Departmental Budget Vote by Gauteng Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, MEC Lebogang Maile For The Financial Year 2013/14

Madam Speaker,
Deputy Speaker,
Premier Mokonyane,
Members of the Executive Council,
Honourable members,
Head of Department Ms. Namhla Siqaza,
CEO of the Gauteng Film Commission Mr. Mzwandile Masina,
Chairpersons of the statutory bodies,
Mr. Manie Booysens: CEO Golden Lion, Rugby Union.
Leaders of sport and arts and culture organisations,
Members of the media,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen.

Introduction and overview

As we move towards the close of the five year term 2009-2014, we will also reflect on the successes as a government, as we celebrate 20 Years of Democracy. Some of the key areas the department was tasked to address of which we are happy to note that great strides have been made, is that of the ongoing transformation of the sector; provision of sport, arts, culture and library related facilities; implementation of development and high performance programmes; financial support to sector organisations such as clubs, federations and arts and cultural organisations amongst others.

In the implementation of both the constitutional and political mandate of department, the department is confidently providing an enabling environment for the sector to flourish. Over the past 20 years, the department has also seen a number of strategies, policy frameworks and legislations being developed, approved and implemented thus enabling the department to fulfil its varied roles and responsibilities.

The department has improved and excelled well in areas of good governance. Structures, systems and controls have been put in place to ensure that the department is well on its way in receiving clean audits in the ensuing years.

With the organisational structure fully aligned to its strategic plan and sector strategies, the department has raised the bar in addressing previous gaps that were identified. We are happy to report that the department has been successful in the filling of a number of vacant posts thus enabling the department to improve its ability to deliver on its mandate and in ensuring prudent financial management.

In 2010/11 the department spent 94.8% of its budget and has shown considerable improvement in the 2012/13 financial year of 99.1% expenditure. This shows a remarkable improvement in the spending trends of the department over the years.

Speaker,

Today and tomorrow mark important days in the calendar of our national life. May 31^st marks the 34th anniversary of the glorious student organisation the Congress of South African Students, COSAS. COSAS has, over the years, contributed immensely to the cause of the liberation struggle of our country, especially in the area of education.

It is in tribute to COSAS that the democratic state continues to put education at the top of its agenda. It is out of the recognition of the struggles of COSAS that all of us must continue to play a constructive role in ensuring that our education system produces the calibre of human beings who, both individually and collectively, contribute meaningfully to the agenda of the reconstruction of our country.

In this regard, I wish to pay a special tribute to the late Comrade Ephraim Nkoe who passed on earlier this year. Comrade Ephraim was part of a generation of student activists that were instrumental in the formation of COSAS and like many of his generation; he continued to serve our people and country like until his untimely death.

Tomorrow we mark the commencement of Youth Month, a month dedicated to the celebration of the spirit of youth, activism and service to our country. On the 16^th of Youth Month that we remember and we celebrate the gallantry of the warrior generation of 1976, when a historic moment was experienced globally; exposing yet again the brutality of the apartheid system and affirming the maxim that: Apartheid is a crime against humanity.

I must therefore take this opportunity and extend an invitation to honourable members and the people of Gauteng to join us as we relive the march of 1976, to remind ourselves of the events of 1976 and emphasise the importance of remembrance as we forge forward with our march towards a better life for all.

We draw inspiration from this generation as we seek to fulfil our own mission as this generation: to lift our people from the chains of economic bondage. Also, the 1st of June is International Children’s Day. Through this day, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that the rights of children are respected and observed in the broader context of our struggle to build a better world.

Speaker,

I am certain that all of us are well aware that this time of year usually marks an extraordinary season of celebration for the province of Gauteng. Today is therefore no exception to other days and we would like to ask the house to pay tribute to Kaizer Chiefs Football Club, who have been crowned the ABSA Premier League champions for the 2012/13 season and are also the reigning champs of the Nedbank Cup 2013.

We congratulate Amakhosi for their splendid display of sportsmanship throughout the season and we wish them well on the journey ahead. What is clear here is that Gauteng is not just a Home of Champions, but indeed we can proclaim that it is a place where winning is a way of life.

