Hansard: NA: Mini-plenary 2

House: National Assembly

Date of Meeting: 12 May 2022

Summary

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Minutes

UNREVISED HANSARD
MINI PLENARY - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
THURSDAY, 12 MAY 2022
VOTE NO 37 – SPORTS, ARTS AND CULTURE
PROCEEDINGS OF MINI-PLENARY SESSION OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
Watch: Mini-plenary

Members of the mini-plenary session met on the virtual platform at 14:00.
House Chairperson Mr C T Frolick took the Chair and requested members to observe a moment of silence for prayer ormeditation.

The Chairperson announced that the virtual mini-plenary sitting constituted a meeting of the National Assembly.

DEBATE ON VOTE NO 37 – SPORTS, ARTS AND CULTURE
(Appropriation Bill)

The MINISTER OF SPORTS ARTS AND CULTURE: Hon House Chairperson, Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, hon Nocawe Mafu, Ministers and other Deputy Ministers here present, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee of Sport, Arts and Culture, hon Beauty Dlulane, hon members, MECs of Sport,
Arts and Culture present, chairpersons and Chief Executive Officers, CEOs of public entities, the leadership of the sporting and creative sectors, distinguished guests, members of the media, ladies and gentlemen, this Budget Vote debate takes place during Africa Month as declared by Cabinet of the Republic in 2015. It is a month where we highlight and celebrate our Africaness in a true Pan-African spirit. In so doing we salute our forebears who founded the Organisation of African Unity, OAU, now African Union, AU, on the 25th of May 1963. I want to single out the late former President of
Tanzania, Julius Kambarage Mwalimu Nyerere. President Nyerere would have turned 100 years of age this year had he lived. We will continue to honour their legacy by ensuring the total integration of Africa and unity amongst Africans. Since South Africa started celebrating Africa Month seven
years ago, 36 countries across our continent have participated in different programmes and one of the key programmes is the
exchange of ideas mainly led by our public intellectuals. We refer to this part of our programme as the festival of ideas. Over this period, we had the honour of having literary giants as Minister’s guests of honour. We can mention Ben Okri, Wole Soyinka, Ngugi wa Thiong'o, Mireille Fanon Mendès, amongst
others.

The Africa Month programme has now been elevated to a continental level. This was occasioned by the AU 5th Pan-
African Cultural Congress in 2018 adopting it as its flagship programme. We are grateful and feel honoured by this gesture from our continental body, the AU. Hon Chairperson, I want to touch on matters relating to COVID- 19 pandemic and note the difficult past two years especially
for the sector. Also note that government did respond on this pandemic. Government’s response through relief, grants and the Presidential Economic Stimulus Package. We asset Chairperson that this went a long way in softening the negative impact of COVID-19 in our society. This said, we acknowledge that not all benefited from such interventions by government. This is so because of the financial resources at the disposal were
limited. We tried to stretch the rand as far as we possibly could. Over this period, the department has supported athletes, artists, and their organisations financially to the tune of R808 million benefiting 59,224 artists and athletes with
37,556 jobs created and retained. Hon Chairperson, we also make a point that we need to continue with the process of vaccination because it is a correct thing to do.
We are reporting here Chairperson that not all was doom and gloom during these past two years. One of the things what
lifted our spirit was through our creatives in the name of Master KG and Ms Nomcebo Zikode healed the world through their song Jerusalem and dance, uniting us South Africans with the global community.
Thuso Mbedu – 2021 Hollywood Critic’s inaugural Association
Awards Winner for her performance as Cora in Underground
Railroad, and the 2022 Independent Spirit Awards Winner for
the Best Female Performance in a Scripted Series. Prof Pitika
Ntuli – 2021 Global Fine Arts People’s Choice Award Winner. Mr
DJ Black Coffee Nkosinathi Maphumulo - 2022 Grammy Award
Winner at its 64th annual chapter. Mandla Dube directed a
world renown “Silverton Siege”, a story on the fervent

 
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offensive by MK cadres fighting for the release of Nelson
Mandela. This iconic piece premiered at Sun City and was
further shown in 192 countries in April this year.
Hon Chairperson, we also have referred to the Freedom Charter
which stated that “The doors of learning and culture shall be
opened!”. It continues to say that and I quote:
The government shall discover, develop and encourage
national talent for the enhancement of the cultural life.
Our approach on the matter that the Freedom Charter’s showing
injunction is implemented. We do that through the Mzansi
Golden Economy, MGE, strategy. We mention that since 2011, the
Mzansi Golden Economy has supported more than 30,000 creatives
across the spectrum to pursue their craft. The strategy will
continue to be the pillar of our movement forward as we are
guided by research.
The mapping study done by the Research, by SA Cultural
Observatory, Saco, which foregrounds our approach through this
sector. One of the things which we noted in 2018 is that the
Cultural and Creative Industries, CCIs, in 2018 was

 
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R74,39 billion, which accounts for 1,7% of South Africa’s
gross domestic product, GDP. In 2022 this contribution is
R161 billion, accounting for 2,97%, almost 3% of South
Africa’s GDP. Now Chairperson, we mention these just to make a
point that our approach here is really guided by research.
We also report on programmes specifically aimed for youth. The
Debut Fund Programme; the Young Patriots Programme; and
Artists in Schools and Film.
Well, the latter programme on film involves the highly
creative activities wherein a task is given to youth to
produce 10 short documentaries of unsung African heroes and
heroines. This hon Chairperson we are doing to ensure that the
content of our film reflects our movement forward as a
democracy.
Hon Chairperson, we also mention our work that start at the
grassroots with us supporting community art centres and goes
to play houses and academies. For instance, the past three
years we have supported 331 community art centres. We also
continue to undermine the apartheid spatial development by
creating spaces in provinces. In 2021, we opened the Mandela

 
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Bay Theatre Complex in Gqeberha, which was immediately
declared as a Cultural Institution. Again in the same year in
the Northern Cape, we officially opened a theatre, a space for
expansion of cultural and artistic ecosystem in that mentioned
here that the national Academy of Africa’s Performing Arts
initiative of Mr Caiphus and Mrs Letta Semenya and is almost
complete with minor touch-ups on construction. It will offer a
professional arts training in music, dance and drama.
We also raised a point about the crafts and the work that we
will be doing there would be what we started this year which
will be an exhibition on crafts throughout the country.
We also mentioned the programmes we are doing here
particularly in the incubator space and the visual art we
report that last month in April until November, we have what
is called Venice Biennual exhibition. This is the arts
exhibition which is dapped as the Olympics of the arts founded
in 1893. We have our own artist Lebogang Kganye, Dr Roger
Ballen and Mr Phumlani Ntuli. Hon Chairperson, all of this are
part of the process where we take our artists to international
platforms to expose them and ensure that the are
internationally known.

 
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Hon Chairperson, I think we have to mention this that on
languages for instance, we financially support language
practitioners the average of 400 students in all major
universities.
We also touch on issues of Gender-based Violence and Femicide,
GBVF. Our approach is a three-pronged-strategy which deals
with GBVF and also issues of wellness intervention programme.
We look at the Heritage Promotion and Preservation, HPP. For
instance, we note that this past period has seen us having 71
towns, three cities and six airports, that have been
transformed as part of the transformation of the heritage
landscape
We have finalised the Winnie Madikizela-Mandela house and
museum OR Tambo. We also advanced on the SA National
Monumental Flag in Tshwane. The department is mandated to
promote nation-building and social cohesion. The department
implements this mandate through, amongst others, the design,
registration, and promotion of the national symbols. The
National flag is one of our primary symbols.

 
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We are saying it is important that even at that level we hold
and host high the SA National flag as part of the whole of the
heritage landscape. We have also chairperson, that last year
we pass the national policy on digitisation and we have
current programs during 2020-21 financial year to accelerate
the digitisation program amongst others the E-book
Augmentation System, Digital Dictionaries Resources for the
NLuu language.
Since 2019, 529 audio-visual records were digitised Treason
Trial Dictabelts, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission,
TRC.
Hon Chairperson, by saying that as the country emerges slowly
from the COVID-19 pandemic, so is government moving from
grants and relief mode to sustainable economic recovery
trajectory. Responding to the guide from research, we will in
the main deploy resources accordingly. This will be done
primarily through the implementation of the MGE strategy.
Future milestones include working towards the urgent need for
strengthened Cultural Diplomacy Framework. For we want to

 
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ensure that we continue to expose our creatives the world over
so that they are able to be known particularly.
Hon Chairperson, I present to you today this Budget Vote to
you and say that we support this and we think that it is quite
important that we take forward the issue of the reconstruction
and recovery of this sector. Thank you very much.
Ms B N DLULANE: House Chairperson, I may face the problem of
network. But, I want firstly to show my face, to see that I am
not in the bench, I am in the house. Let me greet the
Minister, the Deputy Minister, all the Ministers who are here.
Greeting you House Chairperson and also all the stakeholders,
who may be present here. Finally, let me greet the colleagues,
all hon members of Parliament, especially the ones who are
serving in this committee.
Firstly, let me take this opportunity to say as the ANC, we
support this Budget Vote of the of the Department of Sport,
Arts and Culture to portfolio committee. We will continue to
hold department and its entities accountable.

