Mr Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Mpumalanga Legislature
Chairperson of the House of Traditional Leaders in Mpumalanga
Honourable Premier, Mr DD Mabuza in absentia
Members of the Executive Council
Honourable Members of the Mpumalanga Legislature and Members of Parliament
Leadership of the Mpumalanga Sport Confederation
Sport Federations
Arts and Culture Stakeholders
Government Officials
Ladies and gentlemen
Comrades and friends.
The Policy and Budget Speech 2013/14 is presented at the backdrop of the Census 2011 Report and the National Development Plan, Vision 2030. Central to the Census 2011 Report is the fact that Mpumalanga Province is a youthful province, most of whom are unemployed. Even though the unemployment rate has decreased from 43,1% to 31,9% but it remains above the national average of 29,8%.
The inference that can be drawn from this part of the Census 2011 Report is that a sizeable number of our youth is without jobs and loitering on the streets. This percentage of unemployed youth includes those who have tertiary qualifications and those who do not. Mindful of the fact that investing in young people equals to investing in the future of the province, government's programmes and projects are skewed towards this sector.
This is in the form of direct employment, learnerships, internships and initiatives aimed at encouraging young people to be entrepreneurs. The latter is the most critical hence the new drive by government to encourage the youth to opt for FET Colleges as their area of choice.
Transforming society and uniting the country is paramount to government's programme. This is well articulated and underpinned in the National Development Plan. A united and cohesive society is a critical condition for peace, security and prosperity and we are all galvanised to work in unison in the attainment of this goal.
The Constitution of the country is loud in saying this land belongs to all who live in it, black and white. We owe it to the forefathers of this country to ensure that our programmes reflect this rainbow nation. We are as a sector committed to this and we have ensured that our projects are linked direct to the outcomes of both provincial and national government.
Sport and Recreation
The Road Map approved by the National Department of Sport and Recreation is our blue print for the development and transformation of sport in the province. It is a roadmap for optimal performance and functional excellence.
The posture we are adopting as a government department is to be the custodian, leader, driver of policy direction and centre of power on sport and recreation. Whilst we are obligated to create a conducive environment for sport development, government will also provide financial resource and lead transformation.
Our strategic sport developmental agenda going forward shall be under-pinned by the following:
- School Sport
- Mass mobilisation
- Transformation
- Institutional Mechanism
- Recreation and Funding
This direction finds its expression on the National Sport and Recreation Plan, a product of the Sport and Recreation Indaba held in 2011.
School sport
Honourable Speaker, a nation that does not invest in its youth, does not deserve its future. It follows then that if the province intends to produce high quality athletes, we need therefore to invest in the young people of the province. The majority of young people are found in schools.
Working in partnership with the Department of Education in the province we have ensured that schools are encouraged to register to participate in the School Sport programme. Learners in all schools of the province are expected to participate in the following prioritised codes: Netball, Football, Athletics, Cricket, Basketball, Chess, Gymnastics, Volleyball and Rugby.
During the 2012/13 financial year 1364 out of 1 841 schools registered to participate in the school sport programme. This amounted to 546 000 learners in the province participating. We have undertaken to ensure that all schools are registered for the 2013/14 financial year. To achieve this mileage we have also enlisted the participation of municipalities through the Mayoral Committee Members (MMCs).
The MMCs have been given a responsibility to ensure that all schools in their wards within their municipalities are registered. Honourable Speaker last year (2012), the registered schools participated in a league system that culminated in the National School Championships hosted by Gauteng Province. Four Hundred and Eleven (411) athletes from the province constituted our Provincial Team which joined the rest of the provinces during the inaugural National School Championships.
I am glad to announce that a young athlete, Njabulo Nhlapo from Qambekile Primary School in Ermelo won a bursary of R100 000 per annum for five years for High School education from the Department of Sport and Recreation South Africa presented by the Minister in the National Schools Championships. The bursary was given to Njabulo Nhlapho for being the best athlete in Football Under 13 in 2012 National Schools Championships.
Honourable Speaker, for the 2013/14 financial year, the department in partnership with the Department of Education will be targeting 9000 learners to participate in the School Sport tournament at District and Provincial Level. Further, 640 educators will be trained to present the School Sport program and 37 volunteers will be employed by the department to coordinate School Sport at Circuit Level.