Moroka Swallows who in the season preceding the one that just ended were on the relegation zone. Despite this challenge they persevered and defeated all odds to end in the top 8 of the elite league. They then proceeded to become the reigning Top 8 Champions and we congratulate for this achievement.

Lions ended a five-season trophy drought with a tense victory over their northern neighbours to cap off an outstanding season under new coach, Geoff Toyana. They finished second in the first-class competition, were joint winners of the one-day cup and have finally added second piece silverware to their cabinet since the start of the franchise system nine years ago. For Titans, it was a less-than- an ideal farewell to coach Matthew Maynard, who has chosen not to renew his contract with them.

Despite having a full galaxy of international stars available to them, Titans were unable to chase down a moderate target as the Lions' bowlers defended with the tenacity and determination of the animals they are named after. After their batsmen were repeatedly stalled in compiling a total, Lions appeared to have conceded the advantage early on.

When Henry Davids and Heino Kuhn began the Titans' chase with 40 runs in the first four overs, it seemed Lions would once again succumb to their local rivals. On 19 May 2013 The MTN Golden Lions won the Vodacom Cup for a record fifth time when they beat the Steval Pumas by 42-28 in a highly entertaining final at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Friday evening.

The MTN Golden Lions won the Vodacom Cup for a record fifth time when they beat the Steval Pumas by 42-28 in a highly entertaining final at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Friday evening.

It was the second successive season that the visiting team won the final after DHL Western Province beat GWK Griquas in Kimberley last year. By winning the Vodacom Cup for the fifth time, the MTN Golden Lions are now the most successful team in the 16 year history of this competition. But it took them some time to do this – their last series success came in 2004.

The team from Johannesburg could not even reach the final since their last success nine years ago. At one stage this season it looked like it would be another one of missed opportunities for the MTN Golden Lions – they lost three of their first four pool matches, but they turned their season around and the final victory was their sixth successive win of 2013.

We would also like to extend our message of congratulations to our dear sister, activist and advocate of the arts, Florence Masebe, who has been bestowed with the award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for the production Elelwani at the Africa Movie Awards. Elelwani scooped 11 awards and we congratulate them for their sterling efforts.

This is in addition to the following other productions that have receive accolades:

• Production Name: Elelwani.
• Producer: Florian Schattauer.
• Director: Ntshaveni Wa Luruli.
• Main Actress: Florence Masebe.

Elelwani has scooped up 11 African Movie Academy Awards, and was invited to show at the Berlin Film Festival 2013.

• Production Name: Man on Ground
• Producer: Rosie Motene
• Director: Akin Omotoso

Man on Ground won 10 awards, was shown in 15 film festivals around the world.
Other productions from Gauteng worth mentioning:

• Production Name: Gog Helen
• Production Company - Goliath Productions
• Produced by Khetiwe Ncgobo, Dumi Gumbi
• Leading actress - Lillian Dube and Kagiso Raphosa

Released on 6 June 2013:

• Production Name: Little One
• Production Company - Azaria Media
• Directed by Darryl Roodt
• Best leading actress – Lindiwe Ndlovu

Liitle one was selected for an Oscar nomination for 2013. The film will be opening at the Zanzibar International Film Festival 2013:

• Production Name: Blitzpatrollie\
• Production Company - Diprente Productions
• Produced by Isaac Mogajane
• Film - Starring David Kau and Kagiso Lediga, was released on the 30 April 2013.

The film Blitzpatrollie was recently shown at the Cannes Film Festival 2013. Some of the films that have been supported by the GFC have been selected to be shown at the Zanzibar International Film Festival, starting on the 30th of June 2013. Following on Minister Mashatile’s signing of the co-production treaty with Kenya at Cannes earlier this month, we are beginning to penetrate the African market for our film makers to work with other countries and distribute their work in the continent.