 
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House Chairperson, South Africa is a nation which has been
divided by colonialism and apartheid. Despite transition to a
democratic Republic of South Africa, the legacy of colonialism
continues to manifest in our lives today.
Racial and class division remains entrenched and we should all
contribute to the building the nation envisioned by Pixley ka
Seme, Chief Albert Luthuli, Nelson Mandela and compatriots we
have lost in the struggle against oppression. A vision of a
united South Africa.
I am saying this again today, our Constitution commits all South
Africans to address the injustices of the past in the quest to
create a non-racial, non-sexist, and an equitable society.
The National Development Plan 2030 describes arts and culture
as having:
The ability to open powerful space for debate about where
a society finds itself and where it is going. Promoted
effectively, the creative and cultural industries and
contribute substantially to small business development,
job creation, and urban development and renewal.

 
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As South Africans, we come from diverse backgrounds from a
racial and cultural point of view. As a nation we should always
comment social compacting for national building and social
cohesion.
The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture responds to these
imperatives of forging social cohesion and nation building.
Transformation is also about the creation of a national
identify and cultural identities.
The African soul is embedded in our language. Therefore,
speaking our own languages and mainstreaming our African
languages in our education system will develop our African
languages.
Hon members, hon House Chairperson, the department’s budget vote
responds to promoting the equal status of all official
languages through the development of words and language
technology, translation and editing services in all languages.
This is inclusive of the Khoi, Nama and San languages and sign
language and develop and produce 27 dictionaries through the
Pan South African Sign Language.

 
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In order to ensure all official languages are developed, the
department should strengthen its relationship with
institutions of higher education so that they prioritise the
development of all languages for educational purposes. Our
universities have the resources and human capability to
advance this objective.
Also the department in the current financial year will promote
250 bursaries towards the development of qualified language
practitioners and human language technologies project with the
Council for Science and Industrial and Research.
We applaud this type of partnership and we urge the department
to have more projects with other science and innovation
entities to harness the capability of the state to advance and
enhance implementation of developmental objectives.
Hon House Chairperson, in building a nation and creating equity
in society, it is important that we accelerate our efforts
within the existing legislation to ensure that we use
symbolism as a soft power for forging unity rather than a soft
power domination.

 
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I am saying this House Chairperson and hon members; we must defend
our democracy from remnants of apartheid who wish to celebrate the
darkest period of our history. We must shun acts of embracing
apartheid flags. And we should take pride in our national symbol.
The flag of a democratic South Africa is our national symbol and we
take pride on it.
Hon House Chairperson, we acknowledge and welcome the plan to
host a collective of 472 exhibitions as a means of encouraging
educational and public outreach programmes and celebrating the
diversity of the country’s cultural and natural heritage.
The budget vote allocates R 2,8 billion to heritage institutions
and these institutions also raise funds through donations,
sponsorships, and entrance fees.
Hon House Chairperson, COVID-19 has had a devastating effect in
the cultural and creatives sector. It is one of the reasons why
the portfolio committee conducted an urgent oversight to visit
the National Arts Council and the National Film and Video
Foundation following the issues around the mismanagement of
the distribution of the Presidential Employment Stimulus
Package in April 2021.

 
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We are proud to announce that post our visit, department has
forged ahead with conducting the forensic investigation into
this mismanagement at National Arts Council, NAC, and the matter
is beginning to bear fruit whereby the management involved
have been charged with misconduct and facing disciplinary
action, and all funds have been accounted for to date.
House Chairperson, the coronavirus pandemic has also affected
heritage institutions financial sustainability, we welcome the
reprioritisation of R21 million to address funding shortfalls of
Amazwi South African Museum of Literature, Die Afrikaanse
Taalmuseum en ?monument, the Luthuli Museum, the KwaZulu-Natal
Museum, the War Museum etcetera.
The Sport, Arts and Culture Portfolio Committee has prioritised
a focus on addressing the transformational issues in sport
through meeting various national federations. The Transformation
Status Report of 2020 highlights that each federation indicates
that nine of the 19 federations achieved 50% or more. This is a
great improvement in the overall.
The racism reflected in the social justice and Nation-Building
Project by the independent inquiry into the causes, nature and

 
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extent of racial discrimination and lack of transformation in
cricket structures since unification led by Advocate Ntsebeza
lays bare the level of discrimination in sport and cricket in
particular. It reflected the economic and social impact of
discriminatory conduct.
We welcome the processes being undertaken to implement the
recommendations of the report. We urge Cricket South Africa to
use this report as a catalyst of transformation than an
opportunity to hide racism which continues to divide our
nation. We are concerned on the number of cricket club members
have decreased by a 22% from 2017 to 2019.
Allegation of racism in rugby continue to simmer and we should
continue to monitor improvements in rugby and other sporting
codes and address emerging challenges.
Hon Minister, hon House Chairperson, the establishment of a
transformation ombudsman office in sport sector can contribute
in enhancing efforts of transformation as it creates a
conducive environment to expose and address discrimination.

 
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Transformation in elite sports such as the horse racing, golf and
other sporting codes is crucial area that we must look at, the
Minister. My time is over? Oh I am hearing somebody...
An HON MEMBER: Yes
Ms B N DLULANE: Who is saying yes? [Interjection.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Order hon members,
order. You are presiding over the session. Please continue hon
Dlulane. I will indicate when your time is up.
Ms B N DLULANE: Thank you, hon House Chairperson, transformation
in elite sports such as the horse racing, golf and other sporting
codes is a critical area, in ensuring that South Africans
participate in different sports and not be based on class and
this reproduces inequality in sport.
Hon members, we need to ask ourselves critical questions on
gender inequality in sports. It is a problem of a combination
of political, social and economic factors which shape the
distribution of resources.

 
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As the ANC we call for social partners in sports to prioritise
resources and provide support to women sports. Gone are the
days where women and the girl child are restricted from
participating in different sports. In order to advance women
sports to be at the same level with men. The media, donors,
sports sponsor, sporting federations and other stakeholders
should increase their support to women sports.
We are ready to host the 2023 Netball World Cup as a nation,
and we call on South Africans to support our national netball
teams.
The ANC again is supporting this budget vote and we must transform
all what is not transformed and then by this, I thank you House
Chairperson. Thank you so much.
Mr B S MADLINGOZI: Chairperson, it was on this day in May
1835, during the Sixth War of Dispossession that the British
soldiers shot and killed King Hintsa, ...
IsiXhosa:
Aah! Zanzolo! ...

 
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English:
... of the amaXhosa Kingdom. King Hintsa was a great supporter
of the great war General of amaXhosa, Chief Maqoma kaNgqika.
IsiXhosa:
Aah! Jong’umsobomvu!
English:
The British not only shot and killed the king on the banks of
Nqabara river, they also beheaded him and took his head as a
trophy back to Britain. His head has never been repatriated
back to his native land to this day.
When we speak of culture and heritage in the context of
neocolonial arrangement, such as the one we have in this
country, we speak about this brutal history of land
dispossession. We speak about the uprooting of people’s
humanity. We speak about displacement. We speak about erasure.
True national culture can only be claimed back when we when
everything that was lost is returned back to the people.
We also acknowledge that today would have been the 92nd
birthday of Professor Mazisi Kunene, who was born on 12 of May

 
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1930. Professor Kunene is one of many distinguished literary
giants produced by our country’s long struggle against
colonialism and apartheid, and has produced the timeless works
of literature, chief among which was Emperor Shaka the Great
in which he documents the life story of Ilembe, King Shaka of
the amaZulu Nation. Perhaps it is most important to go back to
one of Professor Kunene’s timeless poems titled, Lelo Lihlo
Lethu which goes as follows:
IsiZulu:
Kuzobe kuyilihlo elifunayo
Eliyobe libona ububanzi bethu
Bona bungezintaba ezimangelengele
Bona bungezimpophoma ezidilika zilandelana
Bona bungamahlathi ahlobise ngamahlamvu
Sengishaya phansi ngenduku yami yenganekwane
Sekuvela imithombo kuvela abantu
Kuvela bona abalandikazi bezindaba
It is important that we cite this poem today because we are
led by a Minister and a department, that has lost the ability
to see and acknowledge great strides made by South African
artists and cultural icons through history up to this day.

