isikhathi sezidakamizwa. Ngakho-ke siyacela ukuthi le eyasezikoleni niyibhekisise ngoba uma umuntu ephuma esikoleni edlale nezemidlalo usuka aye ekhaya enze umsebenzi wesikole bese uyalala. isikhathi se-nyaope newonga kanye nokuhlukumeza abantu besifazane ngeke sibe khona. Akuthuthukiswe kakhulukazi njengoba sisho ukuthi ezikoleni makudlalwe, ezikoleni makuthuthukiswe abantu. Ngalawo magama sithi siyasixhasa isabiwomali sakho.
Ngiyabonga. [Ihlombe.]
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF SPORT AND RECREATION: Hon Chairperson,
hon Minister of Sport and Recreation Comrade Thulas Nxesi.
Minister you welcomed some of our legends here in Parliament and I would like to also recognise Vundiswa Ndeki from our Protea Cricket team who is honouring us with his presence today.
Welcome Mondi! [Applause.]
Hon Chairperson, I have listened to the hon Mhlongo from the DA.I can only think that he missed the facilities order that we did in 2015-16 – it continued to 2016-17.
Just before you attacked my friend Fikile Mabalula the now Minister of Police for being very active in the social media, he was spreading that very message.
In Twitter he was talking and boasting about the order that will be done and the facilities that he rolled out.
However, Minister thanks for agreeing that I can speak to them to swim so that I enrol the hon member and the hon Paulsen in that project - because it seems to me they are jealous because you can swim and they can‟t swim. [Applause.]
Chairperson, this occasion serves as a constant reminder of our historic mission and a pledge to the people of South Africa;
that is never to dishonour the cause of freedom. We are delivering sport under conditions not chosen by ourselves.
Our sport delivery system is impacted by budget constraints and the absence of adequate equitable share to implement the National Sport and Recreation Plan as adopted by the sports movement and approved by the Cabinet.
This Budget Vote of 2017 is delivered at a time when numerous national and international studies are painting a very disturbing picture of the increasing state of inactivity among both adults and children with grave consequences for a nation.
The World Health Organization has released alarming statistics regarding the growing inactivity of human kind all over the globe, including South Africa our country. Rapidly rising rates of chronic disease, escalating health care costs and shorter life spans are all linked to declining levels of physical activity.
According to the World Health Organization an estimated 35 million people are dying annually of chronic diseases; diseases that could be linked to inactivity. This is double the number of people dying from infectious diseases such as HIV and Aids and malaria.
For the first time in history, children in the Western countries have a shorter life expectancy than their parents due to non- communicable diseases. Very disturbing is that non-communicable diseases such as obesity and high blood pressure all track from childhood through to adulthood. So, the roots of adult ill health and early death lie in childhood.
A research shows that one in every 3 to 5 children in the developed world is either overweight or obese. This morning in the Die Burger newspaper we have seen the research results from the Healthy Active Kids SA Report and score card - it is saying very disturbingly that: 2 -5 of our children in our country spent 86% of their time in the crèche indoors not being active; 23% of them are fat, overweight and obese. We have to address this.
Hon Chairperson, we refer to these research findings with the trust that it will lead to a better understanding why school sport and physical education are such key focus areas for our department.
We believe that school sport and physical activity are the most effective preventive treatment for combating the increasing in
worldwide non- communicable diseases. The relationship between sedentary behaviours and the prevalence of obesity has been well documented.
We need an urgent commitment to increase physical activity levels in our country. Special emphasis must be placed on our youth, especially kids under the age of 10. We have to find ways to integrate physical activity back into our daily lives through the design of our schools, cities, communities and the built environment.
This is a powerful preventive course of action and a critical investment in the development of our nation. Physical activity should be considered a „best buy‟ in a large number of areas such as physical health, mental health, school and career success, personal well-being, transformation, and the list just goes on.
As a country, we have to address this growing phenomenon of inactivity because economic costs are unaffordable and the human costs are quite frankly just unforgivable. This cannot be allowed to continue unabated on our watch.
The department and the Ministry is committed and compelled to do everything possible to fulfil our vision of an active and a winning nation; not only for health reasons but also to maximize the impact of sport on economic growth, on peace keeping and peace building, social cohesion and nation-building.
We have to ensure dignity, equality and mutual respect for all women and all men. The Outcome 14 of governments Programme of Action acknowledges that despite progress since 1994, South African society remains divided.
As a delivery partner to Outcome 14, our department will continue to offer opportunities for communities to participate in sport and recreation events that unite and foster social cohesion.
Our Ministry promotes participation in sport and recreation; we advocate unashamedly and enact transformation in sport and recreation; we develop talented athletes by providing them with opportunities to excel; and we support high performance athletes to achieve success in international sport.
In addressing the need for social unification, our department will continue to utilize sport as a vehicle for cohesion and
nation-building. The UNITE campaign will be activated in partnership with the Department of Arts and Culture during the 2017-18 financial year. This is a core partnership for us as it contributes towards a meaningful change and social cohesion programme.
As government, we are doing everything in our power to ensure that our athletes fly the South African flag high and collect medals that will put smiles on the faces of this sport loving nation. Within our Winning Nation Programme the focus on sport development is spread across the entire sport continuum.
To this end, we prioritize this element of our sport support to ensure that talent is identified and nurtured through the management and co-ordination of various athlete support programmes.