Our artists continue to excel in the field of music as and we congratulate the following artist who have achieved and won accolades at the South African Music Awards: Lifetime Achievement Awards Johannes Kerkorrel (posthumously) Sizwe Zako Best Alternative Album iScream & The Chocolate Stix - The Paradox Best Classic & Instrumental Album CH2 CH 2 Guitar Duo Live with the University of Pretoria Symphony Orchestra Best Producer Jax Panik for Due Drop Deluxe (Toya Delazy) Best Engineer Mark Beling for Strong (BlackByrd) Best Music Video of the Year Claudio Pavan for Honey Spiders (The Parlotones) Remix of the Year DJ Kent for Thinking about You Ft. Zonke DJ Kent Remix (Theo Kgosinkwe) Best Live DVD The Captured Tour Concert Film Lira
Best Selling DVD Vol. 16 Live at Carnival City Joyous Celebration Best Selling Album Roeper Theuns Jordaan Best Selling Tru-Tone Follow Me DJ Cleo ft. Teddy Bears Best Selling Ring-Back-Tone Loliwe Zahara Best Selling Full-Track Download You're The Voice Shout/J23 - Artists for a safer South Africa SAMPRA AWARD Heavenly Sent Mi Casa.

The budget vote we are presenting today is underpinned by the following principles:

• Our focus on the implementation of the various policies and strategies;
• The need to pay constant attention to the development of social and economic infrastructure, focusing on long term planning informed in part by the National Development Plan, Gauteng’s Vision 2055 and the recently released Census 2011 report
• Our solid focus over the past two years in building an intergovernmental relations dispensation that works effectively, that focuses its energies on enhancing service delivery, whilst ensuring that as government we work seamlessly as we serve our people.

We have also recognised that the need for cooperation is not an exclusive reserve of government spheres and its entities. Much of our emphasis has also been on the need to leverage on private sector resources and we are pleased that, teething challenges notwithstanding, we are making good progress and the response of both the private sector and parastatals has been nothing but encouraging.

In this regard as it relates to leveraging additional resources for our programmes we have, as a starting point, set ourselves a target of raising an equivalent of 5% of the total allocation which translates to about R28.4 million. The additional resources we raise will be used to augment capacity for such projects as the Gauteng Carnival and the Gauteng Sport Awards.

Speaker,

Our task is that of contributing to the nation’s goal of building unity, social cohesion, citizen participation and inclusivity. In this regard, we must congratulate the African National Congress (ANC) for steering the country in the right direction over the past two decades. Unlike some in the house, we have been hard at work using state power for the betterment and the benefit of society as a whole.

Under the ANC’s watch, we have consolidated the democratic system of governance; with regular national and local government elections where the principle of ‘one man one vote’ is a constitutionally guaranteed right.

We have extended the frontiers of opportunity by ensuring that more and more of our people have access to basic amenities such as:

• clean water
• sanitation
• free basic education
• social security
• housing
• roads
• health care
• economic opportunities
• land restitution

Our state institutions are part of a well-oiled machinery that contributes to the defence and advancement of the gains of democracy where the rights of citizens are foremost. The security apparatus is used for purposes of upholding the law and protecting citizens and not for the advancement of silly political agendas that have nothing to do with the task of maintaining national security.

We have recognised the importance of long term planning in the bid to build a common future for all our citizens. This has been insititutionalised through employing monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to our work to ensure that we constantly improve and do things better.

In essence, the ANC has over the past 101 years, including 19 years as the ruling party, been at the centre of building a non-racial, non-sexist and a democratic, prosperous country; acting in concert with the wishes of the people – the overwhelming majority whose lives we seek to change for the better.

Our overarching vision remains that of positioning “Gauteng as a home of opportunities for sporting, artistic and cultural excellence that contributes to social cohesion and nation building”.

We aim to do this by building an environment that allows for the identification and development of talent. We seek to ensure that the work is integrated through the development of partnerships with organisations that work in the culture and sporting sectors to enable access to programmes and facilities.

We are also responsible for the preservation of heritage, education and protection thereof. All of our efforts are aimed at contributing to the greater task of economic and social transformation where we seek to ensure that our nation remains engaged in the resolution of the difficult questions of the moment.

Poverty, underdevelopment, and economic neglect remain among the most pressing issues the nation must resolve. At the same time, the nation must find social compacts that serve as a basis for the discourse that will lead to the decisive defeat of the unfortunate ills that bedevil us as a people.