 
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Some of our country’s brilliant literally icons such a
Professor Ntongela Masilela, died still exiled without any
recognition from the country of their birth, despite the
invaluable work they have done in documenting the country’s
literary and cultural evolution.
This department has over the years failed to protect the
interests of not just literary giants, but artists who have
for generations been used and exploited by production
companies who continue to benefit from the works of these
artists to this day. The belated attempt by the Department of
Trade, Industry and Competition to tighten, legislate for the
protection of intellectual property rights for artists is
simply not enough to offer full protection to those who have
been displaced and exploited for generations.
The sad manner in which the department handled the devastation
brought to artists by COVID-19 restrictions, will remain a
very dark plight on the way the department is prepared to take
care of the interests of those in the creative industry.
Today, many creatives stand to lose their homes because they
have been unable to make a living over the past couple of
years. The department has not lifted a finger to assist. The

 
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less said about the sport, the better. There is no coherent
program on the sport development, led and co-ordinated by the
department across all sporting codes dominated by African
people.
Rugby, cricket and other sporting codes that have been
historically dominated by whites, are dependent on the deep
pockets of white businesses. There is no co-ordination between
the Department of Basic Education to ensure that there is an
ongoing programme of school sports. Football is still led by
that corrupt fossil called Danny Jordaan who has not initiated
not a single development in this country. The EFF rejects this
Budget, because it is it does not address any of the issues
that are critical in the development of sports in this
country. Thank you Chairperson.
Mr B N LUTHULI: Chairperson, careful review of this budget
allocation for this department, has raised a few concerns when
compared department strategic goals. One of these said goals
is seeking new ways of founding strategic co-operation by the
by mobilising the resources, knowledge, activities and concern
of all role-players to increase their cohesion on a
partnership basis. Whilst the department provides an overview

 
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of the activities it would like to support through arts,
culture and sport, it does not make use of the historical
investment it has made in the people.
Part of this seeking new ways in forming the strategic ...
[Inaudible] ... request that the department be present on the
ground and engage with the artists, culture and promoters and
athletics to understand the challenges people face in
effectively pursuing their interest and reaching the highest
level in the in their field. For example, in previous fast-
tracking programmes in supporting athletes who had been part
of the programme, but did not see full success, should be
consulted to understand the challenges faced so that, the
department may position its budget more effectively in
addressing the difficulties for the previous disadvantaged
groups.
We have also seen that many of the rural areas are still
without facilities to practice art, culture and sport. Yet
these activities are very important in addressing some of the
country’s biggest problems such as, the high rate of teenage
pregnancy and substance abuse. The department has missed the
mark in forming the collaboration of the strategic

 
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collaborations to take these two issues into account, and in
not reaching out for former participants of the fast track
programme. A programme designed for further participation for
sharing their skills and talent with all sectors of the
department especially in the rural areas, should have created
in invaluable partnership while speaking skills transfer to
the much forgotten rural forgotten rural areas.
In closing Chair, I must raise the alarm regarding the lack of
transparency without the department’s sporting codes in the
rural areas. The department tells us that, it gives the
provinces money to facilitate their activities such as sport,
yet I do not see any activity in our rural area. If the
department allocates money, it must be reported on the special
programme that is understood to fund. The provincial
department must publish a weekly notice that details the
activities that take place, and what is being funded so that
local residents can access this. This is still an unacceptable
bias in the funding which is skew ... [Interjections]
...communities. Thank you.
Mr T W MHLONGO: Thank you, Chairperson, ...

 
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IsiZulu:
... ngithanda ukubonga umsebenzi owenziwa ubaba uFreddy
Nyathela.
English:
We acknowledge the work that you are doing in Newtown.
IsiZulu:
Siyabonga baba uNyathela we-South African Roads Association.
English:
Your development of young people is recognised and
acknowledged.
IsiZulu:
Ngale sabelomali ngeke sifeze amaphupho abantu bethu.
English:
With this current budget, the current government cannot
realise fight against poverty, especially in the sector. This
budget is not worth the paper it’s written on. This government
is not taking the sector seriously. The ANC does not
prioritise our artists. The ANC government has failed to

 
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support our artists during COVID-19. We note that our people
have lost hope in the ANC administration. All artists are
lamenting over Minister Nathi Mthethwa’ s silence, lack of
empathy for the cultural and creative industry of South
Africa. It is shocking how the ANC government is playing an
accounting of the mismanagement of fund the Presidential
Employment Stimulus Programme, PESP, relief funding. They use
pictures rather than bank accounts.
IsiZulu:
Bathatha izithombe, bathathe nemali, babamise abantu ukuthi
basitshengise ukuthi imalini.
English:
How can you account? Do you call that proper accounting? The
fact is unlawful, corrupt confidential settlement between the
National Art Council, NAC, and the former CEO has disregarded
the PFMA and the National Art Council. Theatres cannot survive
with the continuing threats of closing down due to COVID-19.
This 50% capacity must stop.
Sport has the power to change South Africa, but the Minister
and his department’s action hold it back. Chairperson, we have

 
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a Minister that is not developing sport. He has remained
silent and quiet regarding the payment of R21 million for
SAFA. NEC members will be buying votes. They are paying
themselves. Why Minister you so silent? Each NEC member will
be getting a bonus of R520 000. It’s uncalled for, and
Minister ...
IsiZulu:
... uthulile.
English:
We want administrators that will put South Africa first not
self-centred administrators. No, no, no to selfishness and
self-interest! SAFA is not respecting our former players.
Soccer won’t be better in South Africa if our former players
are not part of SAFA. I support Doctor Khumalo’s view on this
issue. SAFA must use this money to develop sports in rural
areas, Dutshwa and Lusikisiki.
We should ensure that we focus to make sports events
infrastructure safe, accessible and available to everyone. We
note that I have submitted several parliamentary questions to
the Minister, he is not responsive, always stating that still

 
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sourcing the information. We have been waiting for answers
regarding the department’s legal battle of the late Mama
Miriam Makeba’ s trustees, since November 2021. It is clear
that the Minister has dropped the ball. Question the Minister
regarding SIFSA’s R5 million, which was spent to date; since
2021 we’ve asked questions and the Minister says he’s
verifying information.
IsiZulu:
Kwenzakalani?
English:
Are you still verifying information even today or you are
hiding information for us? It has been now six months since
you claimed that South African Rugby Union need additional
time to answer our question. How much more time do you need
Minister? Chairperson, how can you expect the Minister of the
ANC to manage our money? He cannot even manage sports and the
sector.
IsiZulu:
Lamasela lawa.

 
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English:
The Auditor-General has raised concern over weak internal
controls, especially in the department and its entity. One of
its entities is Boxing South Africa. Due to maladministration,
not adhering to supply chain management, irregularity, the CEO
was suspended and they appointed an acting CEO before, she
also resigned.
IsiZulu:
Kwenzakalani?
English:
Corruption, ...
IsiZulu:
... umkhonyovu ...
English:
...at its best. This resulted in instability in the
leadership of boxing South Africa. Building stadium -
R15 million was used to build an ANC municipality stadium in
the Eastern Cape.