Amongst the athlete support programmes provided is the Ministerial Sports Bursary which is awarded to learners from Grade 8 until they complete their high school education. The development of our athletes is largely informed by the South African Sport Academy Strategic Framework developed by the department.
The sport focus schools serve as feeders to the district academies of sport which is the second layer of the sport academy system in our country. In 2016-17, we have 23 Sport Focus Schools. This number is expected to increase to 54 during 2017-18, financial year. The District Sport Academies to our view - play a key role in talent identification, selection and eventually development.
The National Sport Academies are at the core of high performance sport. The national academies are responsible for athlete and team preparation.
In consultation with SASCOC, the department will facilitate and oversee the establishment of one of the components of the national academy system, and that of the National Training and Olympic Preparatory Centre, based in Bloemfontein. We chose Bloemfontein because it is in the Free State and we have only one Free State in our country. You know we have eight provinces and Free State.
As government, we reiterate our commitment of fighting doping and control in sport. To ensure a drug-free sport environment, we will continue to support all anti-doping agencies domestically and internationally.
I am happy to report that the World Anti-Doping Agency confirmed last year, its approval that the South African Doping Control Laboratory can once again conduct blood sample analysis.
SRSA will further collaborate with the University of the Free State to ensure that WADA approves our Laboratory‟s application to be fully accredited which will allow the laboratory to also conduct urine sample analysis.
As our athletes fly our flag high internationally, we show appreciation and recognize their achievements by rewarding our athletes through the Ministerial Outstanding Sports Performance Accolades.
Other Awards are the SA Sports Awards and the Andrew Mlangeni Green Jacket Programme which was established to recognise men and women who have excelled in sport either as a player or as an official.
Following the successful Regional Sports Awards of the AU Sports Council Region Five in 2016, tomorrow evening we will host the 2017 edition of the Sports Awards in Johannesburg. This event is intended to honour the regional achievers in sport.
The department will continue to provide financial support to sport and recreation bodies as well as for programmes and projects aimed at developing sport and recreation in the country.
A national federation to receive intensive support this year is
- as the Minister mentioned - volleyball.
International Relations are becoming more and more important. Worldwide sport strategies are focusing more on increasing the levels of participation in sport and recreation, as well as achieving success in sport. This is reflected in our vision of an active and wining nation.
Within the region South Africa will continue to participate in the activities of the African Union Sports Council, Region 5. We participate in various committees of the Region that of for instance, Sport for Development, Women in Sport, and Persons with Disability, and we also serve in the Marketing and Finance committee as well as the Executive Committee meetings. South Africa is also a valued member of Brics.
The focus of the Ministry of Sport will be on our participation in the Brics Summit that will be hosted by China in September
later this year. At this event South Africa will interact with other members regarding the Brics Sports Council and the future of the Brics Games.
As we speak today, South Africa is preparing to send two sport teams to participate in the 2017 Edition of the Brics Games in China. 2017 is an important year for global sport.
The international Conference of Ministers and Senior Officials responsible for Physical Education and Sport, MINEPS VI are scheduled to take place in Kazan, the Russian Federation in July 2017.
As Chairperson of the CIGEPS, South Africa played a leading role in the preparations and the development of the policy documents for MINEPS VI - under the leadership of South Africa. MINEPS VI is expected to mark a shift from declarations of policy intent towards measurable actions. In fact, governments world-wide need to experience the impact of sport in the different spheres of society.
This MINEPS VI will be structured around three main themes namely: developing a comprehensive vision of inclusive access
for all; maximizing the contributions of sport to sustainable development and peace; and protecting the integrity of sport.
MINEPS VI is an important event for the sport sector globally as it provides us with an opportunity to interrogate afresh how governments can embrace the potential of sport and Physical Education.
Through this process governments can also answer the call of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals that have identified the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies as among the most urgent; yet challenging issues across the 2030 Agenda.
I am pleased to announce that South Africa was elected as a pilot country for the implementation of UNESCO‟s Quality Physical Education Programme. Close co-operation with the department of Basic Education in this regard is of the essence that we believe by working together, we will do so much more.
It is positive to note that after much lobbying for the provision of sport and recreation facilities by municipalities and other relevant institutions – we heard hon members this morning.
It was agreed that our department will once more facilitate and monitor the utilisation of R300 million of Municipal Infrastructure Grant funds in the coming 2017-18 financial year. These will be ring fenced funds that can only be spent on sport infrastructure projects identified by the department.
We will also continue to support the delivery of community gyms and children‟s‟ play parks by the municipalities. The aim with this support is to deliver and encourage recreation to our communities.
In conclusion, I want to emphasize that the potential of sport, its global reach, its universal language, its impact on communities in general, and young people in particular, is a fact which is increasingly being recognized around the world.
This is also acknowledged by the United Nations. In paragraph 37 of the document entitled, “Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development" it is stated and l quote:
Sport is an important enabler of sustainable development. We recognize the growing contribution of sport to the realisation of development and peace in its promotion of tolerance and respect and the contributions it makes to the empowerment of women and of young people, individuals and
communities as well as to health, education and social inclusion objectives.
In South Africa, the time to invest and capitalize in and on this potential of sport is now. If we as the leaders of the sport sector do not embrace the potential benefits of sport and recreation, an injustice will be done to all South Africans.