We plan to take and support 850 athletes to participate in the Annual National School Sport Championships for this year. A budget of R17, 467 million has been set aside for the School Sport Programme.
We appeal to all parents and school governing bodies to motivate their kids to take keen interest in school sport, more especially the rural communities.
Honourable Speaker, central to ensuring a consistent outreach of our programmes on sport development and social cohesion, is the presence and participation of young people in their numbers. Last year we successfully presented the first format of Youth Camps as an enabler for mass mobilisation. The idea of the Youth Camps seeks to strengthen, in an organised and coordinated manner, the ability of young people to work co-operatively across colour line, thus contributing directly to social cohesion.
Youth Camps provide a platform for youth gatherings, networks and programmes to help to empower, promote the inclusion of disadvantaged youth especially, disabled youth, out of school youth, youth at risk, unemployed youth and rural youth. We will host a Youth Camp during this financial year, to build the capacity of young people through life skill programmes. We will seek ways of collaborating with other departments.
Honourable Speaker, the Loskop Marathon was presented in partnership with the Forever Resort. The Loskop Marathon is amongst the top Four Marathon presented in this country. During this year's chapter, 4 000 athletes took part and this indicates that the marathon is ever increasing. Again a bonus of R100 000 was at stake for breaking the record in both the men and women category. Unfortunately the record set by Josia Thugwane more than five years ago was not broken.
However, we are excited that the men category was won by a local athlete. Actually the top three for the men category are athletes from our province. The women category was dominated and won eventually by women from Zimbabwe and Kenya
Transformation
As a leader of transformation of sport in the province, during this financial year, we shall finalise the Provincial Transformation Framework. We need to drive and guide this process. In doing so, the department shall set the agenda, defining the deliverables and milestones for the Provincial Federations. Annual targets will be developed and to be evaluated over two to three years, utilising a clear score card.
Institutional Mechanism
Honourable Speaker, we have set to continue with the process of establishing the High Altitude Centre, prioritising that the protection of flora/endangered plants is done, the project management and preliminary designs are finalised, appoint building consortiums to design individual buildings and the construction of a boundary wall / fence.
The National Sport and Recreation Plan demands that macro sport structures be established in order to facilitate sport development. To this effect the department will continue to support Mpumalanga Sport Confederation and in the process be able to drive transformation in partnership with Federations and Mpumalanga Coaches Association. Sport Leaders will be trained to run their structures properly and in the process be able to deal with transformation within their areas of operation
Honourable Speaker, just like the historical 2010 FIFA World Cup, Mbombela Stadium was able to successfully host the AFCON 2013 games. We hosted Nigeria, Zambia, Burkino Faso and Ethopia. Without any doubt, this opportunity succeeded in putting Mpumalanga in general and Mbombela City in particular, in the continental map.
Mass Mobilisation
I would like to take this opportunity as Chairperson of the AFCON Political Committee and extend my appreciation to all EXCO members who participated from provincial government, Chairperson of the Provincial House of Traditional Leaders, Executive Mayor of Mbombela and her team and Provincial Commissioner of SAPS and his able team.
A big thank you to the support received from the technical committee members. Above all we thank all the volunteers and the soccer loving people of Mpumalanga who ensured good behaviour by spectators and that the stadium was always full during the matches. Lastly I would like to extend my appreciation to the National Department of Sport and Recreation for the financial support given to the coordination of the AFCON Tournament.
Mbombela Stadium also provided the much needed funfare for Kaizer Chiefs F.C. to lift the 2012/13 ABSA premier League. Indeed it was one of the historical moments for all the soccer loving people of Mpumalanga as this was happening for the first time in the history of Mbombela Stadium.
We are equally excited by the fact that Mbombela Stadium will also be hosting the Rugby Test on 15 June 2013 between the Springbok and Scotland with Italy and Samoa in a curtain raiser. The Steval Pumas have also relocated to Mbombela Stadium (November 2012) and since then, we have witnessed major rugby games taking place at the stadium. We congratulate the Pumas for this wise decision and hope they will get promotion eventually.
Mpumalanga is still without a team in the Premier Soccer League and we are following and watching the National First Division play-offs with interest, hoping that Mpumalanga Aces will win the play-offs and qualify to the play in the PSL in the next season. Government would like to call upon all the people of the province to give the necessary support to Mpumalanga Aces during this moment.