 
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IsiZulu:
Le ndaba inkulu kakhulu.
English:
The Enoch Mgijima Municipality recently unveiled that they
built a stadium worth R50 million, but the real cost was
R5 million. What happened to the rest of the money Minister?
The ANC government has nothing to do ...
IsiZulu:
... ukuthi bazoxazulula umkhonyovu.
English:
The ANC administrators did nothing, “dololo”, besides this,
they have brought our once beloved South Africa to its knee.
The department is not adhering to the Division of Revenue Act.
An irregular expenditure of R90 million has occurred. The AG
has raised concern regarding audit report findings. The
department is not adhering to the regulation. Where are the
details of the Social Justice and Nation-Building Commission,
Minister?
IsiZulu:

 
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Kwenzakalani ...
English:
... with Cricket South Africa? They have dropped the ball. I
think the chairperson of the committee is out of touch with
the issues. Those hearings were a flop. Unemployment has
risen, the department has nothing to do to address the issue.
They advertise, advertise shortlist, shortlist and there is no
action.
IsiZulu:
Ngale sabelomali ngeke zifezeke izidingo zabo, abantu bethu
babone amaphupho abo afezeka.
English:
With this current budget, we cannot win the fight against
poverty. Under the ANC government there is no prosperity in
sport, arts and culture. Building of sports infrastructure in
poor communities will not be realised. It’s a pipe dream under
the ANC government. Apartheid spatial planning will remain a
thing of present after 28 years into our democracy.
IsiZulu:

 
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Kuyawuhlala kunje.
English:
This leaves us with following question: What did you do ANC?
IsiZulu:
Nenzeni ...
English:
... to make ensure that our sports facility infrastructure
that caters for all disabled people? The answer is nothing.
IsiZulu:
Ananzenga lutho. ... [Kwaphela isikhathi.] [Ubuwelewele.]
The HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Mr C T Frolick): Hon Mhlongo, your time
has expired long time ago and you simply continued.
Ms H DENNER: House Chairperson, for the 2022-23 financial year
the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture are focusing on a
number of priorities, which include, amongst others,
opportunities to drive the ever present transformation agenda,
the identification and development of historically

 
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marginalised and underresourced provinces who do not have
theatre facilities - while existing theatre facilities are in
a deplorable state and deteriorating more and more by the day.
Many examples come to mind. The most glaring of which is
probably PACOFS in the Free State. Supporting the professional
sport system by ensuring that talent is encouraged to emerge
from all communities in an equitable way, then nurturing and
supporting it. Seeking ways to form strategic collaboration by
mobilising resources - hopefully not into the pockets of those
who don’t deserve it as we have seen during the entire COVID-
19 pandemic as well as before and after it; and, of cause, the
promotion of national symbols and heritage sites, social
cohesion and nation-building. We want key projects in this
programme, is the construction of the monumental flag.
Afrikaans:
Agb Voorsitter, ek het al vele kere in die verlede na die
verkeerde prioriteite van hierdie departement verwys, maar
hierdie moet die toppunt van verkeerde prioriteite wees.
English:
This monumental flag project, which is set to cost around
R22 million and the departments own words: “the flag needs to

 
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be highly recognised by citizens - as if it’s not - and has
the potential to unite people as it becomes a symbol unity and
common identity.” I fail to see, how, yet another white
elephant project on top of a 100-meter pole that cost the
country millions of rands while citizens are jobless,
homeless, hungry and living in abject poverty will stop the
flames of national pride.
In this day and age, after just getting through a pandemic
that has just literally devastated the arts and culture
industry in South Africa, I dare say, it is a slap in the face
of artists and other practitioners in the industry. To spend
millions of rands on a flag and flagpole in the name of social
cohesion building and nation-building -this is scandalous.
Afrikaans:
Dit is ’n skande! Julle behoort julle te skaam!
English:
Speaking of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the department
long term plans will be developed to focus on job
opportunities and come up with sustainable interventions to
prevent the loss of income in this sector. The words

 
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sustainable interventions and prevention of loss are often
used by the department, but what happens in practise is far
from a rosy picture. I also fail to see how long-term plans
will be successful if the short-term interventions such as the
R300 million emergency fund allocated to the department by the
PESP and administered by the National Arts Council did not
find its way to struggling artists but into the pockets of
council members.
House Chairperson, one of the department’s priorities, as I
have mentioned is supporting the professional sports system by
ensuring that talent is encouraged to emerge from all
communities in an equitable way, then nurtured and supported.
This priority is largely covered by Programme 2, which
according to the department should predominantly contribute to
a diverse, socially cohesive society with a common national
identity. Once again, it looks wonderful on paper but is the
furthest thing from the truth in practice because this
department itself, under the leadership of the Minister,
through its words and actions promote the exact opposite.
Afrikaans:

 
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Kyk maar na die Minister se uitsprake oor sekere burgers se
erfenis. Die vlamme van verdeling word aangeblaas deur te
insinueer dat die totaliteit van Afrikaner erfenis,
byvoorbeeld boos is. Voorts, word die stok van eiegeregtige
rassistiese oordeel tog te maklik uitgepluk om prominente wit
sportlui by te kom, sonder om vooraf deeglike en redelike
ondersoek te doen. Die gevolglike reputasie, finansiële en
emosionele skade, nadat sodanige aantygings ’n muis gebaar
het, soos wat ons nou gesien het, is onmeetbaar, om nie eers
te praat van die skade wat aan die departement se eie
doelwitte van nasiebou en sosiale kohesie gedoen word nie.
Nee, Voorsitter, hierdie departement slaag nie eers in sy
primêre doel van nasiebou en vereniging nie. Hy sluit uit,
marginaliseer, diskrimineer, verkleineer, verneder, wanbestee
en prioritiseer verkeerd, en daarom kan geen begroting onder
sy toesig slaag nie. Ek dank u.
The DEPUTY MINISTER OF SPORT, ARTS AND CULTURE: Thank you very
much Chairperson, greetings to the minister of Sports, Arts
and Culture, the hon Nathi Mthethwa, all the Ministers and
Deputy Ministers that are on the platform, Chairperson of the
Portfolio Committee, Ms Beauty Dlulane, hon members, MECs who
are on the platform and the speaker of the KwaZulu-Natal

 
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legislature, director-generals and officials of the
department, chairpersons and chief executive officers of our
public entities, distinguished guests, members of the media,
ladies and gentlemen, a year ago when we presented our
department’s Budget Vote, our country was battling the COVID-
19 pandemic, with no end in sight.
This year we met following the devastating floods in KwaZulu-
Natal and the incalculable loss of lives and livelihoods. We
are well aware that our sporting and recreation facilities
were not spared when looking at the overall damage to
infrastructure. As a resilient people, however, we are fully
committed to mobilising all our available resources in the
quest to rebuilding lives. Our thoughts and prayers are also
extended to those parts of the Eastern Cape and the North West
that faced similar fate, as well as the victims of the fires
in Langa, Cape Town.
During the 2022 state of the nation address, the President
spoke of the need to forge a social compact, that will not
only set this country on a growth and development path, but
would also ensure that South Africa, over a period of time, is
socially integrated inclusively, and that all have a fairer

 
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chance in life. As the President said, this will require a
compact among and between key sectors in society so that the
goal of uniting South Africa becomes the responsibility of
all.
Social cohesion and nation-building remains one of the apex
priorities of the sixth administration ... [Inaudible.] ...
given to this department as a champion of the government’s
programme of action on social cohesion. Part of the exercise
in this first quarter of this current financial year will be
to complete the mid-term review as per standard guidelines
from the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation in
terms of management of government’s priorities and outcomes.
We are happy to report that we are on course to finalising the
social combat for social cohesion and nation-building, whose
building blocks were provided at the 2020 national Social
Compact Convention, with subsequent engagements with other
stakeholders still going on. In making social cohesion a
societal undertaking, it is important that there is one
message, many voices and multiple platforms. In that regard,
we will continue giving support whether technical or financial

 
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to advocacy platforms for social cohesion as created by social
cohesion advocates.
Social cohesion advocates are an independent brigade appointed
by Minister to foster cohesion at the basic level of the
community. These are volunteers who utilise their passion,
experience and expertise for ... [Inaudible.] ... about social
cohesion on behalf of government. For this financial year, we
are committing R15 million in support of no less than 20
advocates platform by our social cohesion advocates.
Part of the intention, however, in this new financial year, is
to strengthen the capacity development component in our
dialogues so that communities are left with the assistive
tools to sustain the dialogues beyond the initial intervention
by the department. In this financial year, we will commit
about R7,8 million towards the dialogue programmes. We would
like you to note that as part of the social cohesion
programme, our department continues to be committed to the
National Strategic Plan, NSP, on Gender-Based Violence and
Femicide.