We need to believe in the power of sport to deliver in and on peace building, peace keeping, social cohesion and nation- building.
The driving force of our actions should be the passion to maximize the potential of sport to address many of the ills in society linked to inactivity; to play an important role in the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and to contribute in building healthy and peaceful communities and eventually a better South Africa for all.
Minister, it is my hope in rolling out a multipurpose centre facilities like yesterday – that we will achieve that – that we will build a better life for all because working together we can do more. I thank you for your kind attention. [Applause.]
Mr M L W FILTANE: Hon Chairperson, hon members of the gallery, and various sporting facilities, the UDM greet you this morning. Straight to the hot issue at the moment hon Minister, what is the position of the department on the 2023 Rugby World Cup? We would love for you when you come back to close the debate to indicate where exactly government stands. The reason I am wearing this blazer which we got in 2015 at the Parliamentary Rugby World Cup in London is because we wanted to send a confirmatory message to say that as the Parliamentary World Cup we support 2023 to be hosted in South Africa.
Congratulations to the Blitzbokke, we are so proud of you. I wish I had just half the pace you guys demonstrate once you get hold of that ball. The UDM supports this Budget Vote. [Applause.] The budget reduction in this department does not augur well for the promoting development and transformation of sport in our country. Already, compensation to the departmental employees has had to be reduced on an escalating scale totalling R4,9 million and this is just not good for our services. The next victim of this reduction is goods and services.
Regrettably, the very people who would have benefitted from the programmes of this department stand to suffer severely. When departmental officials and sport practitioners are locked in
their office and therefore can not go around delivering services, people suffer, sport gets buried.
It also means that there will be less usage of the sporting facilities already available and this may result in such facilities being declared white elephants, we see quite a bit of those as we drive along the rural roads. The economic activity that is a natural by-product of sport and recreation, activism, will be lost in the process. Nevertheless, the UDM welcomes the new Minister and his team to the batting crease, to use cricket language. Minister, you are now facing your very first bouncer, which you have to deal with. [Interjections.] [Laughter.] The second new ball after 80 overs that you will have to face is the provinces, which are failing to come to the party. They are the biggest disappointment in the whole chain of government services to the people in so far as sport is concerned.
Nationally, so technology has been targeted as a cost-saving area. The flow of information to and from district offices which goes through provinces is not going to come through. Nationally, this will impede the department‟s ability to plan ahead. No data, no detailed planning, chaos. The potential result you are about to get, will be, either you will be bowled out or caught off leg, as you try to scoop the ball for 6 runs. Be careful.
Also, savings on facilities means that less facilities will be accessible to the sporting bodies. Yes, the time has come for the Memorandum of Agreement MOA between Sport and the Department of Basic Education to be reviewed, because the relationship between the two departments has yielded minimal results so far.
In the same context, a working relationship can also be used to host those young fellows and ladies who have less intellectual capacity but excellent sports orientation to develop their talent and ultimately make a career in sport. In that way, job opportunities will have been created for them. Penalising noncompliant provinces is most welcome since school sport is the foundation on which transformation can be built. Minister, the other challenge is the high up and under that you are facing in rugby and that is sustaining as well as supporting transformation. You may not knock-on that ball or else the wings will pick it up, scoop it and score under the post and that is not exactly what we want, we want forward movement, sustain them. Shame!
IsiZulu:
... u-Mbaks ebezama ...
English:
... shame.
IsiZulu:
Singamnika leyondumiso. [credit]
English:
Bafana Bafana with their new coach is on the nation‟s radar. We expect more from them. In this regard, at the risk of contradicting my principal Bantu Holomisa, I wish Orlando Pirates success on the day. [Laughter.] Thank you, Minister.
Thank you very much for acknowledging me. We support the budget. Ms B L ABRAHAMS: Chairperson, hon Ministers, hon Deputy Ministers, hon MECs present in the gallery, and hon guests, today I would like to dedicate my entire budget debate speech to the women who have been abused, the men who have been abused, and our children – the boys and girls – who have been abused and are still abused. I would also like to mention that we salute the men who marched on 20 May to the Union Buildings under the theme “Not in my name” in honour of women. Thank you.
At the 105th anniversary of the ANC, it dedicated 2017 to Oliver Reginald Tambo, as he would have celebrated his centenary this year. May his soul rest in peace. I would like to quote Oliver Tambo. He said:
It is our responsibility to break down barriers of division and create a country where there will be neither whites nor blacks, just South Africans, free and united in diversity.
For the ANC, sport is linked to the development of a nonracial sports movement in South Africa. It should be noted that the apartheid government had systematically promoted sport and had ensured the provision of sport and recreational facilities for the white community, excluding the majority in the country. For the ANC, sport and recreation should benefit all. It is the right of every person who wishes to participate in sport to do so. Development is at the core of the ANC‟s policy in sport and recreation. In its 1992 Ready to Govern policy document, the ANC notes that it is imperative that sport and recreational facilities be an integral part of the community development programme, as the development of sport in our communities will contribute to the health, general quality of life and productivity of the entire population.
Great strides have been made by the ANC-led government in the development of all sporting codes in South Africa. In particular, there has been an increase in infrastructure development for sport and recreation, especially in rural
communities and townships. However, it must be acknowledged that, despite the increase in infrastructure development, the ANC resolved at its 53rd national conference in Mangaung that the Municipal Infrastructure Grant, MIG, should be ring-fenced to facilitate investment in sport and recreation infrastructure.