Recreation
Honourable Speaker, the promotion of healthy lifestyle is a responsibility of all of us. Working in partnership with the Department of Health and Social Development, we continue to deliver recreational activities for the oldies. For the past period, we have noticed a marked increase of old people who are interested to participate. My department has received several requests for assistance from organised women soccer teams for the aged. This is encouraging indeed.
The Golden Oldies games were implemented in all the 18 municipalities in partnership with the Department of Health and Social Development and other stakeholders. The promotion of Indigenous Games (Diketo, Kgathi, Morabaraba, Intonga, Juskei, Dibeke and Kho-Kho) has seen the hosting of the Provincial Indigenous Games and the participation in the National Indigenous Games. We are finalising the appointment of Hub Coordinators to coordinate this programme.
Arts and Culture
Honourable Speaker, the processes for the construction of the Cultural Hub are well on course. 20.9 hectares of land have been acquired in the Mbombela Municipality, in White River. The primary objective of the cultural hub is to stimulate economic development in the cultural industry. This project will benefit to a greater extent the province as a whole because it will provide a platform for performers, artists, musicians, designers and film-makers; wherein they can develop, exhibit, market and sell talents and skills.
A team of professional service providers such architects, civil engineers, surveyors, environmental impact assessment consultants have been appointed for the detailed master planning, design and implementation of the project.
Land survey is completed, environmental impact study has commenced while draft architectural design and site development plans will be completed in this first quarter of 2013/14. The department and the project team will within the first quarter engage on a process of public participation in the three districts for the purposes of awareness, marketing and stake holders' participation.
Honourable Speaker, the attainment of nationhood and reconciliation cannot be an event. It is a culmination of a focused process which is able to embrace cultural diversity and nation building. We owe it to the future generation to reconcile this nation, build a sense of nationhood and promote cultural diversity.
During the previous financial year we hosted districts social conversation series. These events were building up to the National Social Cohesion Summit held last year in Gauteng. One of the resolutions of the National Social Cohesion Summits was that, all provinces need to organised and host Provincial Social Cohesion Summit which will produce a strategy for the province.
We will make sure that all relevant stakeholders participate during this summit so that our collective thinking are utilised to, once and for all, achieve the unity of purpose in the province, where all its people black and white are able to appreciate one another and contribute to the development of the province.
Heritage
Honourable Speaker, nearly twenty years after the dawn of our democracy, this legacy of the past remain deeply ingrained in the skewed nature of the heritage landscape of the province. Very little is known about our people's heritage from the pre-colonial, colonial era and the modern liberation struggle in Mpumalanga.
Much of our archaeological heritage, i.e. graves of our fallen heroes and heroines of the liberation struggle, lie unmarked and unprotected across the province, whilst some have been lost subsequent to the enforcement of the apartheid laws such as the Group Areas Act.
In an attempt to reverse this legacy and restore human dignity to our fallen liberation icons, the department initiated a process of profiling their histories through a systematic identification, recording and preservation of these undocumented sites. This project was piloted in the Ehlanzeni District Municipality during the 2012/13 financial year.
For the current year, the department will complete profiling of the liberation icons in both the Gert Sibande and Nkangala District Municipalities. The information gleaned from this process will be sent to the National Heritage Council for consideration and inclusion in the list to be submitted to UNESCO for consideration as world heritage status. This is all under the umbrella of the National Liberation Heritage Route projected led by the National Heritage Council on behalf of South Africa.
Honourable Speaker, few years ago the department established and unveiled cenotaphs recognising heroes and heroines of the Liberation struggle in the three districts. Following the 100 years anniversary of the oldest liberation movement in the country, the ANC, it had emerged that not all liberation heroes and heroines were reflected on the cenotaphs.
This year the department will review the names of our heroes and heroines on the existing cenotaphs with the intent to add or correct the information contained therein in the Gert Sibande and Ehlanzeni districts. This exercise was completed by the Nkangala District Municipality for that region last year.
Honourable Speaker, despite the challenges faced in preserving and protecting and managing our heritage, the Department will continue to support the Mpumalanga Heritage Resources Authority to ensure systematic management, protection and conservation of heritage resources of the Mpumalanga Province. As we speak we are in the process of appointing the new council who will assist in ensuring that our resources are well managed.