 
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We will continue to make a contribution to the NSP through two
of the six pillars identifies, namely the prevention and
rebuilding social cohesion pillar and response, care, support
and healing pillar. Part of the strategy is not to have stand-
alone interventions on gender-based violence and femicide, but
rather to also endeavour to integrate this ... [Inaudible.]
... trust across all programmes so as to leverage on available
resources for maximum impact.
We will continue focusing on hotspot areas identified by the
District Development Model mechanism as was the case with our
recent activation in Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape which is
cited to be one of the major hotspots in the country when it
comes to gender-based violence.
We have been encouraged by the level of scrutiny given to the
moral regeneration programme, looking at the number of
parliamentary questions in this first half of the year alone.
In terms of our obligations to the moral regeneration movement
which is the implementing agent for moral regeneration
programme. We have committed R4,5 million this current
financial year and this is a commitment in line with the
three-year memorandum of agreement between our department and

 
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the moral regeneration movement. The special plea is that
other sectors such as the religious fraternity, organised
business and civil society to also join hands with us in
supporting this noble project. There are provincial chapters
that needs support and need not be on finances only.
On the issue of sport, sport can be used as a vehicle to
foster cohesion, peaceful coexistence and neutral solidarity
in our communities and thus we will spare no effort in
employing sport in support of this broader national
imperatives, ensuring that South Africa progressively becomes
a socially integrated and inclusive society. For this to be
realised, transformation of this sector has to continue to top
the agenda of our department.
According to the eminent person, the country is making some
strides in the transformation of the sector, although there
are still some areas of concern. For instance, the ongoing
gender inequality in all areas and at all levels of sport are
a cause for concern. Softball can be singled out as the number
one transformed sports code. Of course, rugby is one of the
borderline cases, showing some progress but not stable. As far
as cricket is concerned, the department has intervened to

 
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stabilise government and we are happy so far. There is still
more work to be done though. The other codes are work in
progress.
As the department, we have noted with concern the resistance
from some quotas but we will continue to engage. Our intention
this year is to deploy the recently launched programme of the
sport ambassadors to provide the necessary support to school
sports programme. By so doing, we can accelerate the footprint
of participation to reach as many schools and learners as
possible.
We are also committed to work closely with the recently
established SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee,
Sascoc, Gender Equity Commission, on gender issues and
transformation as part of strengthening our transformation
efforts.
One of the country’s most significant accolades was the
decision by World Netball to grant South Africa host status
for the 2023 World Cup event. This decision was taken against
strong opposition from developed countries, some of which have
hosted the event before. This honour by World Netball to

 
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entrust the hosting of their most precious event to the
African continent for the first time in 63 years is more
opportunity for us to unite the country through the medium of
sport.
On our side, we have committed some R30 million for each of
the three years leading to 2023. A board to organise the event
is already in place, management staff is being appointed,
broadcasters and sponsors have been secured, a netball
campaign is in motion, all things that point to a positive
state of readiness. An interministerial committee has also
been formed to ensure full and comprehensive support.
Active Nation is a programme that comprises school sport and
mass participation. Regarding mass participation, the delivery
of mass participation programme presently rests with the
provincial departments through an annual conditional grant
from the national department. The department is very thankful
to be able to have implemented the following five active
recreation programmes, albeit under strict COVID-19 risk-
adjusted strategy. The Move for Health, the Nelson Mandela
Sport and Culture day, National Recreation Day, Big Walk and
the National Youth Camp. The National Youth Camp was held at

 
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each of the nine provinces with attendances of no less than
200 youth at each side.
We are also glad to have successfully held this year’s
National Indigenous Games Festival at the province of KwaZulu-
Natal, the same host province for the SA Sports Awards. The
national department in conjunction with the provincial
departments were able to utilise the conditional grant to see
more than three hundred thousand people participating in sport
and recreation events.
With regard to school sports, despite the limited success in
driving the co-operation envisaged in the memorandum of
understanding between our department and the Department of
Basic Education, we still managed to increase access to sport
on the part of the learners through initiatives like the
National School Sports Championships. We also are very happy
to actually report that the Edendale Technical Girls High
School team which participated in the African Champions
football came second. This was held in the Democratic republic
of Congo, DRC. But also the team from Eletsa School in Brits
didn’t do so well, but this bodes well in terms of making sure

 
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that the school sports become something that everybody becomes
proud of.
On achievements, ... [Inaudible.] ... have participated in
district championships. We have accommodated the participation
of learners in the National School Sports Championships with a
total of about 2 714 participating at the Bloemfontein,
Germiston, Pretoria ... [Inaudible.] ... of competition. We
have allocated financial support of approximately R114 million
to 61 nonprofit institutions.
Additionally, the department supported the Boxing SA strategy
workshop, whose aims included the repositioning of the
organisation to be attractive to new boxers, broadcasters and
sponsors - creating opportunities for women boxers, preventing
the exploitation of boxers and the formalising of a memorandum
of understanding with the SA National Amateur Boxing
Organisation.
On winning nation, following the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympic
and Paralympic Games, Team SA participated in the games when
they eventually took place in July and August 2021. Due to
several limitations, including the pandemic, team preparation

 
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was not as intense as it should have been for participation at
this highest level. For the record, Team SA ended up winning
three medals at the olympics, and seven at the paralympics.
These results placed Team SA at position 52 at the olympics
and position 34 at the paralympics.
In subsequent discussion with Sascoc President, Mr Barry
Hendricks, we all agreed that the results were not a true
reflection of available local talent. And to that end, we
committed ourselves to do all we can to evaluate the
performances, identify blind spots to be better prepared for
future games. We also want to agree that the olympics and
paralympics games were followed by successes in other sports
codes, including the SA Rugby swift victory against British
and Irish Lions, Blitzbokke winning streaks, Cricket SA’s
victory against India, and football exploits through Banyana
Banyana and Mamelodi Sundowns who became the first club in the
continent to have won the Confederation of African Football,
CAF, Champions League for both males and females. Who can
forget the South Africa’s women cricket team, the Proteas,
which went up to the semifinals in the world cup in New
Zealand.

 
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Regarding infrastructure, we report that we provided no less
than 2 513 schools, hubs and clubs with the required sport
facilities and gear. We have supported 29 municipalities
through the ring-fenced municipal infrastructure grant at a
total cost of 252 million. We have delivered six outdoor gyms
and children’s play parks in settlements across the country in
terms of the National Development Plan. We have handed over
outdoor gyms and children’s play parks to some municipalities.
We have launched a multipurpose sports court at Luthayi High
School at Hammarsdale in KwaZulu-Natal as a legacy in honour
of the Proteas Netball Team Captain, Ms Bongiwe Msomi, leaving
a netball world cup legacy in the form of netball playing
facilities. Of course, work continues, and we will leave no
one behind. We wish to make sure that at this point in time,
sport becomes a better sport for all South Africans. Chair, I
therefore humbly commend this House to pass this Budget as
tabled. I thank member for their attention. Ndiyabulela
kakhulu [Thank you very much].
Mr M A ZONDI: Thank you, hon House Chair. Hon Minister, hon
Deputy Minister, hon members and fellow South Africans. We
thank the opportunity to partake in this debate this

 
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afternoon. We debate Budget Vote 37 of Sports, Arts and
Culture at a time when our sports sector has been reopened and
all sports lovers and permitted to attend sports games despite
a limited number.
We yearn for a time in which the pandemic would have subsided
for the full resumption of sport supporters attending games in
stadiums without limitation. This had a negative impact on the
sports economy and in the ecosystem, but it is a necessary
restriction under conditions of the coronavirus pandemic. The
current rapid increase of coronavirus infections reflects the
correctness of the restrictions which currently exist. Sports
is only positive for economic development but it also has the
potential but has a potential to bring together diverse groups
and create a socially cohesive society with a common national
identity.
We need to develop a sports social compact focusing on
developing grassroots sports. In order to build this culture
in our country, it is critical that we begin at grassroots
level through ensuring that all our learners in schools
participate in sports and support those with competitive
skills for the professional development. Hon members, the

 
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community sports teams which are active in the majority of our
communities demonstrate that our people yearn to be active.
With the mobilisation of private sector and sports social
partners, we should pull in funds at the grassroots level for
them to benefit.
In order to increase effort, this budget targets supporting
70 000 learners to participate in the district school sports
championships and 5 000 learners in the national school sports
championship and providing equipments and attire to 2 500
schools, hubs and clubs by March 2023. This would make a very
huge difference, hon Minister. You will remember that our
federations and the people of South Africa yearn to have been
this initiative of school sport reactivated. We thank you for
this that you are not only talking ...
IsiZulu:
... njengoba abanye bethi ...
English:
... you are silent but you are doing what the people of South
Africa are yearning to know. This will assist the youth and
intervention by the department will improve the quality of the

 
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sports sector and encourage the youth to be proud of
themselves and be committed to playing sports. When last have
we had often an outstanding player in the national team who
was identified through school tournament? I think in this
current financial year we will be able to identify few if not
many of players that will be representing our country at
different levels and in different codes.
We should ensure that we have adequate sports scouts who are
able to identify competitive and skilled young players to
streamline them for professional development. We cannot reduce
sports for only competition or market influence on its
development, but we should promote sports for recreational
purposes. In order to realise this objective of an active
nation, we need to address the spatial inequalities by
ensuring that municipal spatial planning and human settlement
developments includes sporting facilities and recreational
paths which are accessible and close to residents.
Program 2 of the Budget Vote responds to the need of creating
an active nation through the mass participation and sport
development grant which is allocated R471 million for the
current financial year. On the infrastructure gaps, the