This resolution was followed by a meeting in
October 2015 involving the Department of Sport and Recreation, the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs, and Treasury. It was resolved that, in the 2016-17 financial year, the Department of Sport and Recreation would determine allocations for the building of sport facilities to the amount of R300 million of MIG outside the formula. This would be ring-fenced, could only be spent on projects identified by the Department of Sport and Recreation and ensured the implementation of the 2007 ANC resolution. Funding currently under the MIG, which is aimed at sport facilities, should be diverted to the Department of Sport and Recreation.
The above is in line with the National Development Plan‟s vision of the provision of adequate sport and recreational facilities and will ensure that facilities are maintained and that communities are encouraged to organise sporting events, leagues and championships. The P-component of the MIG is one of the
important instruments in facilitating the development of sport infrastructure. The MIG fund, in building sport and recreational facilities, is important because it assists those who, in the past, were unable to access facilities. Administered under the Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs Vote, a portion of the MIG funds is allocated to municipalities for infrastructure development of sport and recreational facilities.
In the 2017-18 year, R300 million of MIG funds are allocated for sport facilities outside of the MIG formula. The R300 million allocated for sport infrastructure projects is to ensure the delivery of sport facilities in areas of need. It is significant to note that this is a move in the right direction in ensuring that the funds allocated for sport infrastructure development are utilised for the intended purposes. In 2016, the Department of Sport and Recreation began the process of identifying the 2017-18 MIG sport infrastructure project.
A total of 34 municipalities with a total of 34 projects were selected from submitted lists by provinces. There are too many to mention, but allow me to mention a few. In the Eastern Cape municipalities, construction of a sport facility is taking place, as well as the upgrading of sport facilities within the Sakhisiswe, Raymond Mhlaba, and Walter Sisulu Local
Municipalities. In the Free State, construction of sport fields is taking place in the Ngwathe and Kopanong Local Municipalities. There is also the upgrading of facilities in the Nala and Phumelela Local Municipalities. In Gauteng, the MIG infrastructure projects include the Zuurbekom multipurpose sport and recreation community facility, soccer facility, the upgrading of the President Park swimming pool facility in Vereeniging, and the construction of the Heidelberg Ext 23 sports complex.
In KwaZulu-Natal, we have the construction of sport fields. In Limpopo, there are sport fields and stadia being constructed in the Phalaborwa Greater Letaba, Polokwane, and Ephraim Mogale Local Municipalities, as well as the construction of a stadium in the Lepelle-Nkumpi Local Municipality. In Mpumalanga, we see the refurbishment of sport complexes within the Mkhondo and Dr Pixley ka Isaka Seme Local Municipalities. In the Northern Cape, we have the construction of sport facilities in the Sol Plaatje, Siyancuma and Hantam Local Municipalities. In the North West, there is construction in the Greater Taung Local Municipality.
In all these provinces, it took place, as well as in the Western Cape. Here we see infrastructure projects, construction of a sport ground within the Bitou Local Municipality and the
upgrading of the sport facilities in the Langeberg Local Municipality.
In the name of good financial management and good governance, we urge the department and provinces to ensure that the register of current facilities is updated as and when new facilities are constructed. In this way, there will be no need to spend money again at a later stage to undertake the facility count. The outdoor gyms the department built in community parks and other open spaces have given new meaning to the community‟s understanding that the notion of an active nation is important. You see people going out there and exercising in these parks.
It must also be noted that, initially, a discussion took place between the Ministry of Human Settlements and the Department of Sport and Recreation relating to the rationalisation and possible redirection of the urban settlement grant to the Department of Sport and Recreation. Both departments were tasked with the responsibility of formulating a model that would enhance the provision of sport and recreation facilities in the eight metropolitan municipalities. These two departments are meant to co-operate in administering these funds, with the aim of having these funds transferred back to the department.
Afrikaans:
In Eldorado Park en ander gebiede moet daar dringend aandag gegee word aan die herstel en instandhouding van sportgeriewe, omdat daar gesê word ...
English:
... a child in sport is a child out of court.
Afrikaans:
Byvoorbeeld, in hierdie geval is die Johannesburgse metropool verantwoordelik vir herstelwerk in dié gebied. Dit is belangrik om daarop te let dat indien die Munisipale Infrastruktuurtoelaag reg gebruik word, ons gemeenskappe sal voordeel trek uit die geriewe wat gebou word. Hierdie fonds moet nie gebruik word vir ander infrastruktuur nie, maar vir infrastruktuur van sportgeriewe in plaaslike gebiede – veral in die voorheen benadeelde gemeenskappe. Die plaaslike regering moet verseker dat die gemeenskap toegang het tot al die geriewe.
Die plaaslike regering of provinsiale regering – wie ookal verantwoordelik is vir hierdie infrastruktuur in die wyk – moet geleenthede skep vir die plaaslike inwoners rakende die onderhoud van die geriewe. Omdat hierdie geriewe aan hul behoort, moet hul eienaarskap daaroor neem. Dit sal ook verhoed
dat vandalisme plaasvind, want die gemeenskap se betrokkenheid is van kardinale belang. Die geriewe moet so gou as moontlik oorhandig word sodat die plaaslike inwoners dit kan geniet en optimaal benut.