As such, specific programmes have been identified by the provincial government with the department acting as the lead or implementing agency.

Synopsis of the Budget for the 2013/14 Financial Year

The department receives funding both from the provincial equitable share to the tune of R385,553 million. In addition to this, we also receive an allocation of R151,739 million from national as part of the conditional grant. The total allocation for the department in the 2013/14 financial year is therefore R537,292 million.

This represents an increase of 20% from the previous financial year. The equitable share has also increased by 20% given the work we will be doing with regard to various infrastructure projects in relation to sport and heritage. R63,470 million is funded from the National Department of Arts and Culture for the development of the Information and Library Services. R38,088 million is earmarked for direct transfers to municipalities for the development of community libraries.

The National Department of Sport and Recreation will fund mass-based Sport and Recreation programmes to the tune of R88, 269 million; an increase of 16% from last year’s R74.030 million. The Gauteng Film Commission’s R26 million is now part of the departmental equitable share following the successful migration of the entity from the Department of Economic Development.

There will be an amount in excess of R6, 500 000 million allocated for 70 organizations working in the sport and arts and culture sectors through our Grants-in-Aid process. In addition there will be 76 students who will receive bursaries to pursue studies in the sectors.

With respect to other infrastructure projects the following allocations are made:

• The Women’s Living Monument receives R50 million in the current financial year.
• The Bob Van Reenen Stadium will receive an upgrade to the tune of R10 million
• Another R5 million is allocated for the development and refurbishment of community sporting facilities

Speaker,

The correction, change and the restoration of Geographical Names in the province remains one of the areas we will focus on during the financial year. At least three campaigns will be implemented including raising awareness about the work of the committee responsible for geographical names.

We are charged with the responsibility of promoting our languages by conducting advocacy campaigns to promote the development and use of these languages as contained in the provincial policy. We have published the Use of Official Languages bill for public comment and input.

National Symbols must occupy a place of pride in our hearts and minds. The symbols are critical in portraying that which we are as a people, united in diversity and confident in our common future. In this regard, we will target another 120 schools across the province for purposes of installing national flags and running awareness and education campaigns.

A total of 90 schools and about 5 400 learners will take part in the Arts-in-Schools program. These learners will also participate in the Gauteng Carnival, showcasing artistic works from schools across the province. The Creative Arts is part of the objective of creating work opportunities for artists, promoters and event organisers, both in the development and competitive trajectory.

There are ten arts and culture (10) premier events that will receive support from the department as part of promoting cultural tourism and other activities that contribute to economic development. The premier events that will receive support include: Back to the City Hip Hop Festival, Joy of Jazz, Spring Day Music Explosion, South African Dance Music Awards, Gauteng Sumer Splash, JoBurg Art Fair, Feather Awards, Music of the 80’s and Moshito Music Conference and Exhibition and the GO WEST festival in the West Rand.

We will also provide support in the various craft hubs located at various tourist attractions across the province as part of promoting market access for developing crafters. We will spend R2 million for product development and support for market access initiatives. The Library and Archival Services programme is at the centre of the drive to augment on the knowledge troves available to young people and communities with information critical to their survival and general decision making processes.

In the current financial year we will start with the building of 6 libraries in the following areas: Boitumelo, Heidelberg X23, Ratanda X7, Khutsong South, Venterspost, and Mamello. Council resolutions in support of the building of these libraries have already been passed. We will conclude the service level agreements with the relevant municipalities and commence with construction work once all the necessary protocols are completed.

Cultural Affairs

Speaker,

Culture and art are part of the social constructs that are at the core of the evolution of any society. These social constructs make up the mirror through which a society sees and reflects on itself.

Culture and art constitute an important measure of progress against any set political, economic and social objectives and so there is always a need to constantly adapt by improving and seeking new ways of cultural and artistic expression. Thus part of the work we have been seized with has to do with heritage preservation, and the promotion of tourism using our heritage.