The entity will continue to issue permits, regulate heritage resources, and identify sites and nominations of sites of heritage significance from the communities in the province with the view to grade, declare and/or submit to South African Heritage Resources Authority for consideration to grade and declare nationally, as per the guidelines of the National Heritage Resources Act 25 of 1999.
Honourable Speaker, Mpumalanga is known for its opera excellence. It is for this reason that on the 9 September 2012 the Mpumalanga Choral Eisteddfod event was presented by the Mpumalanga Choral Music Association in partnership with the department. This event attracted all racial groups from the province as it heralded a new chapter in the choral music industry. The Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra was brought in to accompany all opera sections and Western songs.
The Clash of the Choirs, a reality singing competition which was billed on Mzansi Magic TV Channel since January 2013 until April 2013 created excitement in the country and more especially in the arts industry. Mpumalanga Team was conducted by the well decorated musician, Zwai Bala. We are very proud with the performance of Team Mpumalanga for achieving position two and the eventual winner was KwaZulu-Natal. I am advised that Team Mpumalanga has joined us in the gallery.
Once again Mpumalanga was recognised during the presentation of National Orders by President Zuma on the 27 April 2013. The Order of Ikhamanga was bestowed to Pretty Yende for her excellent achievement and international acclaim in the field of world opera and serving as a role model to aspiring young musicians. Pretty Yende is originally from Piet Retief and because of her career; she is now based in Italy. Owing to work commitments she could not be with us today though she would have loved to be part of this session.
Honourable Speaker, subsequent to winning the bid to host the 2012 World Gold Panning Championships in Biella, Italy in 2009, the Department is proud to announce that the province successfully hosted the World Gold Panning Championships from 1 to 7 October 2012 in Pilgrims Rest. Nineteen (19) member countries of the World Gold Panning Association converged on our shores. I am glad to announce that South Africa won the World Gold Championships and we are ready to go and defend it in Italy this year.
Language
Honourable Speaker, we look forward to the finalisation of the consultation process for the Language Bill. Its enactment will be the best gift to the province as we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the OAU/AU. To us this is another milestone in appreciating and honouring the heroes and heroines of the struggle. The issue of language is emotive as well.
The enactment of the Language Bill will, in part, release our people from the bondage of colonialism and apartheid and our indigenous languages will receive the attention they deserve. As a gift to our children, working together with the Department of Education in the province, we will need to ensure that the indigenous languages are made compulsory to all our schools in the province.
Honourable Speaker, I am happy to announce that last year (2012), we launched the isiNdebele Bible. The translation of the Bible into isiNdebele started before the democratic government was ushered. However, it was only in the year 2000 that the translation of the Old Testament and a comprehensive review of the New Testament began.
I would like to take this moment and extend our appreciation to the Bible Society of South Africa and the dedicated team of translators (Pastor David Mahlangu, Pastor Peter Mabena and Professor Andries Breytenbach) who worked tirelessly, day in and day out to ensure that the isiNdebele speaking people were not left outside.
Former President Nelson Mandela once said, “If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart”. Now our people will read the Bible not only to understand it but also to live it.
Standardisation of geographic names
Honourable Speaker, within the broader heritage transformation process, the department continues on its relentless efforts to facilitate the renaming, naming, registration and spelling corrections of geographic features as part of its contribution to the improvement of service delivery to our communities, building social cohesion, sustainable communities and a common national identity.
To this effect, we can proudly report to this august house that in the 2012/13 financial period we have successfully facilitated the standardisation of 13 national features which prominently feature settlements used by our communities over time without being legally registered e.g. Siyabuswa in the Dr. JS Moroka Local Municipality and the previously wrongly spelled Ohlelo (previously, Ishelo) in the eMkhondo Local Municipality.
To add to this tally, the Minister of Arts and Culture, Honourable Mr Paul Mashatile further published in the government gazette three national features during March 2013 namely Grootvlei renamed Thaba Kgwali, Greylingstad renamed Nthorwane and Waterval River renamed Inhlambane River. All these features are in the Dipaleseng Local Municipality.
Libraries
The National Development Plan: Vision 2030 says, “Each community has: a local library filled with the wealth of books and a librarian”. Honourable Speaker, the provision of library service by the department is strategically linked to the national outcomes. Library services ensure an improved quality of education in that it provides support to adult education with relevant educational material and play a pivotal role in providing learner support material, safe study areas and free internet access.