English:
In conclusion, allow me, on behalf of the ANC, to congratulate Mr Stuart Baxter, Bafana Bafana coach, on his appointment as the national football coach, as well as young Melissa Muller, who lives in my community. At the SA Boxing Awards, she was awarded the 2016 Female Prospect of the Year award. I would also like to acknowledge the role played by our chairperson, hon Dlulane, in the life of Rio silver medallist Luvo Manyonga. Well done, chairperson. Hon Filtane, your jacket is another story for debate, so we will have to debate that.
I would like to end off by saying, hon Mhlongo, that a dream is free. They say a dream takes about 10 seconds, but it has been proven scientifically to be about 9,9 seconds. So, “Dream Alliance,” please do your research when it comes to all these things you were talking about. I would like to quote former President Nelson Mandela:
Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair.
I thank you. [Applause.]
Afrikaans:
Mnr L M NTSHAYISA: Ja, sy kan goed Afrikaans praat.
English:
Hon Chairperson, let me first welcome hon Minister Thulas Nxesi to the new Ministry. I know he is a diligent man and always equal to the task, so he is going to make it.
I just need to acknowledge the president of Safa, Mr Danny Jordaan, because I am a soccer man. Hon Chairperson ... yoh! I forgot to put on my spectacles. [Laughter.]
Hon Chairperson, for the sake of progress and service delivery, we can‟t prevent the financial resources from getting to the people. It is for this reason that as the AIC we support Budget Vote 40.
The Department of Sport and Recreation is structured on three pillars to achieve its mandate: An active nation; a winning nation; and an environment enabling sport to achieve key objectives supporting national and global priorities.
Again, I follow the previous speaker in quoting from late President Nelson Mandela who said “sport has the power to change the world”. Sport indeed has the power to heal the wounds of the past and pave the way for a better future.
The racial sport that was the practice in the past is no more, but we are now struggling with transformation. It is important to accelerate the rate of transformation. Some of the negatives of slow transformation are the following: Divided sports communities engaging each other on issues related to merit selection and human rights principles; and black players taken up in national teams becoming stigmatised and labelled as tokens with consequential damage. These are some of the negatives related to slow transformation, meaning that we have got to accelerate transformation.
The mandate of this department is to be the custodian of sport and recreation nationally, to develop and implement sport and national policies and programmes. The Minister of Sport and
Recreation has been empowered by the National Sport and Recreation Act, Act 110 of 1998, to play an oversight role over this department, its development and management.
The issue of social cohesion in sport and recreation is very important. The department must promote massive participation for an active nation in sport; it must support so-called high performance athletes to succeed in international sport.
The National Development Plan and the National Sport and Recreation Plan recognise the role played by sport to promote wellness and social cohesion. The issue of international and interdepartmental ... [Inaudible.] ... should be taken seriously, because this department has to work hand in hand with many national departments in the provinces. The Departments of Health, Basic Education, Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs and Arts and Culture have got to come on board. The provinces have always been delaying in reporting to the national department, citing the reasons being technology and distance. We have got to encourage the provinces to report to the national Depart of Sport so that sport will be in a position to report to Parliament. [Time expired.] Thank you very much.
Mr D BERGMAN: Chair, I would like to welcome all the sportsmen and women in the gallery today, all the administrators, but, most of all, I would like to welcome one of the top-performing MECs - not just of the province, but nationally – our MEC for sport in the Western Cape, MEC Anroux Marais. [Applause.]
I would like to start off with a quote, seeing as it is very fashionable to quote O R Tambo this year:
Using the power you derive from the discovery of the truth about racism in South Africa, you will help us to remake our part of the world into a corner of the globe on which all of humanity can be proud.
Year on year, speech on speech, we speak about the same thing. We all want transformation. We all want to ensure that the citizens of our country can partake in any sport from a school and community perspective. However, if we were to take a snapshot today and compare it to a picture of where we were three years ago, when we started out on this journey, we would find that nothing has changed. We are still wishing and hoping for the same things. But with an ever-decreasing budget, the hopes of seeing the impact of our input diminish too.
Our last Minister focused on pomp and ceremony whereby he tried to take away the World Cup rugby in what he felt was punishment to the South African Rugby Union, but in fact would have punished our country. We chased a Commonwealth dream that put a financial burden on all three spheres of government and only when we caught the bid did we realise how unprepared we were.
Knowing the budgetary constraints in which this country finds itself and the infrastructure we would have needed, it was embarrassing to see the opportunity lost in such a callous manner. Thankfully the new minister seems to possess a far more prudent and positive view on sports tourism – in fact, your speech was pretty much my speech – and we appreciate that. I have made inputs on an international stage calling for South Africa to use some of the African Renaissance Fund to create an African sports tournament. These are the types of events that we should be chasing and hosting, because they require less cost and generate more turnover and better returns, not only in income, but in jobs and international diplomacy.
It is time the headings in our budget reflect more accurately what we are trying to achieve. We should return to generally accepted accounting terms. In one of our first committee meetings, I warned that when it came to broad term budgets we opened ourselves to broad term allocations. Now, more than ever,
the budget needs to align to specific long-term goals in building better relationships with sporting codes, ensuring better infrastructure in schools and communities. I hope the new broom will sweep away the leftovers of the glitter and pom-poms that were the legacy of the last Minister and look more at building sports from its foundation to its leaves. We as the sports committee should worry less about getting tickets for national games and focus more on supporting schools, clubs and provincial leagues to increase interest, attendance and, of course, participation. It is internationally accepted that big stars draw young kids into the games. We need to look after our heroes and help them inspire more participation from a young level. Our budget alone will not achieve this. It is important that we bring in at least the Departments of Basic Education and Health to share ideas and innovation in increasing participation from a school level and decreasing health issues starting at a young age.