 
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department Budget Vote will be constructing 10 community gyms,
10 playing ... [Inaudible.] ... 10 multipurpose courts by
March 2023. This is a huge task ahead of us. However, we are
also glad that South Africans can even see that the Minister
who is said to be silent, is delivering to his mandate in the
department.
The consistent maintenance of these facilities is paramount if
we are to create enabling environment for their continuous
use. We call on our communities to make the most of these
facilities and ensure that communities protect these
facilities through awareness and partnerships. Hon Minister,
in order to accelerate this programme, it will be critical
that we mobilise all sport stakeholders to join hands in
social compact. One of the nation’s pride is our national
teams in; athletics, soccer, rugby, cricket and other sporting
codes. Therefore, providing support for the early sports
person who raise our flag globally is critical.
The Budget Vote will support 800 early athletes with
scientific support services and that is encouraging. We also
await the hosting of the South African sports awards, the
ministerial outstanding sports performance accolades and

 
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Andrew Mlangeni Green Jacket Awards and honoring women in
sports awards because these events appreciate, promote and
acknowledge the excellence of our sports person. We salute
Precious Mthembu who is one of the great players who has
represented the Spar Proteas Netball Team after 97 caps in the
green and gold. She wore the dress with 100% pride. As a
nation, we cannot wait to welcome the world as host of the
Netball World Cup in 2023.
South Africans are ready to display their culture and to
support the Netball World Cup. We distinguish ourselves
globally and have the capacity to host international
competition. We welcome the continuous support the department
provides on antidoping which is critical for fairness in
sports and the department should create awareness in the
sports sector ... [Time expired.] ... Thank you, hon Chair.
The ANC supports Budget Vote 37. Thank you.
Mr S M JAFTA: Thank you, hon Chair. This Budget Vote comes at
a time when the preservation of our heritage as an indigenous
culture couldn’t have been more urgent. Indigenous knowledge
systems and ways of living of the indigenous people must
constantly be affirmed and promoted. Part of this budget, in

 
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our view, must be geared towards giving impetus to the
indigenous peoples’ pulse of creative spirit. Part of this
empowerment will require the department to build libraries in
rural areas.
We must also use this budget to promote social cohesion,
national reconciliation, Africanism and the celebration of
national symbols such as the national flag; the national
anthem and the Coat of Arms. Hon Chair, part of promoting
social cohesion is to place indigenous languages on an equal
footing with other languages. The department through the
National Heritage Resource Agency, must get its priorities
right in this regard. We really don’t understand why it has
taken long for the agency to declare Matatiela a nodal point
given its historical significance in the liberation history of
this country.
We also wish to advise the Ministry that its flagship programs
must support emerging artists and performers in rural areas
like; KwaMashu, Khayelitsha, Seshego and many other poverty-
stricken areas. We must not leave behind the living legends in
this budget. Patrick Shai, for instance, did not deserve to
die in a solitude when the department has a living legend

 
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trust fund. In closing, hon Chair, we wish to sing high
praises to the formidable works that former Minister Pallo
Jordan, started under this Ministry. He rewrote the script on
the course of human history in the arts of culture and
industry. The AIC will support this Budget Vote. I thank you.
Ms V VAN DYK: Hon Chairperson, members of the House, Minister
Mthethwa, I want to start by asking; how serious are you and the
department really about transformation in sport in South Africa?
When last did you meet with the Minister of Basic Education to
discuss the Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, between the two
departments on school sport, which was intended to implement ‘An
Integrated School Sport Framework’? This MoU was signed in 2011
and reviewed in 2017, but 11 years later South Africa still has
a dysfunctional school sports system.
In terms of transformation, we need to get the basics right. The
2018-19 EPG Sport Federation Transformation Status Report
reflects that less than 10% of schools in the country are doing
sports. Transformation on grass root level will not happen
without the implementation of the MoU, proper budget allocation,

 
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or addressing the lack of sports infrastructure at the school
level.
Afrikaans:
Armoede en ongelykheid as gevolg van ’n korrupte regering wat
uit voeling is met die mense op grondvlak het sleutelkwessies
geword wat billike toegang tot deelname aan sport raak. Daar
is geen behoorlike ondersteuning vir atlete in histories
benadeelde agtergronde en landelike gebiede nie – ’n probleem
wat ons gereeld in die Noord-Kaap, met sy lang afstande, ook
ervaar.
English:
The SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee, Sascoc,
yearly receives only R110 million for all 80 federations. This
should be considered before setting targets for transformation.
This money is not enough and is the reason why many federations
are dysfunctional. How does this even support elite athletes for
the Olympics?
This allocation further does not go to athletes, but rather to
the administration. Smaller federations fending for themselves,
like basketball and softball, have to rely on volunteers. How

 
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are national federations, especially the smaller ones, required
to implement transformation in sport, given that they receive
less than 2% of the department's budget? The budget for Programme
2: Recreation Development and Sport Promotion has been reduced
– not to the benefit of athletes.
Afrikaans:
Die 2020 Olimpiese Spele is nie geprioritiseer nie. Die SA
Sportkonfederasie en Olimpiese Komitee, Saskok, moes op
Lottery befondsing staatmaak om te verseker dat Suid-Afrika na
die Spele kon gaan. Die Verenigde Koninkryk het reeds
£246 miljoen vir die volgende Olimpiese Spele wat oor twee
jaar in Parys plaasvind, belê. Wat het dié departement tot
dusver belê en watter ondersteuning ontvang ons atlete? Ook
ons gestremde atlete.
English:
We can only hope that money has been ring fenced this time,
including bonuses for winning athletes, which was previously
only paid because of media pressure.
The DA wants to see our children be free to participate in sports
in a healthy and safe environment, free of discrimination,

 
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abuse, or sexual violence. Safeguarding policies should be
prioritised and implemented. Coaches need to be registered, like
educators. An independent Sports Integrity Unit should be
established to address safeguarding, the SA Institute for Drug
Free Sport, Saids, and match-fixing issues.
Afrikaans:
Volgens die Ouditeur-generaal se aanbieding oor oudituitkomste
van die portefeulje oor die tydperk 2019-20 tot 2020-21, het
vyf geouditeerdes in hul oudituitkoms agteruitgegaan. Die
Nasionale Kunsteraad, Oorlogsmuseum van die Boererepublieke en
die SA Erfenishulpbronagentskap, SAEHA, het voorheen
ongekwalifiseerde oudits met geen bevindinge, dit wil sê skoon
oudits, ontvang, maar moes nou met gekwalifiseerd met
bevindings tevrede wees. Die SA Staatsteater en Nasionale
film-en Videostigting het van gekwalifiseerd met bevindinge na
gekwalifiseerd teruggesak.
English:
The audit outcome does not necessarily provide an accurate
indication of the prevailing climate within the organisation.
The staff of Iziko Museums have been battling with management

 
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to correct several issues that have contributed to low staff
morale, including parity in terms of salary and benefits.
Afrikaans:
By die Bloemfontein museum, Robbeneiland Museum, sowel as die
Nasionale Biblioteek van Suid-Afrika is daar ook
ontevredenheid onder personeel. Die Nasionale Biblioteek se
hofstryd speel al vir jare uit. Soortgelyke probleme is
ondervind by ander entiteite, insluitend SAEHA en die
Performing Arts Centre of the Free State, PACOFS. Alhoewel dit
gesien kan word as kwessies wat verband hou met menslike
hulpbronbestuur, wonder ’n mens tot watter mate dit
dienslewering beïnvloed.
Die litigerende aard van die sektor as gevolg van
disfunksionele entiteite en rade is kommerwekkend. Openbare
fondse word gebruik om forensiese verslae te bekom en vir
hofgevegte. Die vertragings rondom die voltooiing van
erfenisprojekte, soos die Sarah Baartman Sentrum van
Herinnering en die Winnie Mandela-huis, is ook baie
kommerwekkend. Bestuur moet streng projekmonitering en
bestuursmaatreëls implimenteer om onnodige eskalasiekoste en
verliese te vermy. Die Ouditeur-generaal het reflekteer dat ’n