Public libraries help in creating an educated, informed workforce and provide information and reference services on small business skills. Public libraries help to bridge the digital divide by providing free internet access. Most provincial and public libraries use internet based library information management system for their administration and management functions.
Honourable Speaker, the Community Library Conditional Grant has assisted us in addressing the backlog of library infrastructure and also in expanding and transforming the provision of community library services. We would like to extend our appreciation to the National Department of Arts and Culture for ensuring that for the current MTEF period, the grant will be increasing.
Honourable Speaker for 2013/14 the department has received R72, 5 million. In 2014/15 the department will receive R113, 6 million and in 2015/16 we will get R149, 6 million.
Honourable Speaker, since the 2007/08 financial year the department has been able to build new libraries in Daggakraal, Maphotla, Mkhuhlu, Morgenzon, Msogwaba (Pienaar), Siyabuswa, Phumula/Tweefontein, Silindile, Botleng, Hluvukani and Masoyi, Emtfuntini, Leroro, Marapyane, Kamachekeza, Wesselton, Mzinoni and Shatale.
We have also upgraded libraries at Doornkop, Mafemane/Dwarsloop, Elukwatini, Mashishing, Piet Retief, Nelspruit Regional Library, Ermelo Regional Library, Middelburg Regional Library and three mobile libraries and container libraries were procured as well.
Public Libraries were installed with Local Area Network Equipment and Power Plugs, provided with Computer Hardware and Software; connected to internet; installed with Base locks; provided with head counts; and 73 installed with SLIMS.
The promotion of reading culture through four promotional programmes are implemented annually that includes: translation of three children's books in to Siswati, IsiNdebele, Xitsonga and Sepedi (three languages per annum); promotion of writers' development, celebration of National and International days and promotion of the service for the blind and partial sighted.
Honourable Speaker, since 2007/08 to date 370 696 library materials have been procured. We have set aside R26, 662 million for the 2013/14 financial year for library infrastructure. This budget is for the completion of Driefontein; Perdekop, Libangeni, Klarinet libraries and to start phase one of Umjindi, Glenmore and Emthonjeni libraries.
Archives
Honourable Speaker, during the course of this financial year the Department of Culture, Sports and Recreation will officially open the Archives Building. In August 2013 the archives unit will be holding a seminar of academics, experts, national and provincial archivists and records managers to discuss the challenging task of sharing experiences on the regulatory, legal and constitutional obligations and implications of moving large quantities of records and archival material to new premises. Also in preparation for the operation of the Archives Building, the department has been training government departments including the Provincial Legislature on recording and the whole process of archiving material.
Honourable Speaker, the province will continue to celebrate and mark national and historic days. The department has developed a provincial draft frame work for commemorating and celebrating national and historic days. The draft is a product of a summit held last year November on events. This new approach, seeks to integrate programmes of government and its key stakeholders. In line with the NDP, the approach encourages the provision of basket of services during the celebration of National Days, thus allowing all government departments to play their roles.
Again, central to the new approach is an endeavour that encourages inclusive participation by all sectors of the society, represented in the different racial groups found in the province, as we seek to contribute towards social cohesion, cultural diversity and nation building.
Conclusion
Notwithstanding the limited resource we have at our disposal to discharge our responsibilities, we remain committed to the priorities of this government. The achievement of a better life for all is not a dream deferred but it is a realistic dream.
The strides made so far gives confidence that we can still do more, they are a daily reminder of the capacity we have to offer our people with the necessary skills and education in order for them to live normal lives.
Let me take this opportunity and extend my appreciation to the Portfolio Committee under the leadership of Honourable NC Mamabolo for her leadership in the Portfolio Committee. The commitment of staff in the department under the leadership of the Head of Department (Ms S Mjwara) is encouraging. I would also like to thank the staff in the Office of the MEC for their unwavering support and for going beyond the call of duty in supporting the Office of the MEC. My family remains a pillar of strength and mostly I appreciate their understanding of government's obligation to its citizens, hence they have to share me with the nation.
Honourable Speaker I therefore present to the House, Budget Vote Number 11 of the Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation with the annual budget of R351 808 million.
I thank you.