Our oversight visits have been productive most of the time. We always seem to uncover an issue or two that shows the breakdown in funding between provinces and the municipalities, or municipalities and the communities. This leads me to the premise that most of our meetings should be on the field and not in the boardroom. Crossing the length and breadth of this country, we
have met principles and MECs and we have met sporting codes and promoters. And, without fail, I have seen people given little but make a lot and I have seen people given a lot but not ever having enough. It proves to me that with the right people in charge, opportunities are created and with the wrong people in charge funds and hope are drained from the system.
Sports and Recreation through their provincial counterparts should be ensuring that money ring-fenced for sports and recreation is used for that specific purpose. Teachers, coaches, and officials should be enthused and motivated through innovative funding and staffing methods that create skills, growth and competitiveness.
Deputy Minister and hon Abrahams, I would like to read out an answer from a question – Question 797 – on 21 May 2017: One of the stumbling blocks to sports development and improving access to participation has been the absence of an accurate data base of sports and recreation facilities.
Finally, the elephant in the room, transformation. No one seems to differ on the fact that we want to see teams that are fully transformed in race and gender parity. We just have different views on how to get there and who we should be monitoring to get us there. If you rely on the unions to make the transformation
and never accept any responsibility as government, then you will always find excuses and make everyone else the scapegoat. The newly established DA coalition led government in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro just gave the Kings a bailout sum of
R15 million in support of transformation and development. With politicians supporting and backing sports rather than interfering we put ourselves in a win-win environment. It is time we meet the sporting federations in transformation by resourcing schools, clubs and communities through the Division of Revenue Act and MIG grants and creating and supplying talent pools to be taken through the sporting system. We need to find accommodation between the recommendations and findings from the Eminent Persons Group and our own committee oversight evidence to ensure that transformation is fast-tracked in a manner that is sustainable. Thank you. [Applause.]
Siswati:
Ms D P MANANA: Indvuna Yetemidlalo Nekungcebeleka, Umn Thulasi Nxesi, liSekela Lendvuna, Gert Oosthuyzen, Sihlalo Wekomidi Yesigungu Sekulawula, Mcondzisi Alec Moemi nelitsimba lakho, tivakashi tetfu letikhona, malunga lahlon, tsine njengaKhongolose semukela iNdvuna lensha kantsi siyetsemba nekutsi, Ndvuna lomusha, utalibeka etulu lelitiko kunakucala. Lengicondze kuko kutsi siyetsemba kwekutsi, Ndvuna lomusha,
utawuletsa temidlalo etikolweni, ikakhulukati emalokishini nasemakhaya.
Lapha sihlangene ngemnyaka wababe Oliva Kaizana Tambo, Mengameli we-ANC lowadvonsa sikhatsi lesidze, wakonyeliswa ngekuhlanganisa i-ANC wabuye waniketa linyenti lebantfu baseNingizimu Afrika letsemba ngetikhatsi letimatima tebumnyama, telubandlululo.
English:
Sport in South Africa is informed by the National Development Plan, NDP, which recognises that sport contribute to the wellness of people, nation building and social cohesion. The National Sport and Recreation Plan, a plan which was adopted by all sporting bodies together with Sport and Recreation South Africa during the National Indaba in 2011, and a year later, was adopted by the Cabinet, but not yet fully funded.
The plan brings to the fore three pillars for implementation which are active nation, winning nation and enabling environment. At the core of the plan is the Transformation Charter and the multidimensional score card driven by the Eminent Persons Group, an advisory body as envisaged by the National Sport and Recreation Plan, NSRP, to advice the Minister.
The Eminent Persons Group, EPG, works and develops with each identified federation their multidimensional score card, once federations are satisfied with their score cards, they then enters into the agreement with Sport Minister. The results of the score cards will be reviewable on yearly basis with the Minister. We have recently received from the Minister the fourth EPG Transformation Status report. While we are happy with the systematic and holistic approach of dealing with transformation, we must put pressure on federations to really deal with development.
Transformation is a must and as the ANC we believe that there must be consequences for federations that do not meet their own score cards. The above plan was brought about by the ANC‟s inclusive approach to dealing with problems confronting our people. This broad consensus is the one that keeps teams participating nationally and internationally. As we speak the Under 20 national soccer team is in South Korea and the national cricket team is in England. We remain confident that the national teams will be representative of the country.
In the past two and half years, the ANC has set the agenda for more access in sport for communities in villages and townships.
We have been paying attention to issues of equality, access and good governance by all federations. Remember, there will not be no transformation without development. It cannot be correct that we still have teams not reflecting the national demographics.
Transformation of sports must be the future for everyone in our society especially to the youth. I am disappointed by white supremacists who do not want to see transformation. They want sports to belong to them only. It reminds me of an incident at Mpumalanga in 2016 when a professional golfer, Mr Jabulani Mabilani, a 19-years-old was attacked by four white golfers for being black in a white golf course. I am so disappointed.