 
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kultuur van gevolgebestuur ontbreek. Die Ouditeur-generaal het
twee sleutelbevindings met betrekking tot die Presidential
Employment Stimulus Programme, PESP, gemaak, naamlik dat die
Nasionale Kunsteraad in sommige van die aansoeke nie die
regulasies toegepas het nie en die begroting oorskry het, wat
tot onreëlmatige uitgawes gelei het.
English:
The National Arts Council, NAC, needs to explain how they reached
a confidential settlement with suspended CEO, Rosemary Mangope,
who resigned amidst a disciplinary process, which involved
maladministration of public funds at the height of Covid-19
difficulties.
The state of the economy along with the continued so-called
“triple challenge” (poverty, inequality, and unemployment)
hampers the arts from truly flourishing. The department should
address the ongoing plight of cultural and creative workers,
which was worsened by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The DA questions the matter of transformation of the Arts and
Culture sector – one of the aims of the implementation of the
White Paper. Transformation not only refers to the demographic

 
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transformation of staff and/or professionals but also audience
development and transformation. Improved arts education in
public schools could partially address this. Oversight has
however revealed that the department's “Artists in Schools”
programme in partnership with the Department of Basic Education,
is sometimes regarded as an extra-mural and not given the space,
time, and energy that it is intended to get.
The Sports, Arts and Culture sectors in South Africa deserve a
true commitment from the government to create an enabling
environment for real transformation – not just empty promises
for populist a few.
Afrikaans:
Ek dank u.
Ms V P MALOMANE: Thank you, hon Chair. Greetings to you,
Chair, our hon Minister and Deputy Minister, hon members and
fellow South Africans, building an introspective sport and
creative economy through equitable accesses and support. The
sport and the creative sector are not just recreational and
social but they are critical economic sector, which sustains
livelihoods and contributes to economic development.

 
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The sport and creative sector is also not immune to the
socioeconomic structural challenges, which have an impact on
the type of opportunities a person get.
A sportsman from a rural area with underdeveloped facilities
and a sportsperson who lives in urban area with adequate sport
facilities in their communities and schools will compete in an
unequal footing. This is so because in order to be competitive
at a national and international level.
Sportsperson should have adequate facilities to train and
receive support which enables them and harness their
capabilities. The art and the creative sector requires artist
to be supported to access platforms which will enable
promotion of the work produced in a manner that sustains their
livelihoods due to the work produced by the artists.
A writer without support to publish will struggle to sustain
themselves as a writer. And a singer without studio access to
produce their music will not realise the economic benefit of
their abilities. A painter or a sculpture without access to
the international trade markets will not co-optimise the
economic benefit of their produces.

 
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Hon members, the portfolio committee received an important
study from the entity of the Department of Sport, Arts and
Culture. The SA Cultural Observatory, which conduct research
on how the cultural and creative industries contribute to the
gross domestic product and the gross domestic product growth,
employment, transformation and international trade and
provides a basis for evidence-based policy development.
The SA Cultural Observatory conducted a mapping study in 2021.
The study reflects that the cultural and creative industries
contributes 2,97% to the gross domestic product of our
country.
Hon members, this is a significant contribution. And as the
ANC, we have urged the department to steer the sector into a
trajectory of economic growth.
Acting HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms T M Joemat-Petterson): My
apologies, hon Malomane, for interrupting you. Hon Shaik Emam,
you have your hand up. Is that a point of order?

 
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Mr A M SHAIK EMAM: No, Chairperson, I was on another debate. I
was just reminding you that I am back on the platform if I
will get another opportunity. I am sorry for that.
Acting HOUSE CHAIRPERSON (Ms T M Joemat-Petterson): Thank you,
hon Shaik Emam. My apologies, you may continue, hon Malumane.
Ms V P MALOMANE: Thank you, hon Chair. The study further
reflected the inequalities of a trajectory of economic growth.
The study further said the economic activity amongst different
provinces reflecting a dominant of Gauteng contributing 46,5%
followed by KwaZulu-Natal, followed by the Western Cape while
the other provinces are relatively low.
The creative economy account for 6% of all jobs in South
Africa translating to one million jobs. Some of the
inequalities we need to address in the creative sector is the
skewed distribution of international trade of cultural and
creative goods and services. Despite the Western Cape having a
lower share of GDP contribution, it constitutes 53,1% of the
export while Gauteng account for 32,4%. The department should
use this important report to streamline support to address the
inequalities in the sector.

 
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We welcome the expansion of the scope of the SA Cultural
Observatory to also conduct research on the sport sector.
We need to accelerate the transformation of the sport,
cultural and creative economy to enable equal opportunities
for all South Africans, particularly for the poor and
historically disadvantaged. The Coronavirus pandemic has
exposed the fragility of the cultural and creative sector and
its vulnerability to different shots.
As the saying goes a crisis offers an opportunity. Digital
transformation has permitted all economic sectors and the
department through this vote should prioritise leveraging
online platforms and other digital innovation, which can
empower artists to develop and create substances from their
craft. Digital platforms have created ease of access to
various audiences, which without artists wouldn’t reach in
them.
A lot of focus have been developed during the pandemic period
creating income for artists and many artists have become major
influencers due to social media platforms and other digital
platforms.

 
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The art and creative sector are a critical component of the
digital economy as the creative are the key component of the
creators. The National Film and Video Foundation is an
important entity in realising these imperatives. And we
commend the plan to award grants to 40 individuals and 180
companies for the production of 70 local content films and the
development of 110 local contents scripts.
Hon Chair, a reading nation is a winning nation. The culture
of reading is a critical feature for socioeconomic
transformation. Reading is not only for schooling or academic
purposes but a reading nation beyond education and enhances
our consciousness as a nation. Reading is a key to knowledge
and it is true understanding that our people will be able to
imagine and reimagine things.
This Budget Vote financially support 29 libraries for the
current financial year. As I know, one of those libraries - it
will be on our own province, which is Mpumalanga in
Kwamhlanga. This is a significant programme the department
support annually. This budget supports the National Library of
South Africa and the South African Library for the Blind.

 
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Hon Minister, we welcome the efforts of the department in
driving digitisation. We acknowledge the plans to digitise
168 000 heritage items and the preservation of 15 708
documentary heritage items. This is a critical programme.
The department should ensure its access to the digital outputs
of heritage and documentary items and promote the items
through supporting creatives, who will promote them and draw
inspiration from them to ensure their optimal use and
promotion.
Hon Minister, we also welcome the support for the blind
through producing 720 braille books titles and 90 tactical
books for visual impaired people. This intervention exposes
our commitment of intrusive society.
The ANC unequivocally support this Budget Vote as it is based
on the key priorities of the Medium-Term Strategic Framework.
And as the ANC, through the portfolio committee, we will
ensure the plans are realised to advance socioeconomic
transformation.

 
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What I would also like to say to hon Luthuli is that, on the
APPs of the department each and every project is listed there.
Even in the 29 libraries that I am speaking about they are
listed in the APPs of the department. If you can go through
the APPs, you can see each and every programme or project that
the department is intends to do.
Hon Mhlongo, what you come and grandstand here and speak about
the issues of the Auditor General that you know what the
Auditor General speaks about. You know that there are
challenges. Other challenges are not within the department.
They are between the issues of the Department of Public Works.
Other issues concerned were in the portfolio committee. It was
addressed. We have solved all these kinds of challenges.
And what I want to speak about is that, hon Minister, hon
Deputy Minister, continue to make sure that the people of
South Africa are assisted as you assisted them through Covid-
19 through the presidential where creatives have received
support from you. We know how many creatives have received
support and how many jobs were created. Continue to do your
work. Well done! We support Budget Vote 37 as the ANC. Thank
you, Chairperson.