This has also been the drive to ensure that we allow for our history to be recorded and preserved in its completeness. Among other things we have engaged in the following activities:

• The Oral History Project, a documentation and recording of the violence in Thokoza in the early 1990s. A documentary was produced containing interviews of some of the victims of the violence. The documentary also contains actual scenes of the violence and provides a balanced perspective of events leading to the violence and also the remaining psychological and physical effects of the violence.
• The department, in its implementation of the Indigenous Knowledge System Policy Framework, has developed a unique Gauteng IKS inventory or database. The inventory provides a list of innovations and original works or products in the spheres of music, medicine, dance, fashion, food etc. We will be making available the DVD depicting all of these innovations.
• The department rolled out projects to create awareness about the National symbols with 100 schools across the province. National lags and flag poles were installed in 100 schools and two campaigns were conducted and workshops held with learners on national symbols. Mosaics of the Coat of Arms were installed at Meadowlands High in Soweto and Matlhasedi Primary in Mogale City.
• Policy and Legislation: The department has developed policies and legislation on key areas such as Geographical Naming System, Museums, Language and Heritage.

The Executive Council of Gauteng has approved a comprehensive Programme of Action on Military Veterans. The department will be coordinating the roll-out of the Military Veterans Programme of Action together with all provincial departments in ensuring that Military Veterans have access to quality health care, gain employment opportunities and are successfully integrated into civilian life.

Working with the Provincial Legislature, the department will move for the passing of the Gauteng Use of Official Languages Act and the Provincial Heritage Act. The commemoration and celebration of National Days is another avenue through which we seek to foster unity and social cohesion. Our approach is one that continues to ensure that we promote the celebration of diversity. We will proceed earnestly with this approach; ensuring that we get South Africans of all races to be guided by the objective of building a common future.

The Gauteng Carnival, whose home is Soweto, is implemented in partnership with local government with more than 21 000 participants annually from across Gauteng. The 2012 Carnival created at least 2 549 jobs, 327 artists were trained, 7 viable business enterprises established and more than 256 companies benefitted during the six months of preparation.

Cultural troupes from the North West, Limpopo, Khoisan, South Korea and Bela Bela participated. We rolled out the Dance-2-Yo-Rhythm programme for the predominantly Indian and Coloured communities with sponsorships from BlackBerry, Adidas, I Speak Hip Hop, Sprite and Red Bull.

The winning DJ won R50 000 worth of DJ equipment and an opportunity to perform at the Miami International Dance festival in March this year. We have 20 choreographers who have completed their one year carnival learnerships and 3 of them are currently studying in France and Germany.

The implementation of the mass based Arts and Culture programme in theatre, poetry, contemporary dance and traditional dance saw auditions being held across Gauteng and in partnership with local government. The Ishashalazi Theatre Awards were held in partnership with Merafong in March 2013 and a sponsorship was obtained from Amalgamated Beverage Industries to ensure a successful event.

The Best Production of 2012 won R50 000 and will participate at the National Grahamstown Arts Festival in June-July 2013. Three of the Ishashalazi theatre groups were nominated for the community section of the Naledi Awards and one of these productions, ‘Sello Le Dipogiso’, directed by Thembeni Joni from Munsieville, walked away with the award. Taxedo dance group from Katlehong who also participated in the Motjeko MPP dance program won the World Dance Championships in Croatia in May 2013.

The winning youth choir, Mayibuye Sakhile from Ratanda, participated from 6-15 July 2012 at the Suma Cum Laude international Youth Choir Festival in Austria. They obtained an overall second position in the mixed category and a special award from the Mayor of Austria. The department has developed the Arts-in-Schools Strategy on key areas such as infrastructure, arts programmes, resources and effective coordination. The Arts-in-Schools Strategy was approved by EXCO in January 2013.

Working with ATKV (Afrikaanse Taal-en Kultuurvereniging and Animato in training of choral and gospel conductors, the department will support participation in the Old Mutual Choir Festival as well as the Zion Gospel Awards in the City of Joburg.

The department will be coordinating the roll-out of the Gauteng Carnival on 7-8 December 2013 in partnership with the City of Johannesburg in Soweto with participation from the SADC countries as well as cultural troupes from Argentina and Katanga province from the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The department will continue to work closely with the Gauteng Department of Education in ensuring that the children’s carnivals are rolled out in 90 schools and the parade takes place on 7 September 2013 in Yeoville. Auditions in theatre, contemporary dance and traditional dance will continue to unearth talent. Rural areas such as Hekpoort, Devon, Sokhulumi and Bantu Bonke will be part of the programme.