Siswati:
Ndvuna lehlon, bantfu betfu bafuna kugubha imphumelelo yemacembu etfu, esive ngalokuphelele. Bafuna kutibona bemelwe le emacenjini esive; kantsi lokubalulekile kutsi labo lababemele babe yencenye yelicembu.
English:
Equally, we must make sure that the pyramid bottlenecks that our people always complain about in sport, die a quick painful death. We cannot afford as the country, we have a pool of good junior players in various codes denied access to higher performance sport when it matters most.
It is sad that as the Minister rightly puts it that most of our rural and township schools still do not provide for physical education and sports opportunities and this should be the challenge that we should confront because the ANC has resolved on these matters that school sport should be the bedrock of development.
I am of the view that the memorandum of understanding signed between the Minister of Sport and Recreation South Africa and the Minister of Basic Education should be reviewed. While as the portfolio committee we engage our counterparts in Basic Education portfolio committee, we know that some provinces like Mpumalanga where I am coming from have followed suit by their own memorandum of understanding, MOU. Again, the premier of the province hon D D Mabuza ensured that the school league is launched on the 30 June 2016.
Chairperson, allow me to congratulate learners, teachers, parents and South Africans who participated in the championship in December 2016. We have seen the national schools sport championships that the department hosts with in partnership with Basic Education, showcase a sense of nation building and social cohesion. But are we sure that the best performing learners are
not from former model C schools hence the need for the relook of the MOU.
We are also of the view that the SA Democratic Teachers Union, Sadtu, and other unions must be engaged if we are to achieve our objective school sport in the township and villages.
Siswati:
Ngitsandza kubonga Letsemba Letemidlalo, Sports Trust, ngekungenelela kwalo kanye nemisebenti lengetemidlalo. Kungenelela kwabo kwasita etikolweni nasemiphakatsini etindzaweni tasemakhaya lapho lingefiki khona litiko kuze litewusita. Hhayi ngobe litiko lingafuni kodvwa ngenca yekutsi sabelo salo setimali aseneli.
English:
Hon Mhlongo, from the dream alliance, oh, it is the Democratic Party, the dream alliance, the DA, first, if you talk about Razzmatazz he was promoting social cohesion on social media.
Secondly, there is no province in this country called the premier league. You must know that if you are not aware. There asset register. Your colleagues are still running with that assets register. We want it.
Siswati:
Ngobe phela lubalulekile nalolubhaliso lweto tonkhe timphahla. Nibaleke nayo nine nebalingani bakho.
English:
I don‟t know what you are talking about.
Hon Paulsen, I am not going to say much about him because his speech was just about acknowledging the guests. I must thank you on that because there was nothing in your speech.
Siswati:
Ngako ngiyabonga kutsi wemukele tivakashi tetfu; njengelilunga laka-EFF, aninangcikitsi, anihlali nasemakomidini esigungu sekulawula, anihlanganyeli futsi-ke ...
English:
Hon Sithole, this is not a door to door campaign. If you come here and talk about elections, we are not talking about door to door here. Hon Bergman, you are the only person in that committee. You are the only member who always says, no, no, no, we want tickets for the national game. Today you come and grandstand here.
Mr T W MHLONGO: Chair, can I ask the member a question?
Ms D P MANANA: A big no. the hon member wants to know why I don‟t want to take a question. It is just because hon Mhlongo just came yesterday to come and attend the portfolio committee on sports. He was busy with petition. Each and every time he come to Parliament to submit petitions.
Mr N PAULSEN: Chairperson, I would like to ask the hon member if she can take a question from me. I would like to know which
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): No, hon member, I have not allowed you to ask a question. I will find out from the hon member. Hon member, are you prepared to take a question?
Ms D P MANANA: Red ants! No.
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Continue, hon member.
Ms D P MANANA: I think I must give this to Mr Sithole. Mr Minister was not demoted. He is still in a very same position as he was. You must not say he was demoted. What do you mean when you talk about demotion?
Mr Bergman, the transformation that you are talking about tell your colleagues because you take rugby as if it‟s a business. That is a sporting code. It‟s a sporting code that needs to be attended to. You have to intervene as a member of Portfolio Committee on Sports. Go and speak to the Heidelberg Rugby Club where they have assaulted the Dolphins. Those kids are very young because they were playing on 19 May where they have harassed and even used some inappropriate words. I don‟t have a point because I am telling him that he must go there and address these issues of transformation. Transformation is broad. Let me give you this lesson.
When we talk about transformation we are not only talking about the race only, but we are talking about the transformation, it must be transformed, it must be gender-balanced, it must go even in rural areas. You must not keep rugby as if this is for white code especially you here in the Western Cape. You are abusing these kids. They are only 15 years and these old men they are playing with, the Dolphins are from Khayelitsha. I think the Western Province Union are here I will ask them to intervene on this issue because really they can‟t, after realising that the Dolphins are winning and they start to harass them. I think he needs exposure now. He starts shouting because he wants those tickets. You always want tickets from the federations - you want
tickets. You always cry even for the free bees. You were talking about the 2022. For the 2022 you will come back to this podium and say why such a lot of money. Because they keep on getting a clean audits, they didn‟t want that ...
Siswati:
... kutsi nababuya ngale bese bayabuta batsi ...