 
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Mr A M SHAIK EMAM: Hon Chairperson, allow me to start off by
congratulating actor, Zolisa Xaluva, on his lifetime
achievement award. It is indeed well deserved.
Secondly, also allow me to congratulate Nkosinathi Maphumulo,
also known as Black Coffee, on his Grammy Award.
The NFP will support Budget Vote 37: Sports, Arts and Culture.
It is indeed clear that this is one of the better performing
departments than its counterparts. But some of the challenges
still remain and one of them being development at a local
level, particularly at school level. And I know that this
matter was being addressed with basic education and other
departments. Not enough is being done to ensure that there is
development from grass roots level, particularly at
disadvantaged schools, and that is why you would find out that
those sportsmen and women that are emerging are all coming
from privileged schools.
I’ll give you a good example of Caitlin Rooskrantz, which I’ve
mentioned before, Artistic Jeer Gymnastic champion who brought
gold medal and made South Africa proud. But what we find is

 
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that there’s very limited resources to things like Artistic
Gymnastics.
Also women’s football. Women’s football team even play better
than our Bafana Bafana team in South Africa. But yet you would
find, like some of the artists and the things, there’s very
little funding and resources that are being diverted.
I have previously called, through the former Deputy Minister
who promised to look into this matter particularly of our
R1 billion Legacy Fund from the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Where is
that money that is supposed to have been used for development
in sports in South Africa? It’s nowhere to be found. We know
that they bought some hotels or some treats somewhere but we
don’t really know what is really happening there. But what is
important is this, that not only with the R1 billion Legacy
Fund, there were billions of rands worth of equipment and
generators and things that we had purchased, there is no
accountability for this whatsoever.
If you look at the state of SA Sports Confederation and
Olympic Committee, SASCOC, and SA Football Association, SAFA,
it leaves a lot to be desired and I call upon the Minister to

 
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interrogate and investigate and bring these departments and
these sectors into order.
A lot of work still needs to be done if we want to ensure that
South Africans excel in sports, particularly in the
international arena.
If you look at what is happening in the Eastern Cape with
monies that were spent in those stadiums. I mean it was really
an abuse of the resources; R15 million on a stadium that is
worth R3 million, R4 million or R5 million and very little or
nothing appears to be done about it.
Having said that the NFP supports the tabled budget vote.
Thank you.
The MINISTER OF SPORT, ARTS AND CULTURE: Chair, thanks to hon
members for the debate and their participation therein.
Firstly, hon Madlingozi I think we will be patient to give
information to those who do not have. We really support the
literary work; we do a lot on that. We have the SA Literary
Awards where we recognise writers, authors, in our country and
encourage them to do more. In the past three years we funded

 
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six book fest in this country including women writers’
programme; and we’ll continue doing that. As we speak there’s
an international book fair which is going to be taking place
soon in Sweden. We are sending no less than 20 writers and
authors from grassroots level in this country who are going to
be part of this. And these are the endeavours which we have in
our programme in ensuring that we support this part of our
work.
The Chairperson raises an important issue about languages. And
I must say that in so far that is concerned, thanks for that
and thanks for understanding the importance of this work. If I
may, say that we have, over a period of time, as we said,
financially supported this area of our work and ensured that
in all the major national universities we have language
practitioners who get supported by the department because we
believe it’s important.
The colonial project, part of what it sort to achieve, was to
ensure that the languages, especially African indigenous
languages, are not given currency and have no currency as they
were excluded from the corporate environment as well as in
academia. It is encouraging that we are beginning to see

 
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students completing Master’s and PhD dissertations across a
variety of academic fields using African languages. And for
us, this is a remarkable fulfilment of the transformative
constitutionalism obligation imposed on government by section
6 of the founding provisions of the Constitution.
To hon Mhlongo, it’s easy to sloganeer on very serious matters
affecting society. That the department did nothing during this
pandemic period, maybe it’s because hon Mhlongo was still
battling with the network there. Let me reiterate, we were the
first one to say that we are not going to be able to cover all
the artists and athletes but with what we have invested in the
past two years, R808 million going to the pockets of artists
and athletes and their organizations; and you come here and
you say nothing has been done. I would take it that perhaps
it’s lack of information. I must also say that this money went
to 59 224 artists and athletes; creating and retaining 37 556
jobs in this country.
The hon member is raising the matter related to Enoch Mgijima
ground in the Eastern Cape. And again, I would take it that
not all of us are informed about how things happen. Firstly,
schedule 5 of the Constitution puts an obligation on local

 
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government to be the ones which create facilities and that
ground you’re talking about had nothing to do with the
national government, it was a municipality matter, as it were.
And on issues related to what you said about SAFA National
Executive Committee, NEC; that’s their decision as NEC of SAFA
administratively. And the Minister, just a little education,
is barred from getting involved through section 13 of the Act,
which is passed by Members of Parliament.
To hon Denner, we want to trivialise the flag? No. It’s the
mandate of the department to create, amongst other things,
monuments and this flag is a monument for democracy in this
country and we make no bones about that. And it’s disingenuous
to say it’s not important. If it’s not important, your sister
organization, AfriForum, wouldn’t be in court today fighting
for the old flag. So, I think we must clarify this thing that
we have an obligation to transform the heritage landscape and
we’ll do just that. And we are aware of the challenges which
people are facing and our work goes to artists to athletes and
other areas including areas of heritage promotion and
preservation.

 
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I think the point which was made by hon Zondi on school sport;
we take that point. We actually, through the Memorandum of
Understanding, MoU, with the Department of Basic Education.
One member asked whether we meet, yes, we meet with the
Minister and there is work that is happening in school sport,
the Deputy Minister has clarified that. We meet but that MoU
you are talking about is going to expire in 2022 and we’ll
have to look what is it that we need to do more to ensure that
it’s effective. And one of the areas, the Deputy Minister,
again, touched on it, the launching this year of the sport
ambassadors programme, which is aimed at complimenting school
sport so that we ensure that we produce at that level.
Hon Jafta, thank you for your intervention, particularly
highlighting the issue of libraries in rural areas. We are
doing just that, hon member. Within this Medium-Term
Expenditure Framework, MTEF, we have financially supported 103
libraries across the country. As hon Malomane has said, 40 of
them have been completed already. So, we take that work very
seriously. And thanks on the issue of languages also.
We do care for our living legends. That is why the issue of
living legends, we left it totally in their hands, they are

 
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running their affairs, they elect their leaders and currently
the Chairperson of the Living Legends has been elected, like
others, by themselves; we only support them but we don’t macro
manage them.
I think we have dealt with the issues hon van Dyk has raised.
But I think she’s missing the point, Performing Arts Centre of
the Free State, PACOFS, has turned the corner, PACOFS is
functional now and it’s working in the Free State. If perhaps
you were part of the meeting when they came there would have
seen that after some time they even got an unqualified audit
as it were. So, I think we should ensure that we understand
that.
But I think that, generally, we are moving now from a mode of
grants to sustainable recovery plan and what that means is
that the kind of programmes we are going to focus on are
programmes which are going to be everlasting, are programmes
which are going to ensure that they create jobs for the
sector. We started, for instance, with the hip hop heritage,
which we funded in Johannesburg, the District Six Museum and
those are part of the programmes, the Phansi Museum in
KwaZulu-Natal, those are the programmes which are actually

 
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helping, going forward to sustain themselves. But we work from
the grass root level.
Hon van Dyk talks about grassroots, we are there, grassroots,
we are there. And grassroots we go to community art centres in
the townships of our country, in the rural areas, that’s where
we work. As I said that the past two years we have funded 331
community art centres in the communities and we are not only
looking at people at the higher level.
We are a government which care. I must emphasize that point
that when it comes to issues of ... the soft issues affecting
artists and athletes.
As I said that the department has combined the fight against
gender-based violence and femicide, GBVF, with a wellness
intervention programme in a three-prom strategy. At one level,
an outfit called Baqhawefazi is running a GBVF survival
skilled and this is a programme that promotes victim-centred
approach. It also provides a safe and secure platform for all
victims, [Inaudible.] with a boy child and the socialization
thereof. But the Silapha programme is an intervention about
wellbeing of artists and athletes, be it on mental health,

 
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THURSDAY, 12 MAY 2022
VOTE NO 37 – SPORTS, ARTS AND CULTURE
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legal matters, financial management, amongst others. We
launched it in February 2021. To date, 953 artists and
athletes have been assisted by this particular programme.
So, I think that we must say, as we conclude, that ours is to
ensure that the sector is recognised for what it is. That is
why we use science, through research, to implement the
programmes and future milestones include working towards the
urgent need for strengthened cultural diplomacy framework
because we have seen that through research, exporting of our
cultural goods and services in this country is one currency
which is growing. And we want to support that, working with
other departments like Department of Tourism, Department of
International Relations and so on.
We also are on course to ensure that as the White Paper
enjoined us to reduce and amalgamate the entities from 30,
because we have 30-plus entities today, to five boards and
councils in our country for nation-building and social
cohesion. And there’s a dire need to have a worldwide African
base digital platform that houses an online creative arts and
sporting platforms for control and sustainability of

 
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MINI PLENARY - NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
THURSDAY, 12 MAY 2022
VOTE NO 37 – SPORTS, ARTS AND CULTURE
Page: 78
intellectual property and patens of South Africa and African
union, AU, member states’ intangible heritage.
Tangible heritage is important as is the intangible heritage.
So, there’s no one part of our programme and mandate [Time
expired.] we are going to forsake. Thank you very much, Chair.
The mini-plenary session rose at 15:56.

 

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