English:
And ask why such a lot of money for hosting the 2022. My point is that you must support this budget like now as I am supporting this budget. Mr Mhlongo, Mr Petition, I am not going to say much about you because you know yourself that you don‟t participate in sport. I thank you. [Applause.]
The MINISTER OF SPORT AND RECREATION: Hon House Chairperson, let me thank all those who have contributed to this debate and also our guests in the gallery. I further recognise our MEC for Education and Sports Development from North West. Of course, the Western Cape I did recognise. There is also Hilton Langenhoven, the World Paralympics Champion in 100 metres and 200 metres, as well as in long jump. Thank you very much. [Interjections.] [Applause.]
Hon Mhlongo, thank you for the spending on the glittering occasion, even before I arrived in the department, plans were under way to reduce the costs which are spent on the budget constraints. These cuts are reflected in the 28 million over the next three years. The department remains committed to recognising and celebrating sporting talent. Most countries do that, but this will be within the reduced budget. I think we must understand that.
Mr Sithole, you pay your car insurance premiums every month, even if you do not get an accident. It‟s that money wasted? No, it is not. So, money spent on that insurance cannot be regarded as money wasted. I am raising this within the context that when you bid, you have to spend money whether you win that bid or not. You can ask Dr Danny Jordan, the president of South African Football Association, Safa, and the former member of this august House. You can ask Dr Irvin Khoza, the chairperson of the Premier Soccer League, PSL, clubs. You can also ask Mr Gideon Sam, the president of South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee, Sascoc, how difficult it was when we were bidding for the Soccer World Cup. Remember that we lost it for the first time and we were all crying. All of them are here and we recognise them for participating. If you ask them, they will
tell you exactly what happens when it comes to bidding - you have to waste a lot of money.
I hope the president of South African Rugby Union, Saru, is going to learn a lot from them. He is also here with today. Let me just explain this, everything that could be done was done for this successful bid. By the way, all the monies expended to this bid process were accounted for and they were audited by an external independent auditor and we are ready to come and show you that audit here in Parliament. The problem came when the Commonwealth Games Federation required an open-ended guarantee that South African government will pick up the tape for any shortfall in the venue, asking those guarantees was asking too far beyond what was budgeted and we had to take a decision given what is happening.
On the issue of transformation, I must raise this on the issue Saru. Minister Mbalula had to take a firm action against certain national federations last year because of under performance, those who achieved less than 50% in transformation targets – which is our pass mark, even at universities the pass mark is 50%. The situation changed with the release of Eminent Persons Group‟s annual report and the barometer of the transformation in sport.
With regard to rugby, they have achieved all their targets for 2015 and that is why we have to lift the ban. We couldn‟t shift the goalposts. As I have said that transformation is a process, I need to make a point that we are going to assess them on an annual basis and we are going to be tough on them, we are not just going to raise only soft issues. The role of the Eminent Persons Group audit and the barometer is very important. I need to clarify this one, just because the ban is lifted, it does not automatically mean that the government support the bid for 2023. Listen carefully, I have indicated that as the Minister of Sport and Recreation, I am supporting the bid but we still have to make a case to National Treasury and the Cabinet. I am supporting the bid because it will be good for nation-building and social cohesion, for rugby and sport in general – that‟s my argument. But we still have to make a case to national Treasury and government. More important, in the present economic climate, Saru, using independent auditors has made a very strong financial case in the documents that they have shown me that the world cup will pay more for itself in terms of the economic activity generated by the sports, tourism, job creation and resulting tax revenue.
Moreover, what makes this difference from the International Federation of Association Football, Fifa, 2010 is that we
already have more than eight stadiums which are required for the bid. The cost are really reduced but we will act like we have done in the Commonwealth bid - we won‟t pay more, if the Cabinet and Treasury agrees, but we still have to make a very strong case.
As I close, on the issue of transformation of sport, all I can say is to refer my colleagues to the articles of Mary Ingram, who runs a successful rugby development programme in the Western Cape and contributes on the Daily Maverick. Amongst other things she makes very important points but she says at the end: “It is time for all of us to acknowledge the extent of how inequality affects performance. Let‟s all commit making a concerted effort to ratify this from the ground up.”
The last issue relates to what is going on in Sascoc. I have said that I am not going to jump in there because it is a federation which is independent and has that autonomy. You know what normally happens when governments interfere in some of the sports. But I have raised the issue that what has happened at the public level we want them to follow it up. I have raised the issue of governance which have been raised in the papers before a report is given to us. At the right time, if they are not addressing the issues, we will have to intervene. I want the
Portfolio Committee on Sport and Recreation to help me do that in the interest of the nation. That is what I want, hon Paulsen. We must work together. This vision can only succeed if we work together. For political reasons and publicity, we can harang each other here when we see the cameras but we have to sit down and work very hard for the sake of sport. [Applause.] Yesterday I was in Atlantis giving a sport code there for volleyball, netball and all different sports. You know what the principal said - he said that he is using gangs to look after this, since he started using them, no one come to vandalise this. There is something positive out of this, he said that all of them are now seeing the value of sport, together with the gangs - which means we can be able to take them from the streets and use them in some productive work. If we can buzz the sport, all over, in the villages, in the townships, with the facilities, we can remove may be half of our kids from the criminal activities. Thank you. [Interjections.] [Applause.]
Debate concluded.
The mini-plenary session rose at 12:00.
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