The department will partner with the African Cultural Heritage Trust to ensure that traditional dance groups of Gauteng take full part in the National Zindala Zombili Traditional Dance Festival. A budget of R154, 690 million allocated.

Gauteng Film Commission

Speaker,

In keeping with our vision of building a globally competitive city region, we recognise the competitiveness of Gauteng in contributing substantively in the creative economy. The Gauteng Film Commission has been a catalyst for the growth and development of the film industry in the province. Last year, we reflected at length on the work of the Commission and as such, we believe the Commission has matured in terms of its service offering and by comparison to similar other organisations globally.

Consequently, keeping in line with our stated intent of transforming the Gauteng Film commission into a fully-fledged Creative Industries Agency – work has commenced to prepare a business case, including plans for the establishment of the entity.

Accordingly, in February this year we convened a Gauteng Creative Industries Indaba whose aim was to consult and engage industry about the need to look beyond film as a component of the broader creative economy.

We have since completed a concept paper and a business case for the Gauteng Creative Industries Agency. We are ready to proceed with the legislative processes and an announcement will be made in this regard at least by the third quarter of the financial year.

The commission will focus on the following areas work as part of discharging its functions:

• We will give support to 22 film and television projects
• We will also implement 3 broadcast partnership with the SABC, m-net and e-TV. These partnerships will see locally produced films given a platform on these channels.
• In order to facilitate employability in the film sector we are now moving towards the implementation of accredited training and qualifications. We will in this financial year train 396 individuals in various sector skills.
• As part of positioning Gauteng as a preferred destination for film production; 176 productions will receive support through the commission in order to ensure that these are completed on time at locations of their choice in the province.
• We will be establishing two Audi-Visual Resource Centres.

The creative economy will remain at the centre of the drive to create economic opportunities; whilst at the same time developing the required skills and capacity to ensure that Gauteng remains on pole position as the next big thing.

Library and Archival Services

Speaker,

Empowered citizens are those that have access to information that enables them to make decisions about opportunities they wish to pursue; whether in business, education, health care and the other matters that relate to life’s function and necessities. The pursuit of knowledge and learning means that we must have adequate infrastructure that responds to the ever changing information needs of our citizens.

At present Gauteng has 235 public libraries meant for use by citizens as part of developing empowered citizens:

• The upgrading of the new Olifantsfontein Library was completed and the library will be opened this year.
• The upgrading of the library in Sebokeng Zone 13 was completed and the building officially opened on 1 November 2012.
• The upgrading of the Rensburg Library in Lesedi is in its final stages and will be opened later this year.
• 3 Modular libraries were provided to previously disadvantaged areas in Khutsong Proper, Waterworks in Westonaria and an informal settlement in Randfontein.
• The ICT Training Centre in Meyerton, Midvaal is complete and operational.
• eLearning centres at the Sharpeville and Residensia libraries are running and 160 young people have completed their studies successfully;
• We are working on the regular update of our ICT systems in order to continue with provision of free internet services to members of the public; this includes the installation of e-readers for the provision of e-materials and other resources accessed via the web.

Work is underway to ensure that we build a state of the art Archives Centre for our province. To date we have already concluded a feasibility study for the centre. We are currently working with municipalities to secure suitable land for the construction of the centre. It is estimated that the construction of the centre will cost no less than R312 million.

We are now engaging with Treasury to secure funding for the centre. Accordingly the allocations are made as follows:

• R1.859 million is set aside for the upgrade of internet connectivity
• R38.088 million constitutes the direct transfers to municipalities and this will go towards the continued improvement of infrastructure, procurement of books, campaigns such as born to read and training programmes run through the e-Learning centres.

The Libraries and Archival Services programme receives an allocation of R89, 344 million.

Sport and Recreation

Speaker, Honourable members,

The Sport and Recreation programme is another tool through which we express in practical terms what have defined as development sport and the competitive pathway. All of our programmes in this regard flow from processes collectively agreed upon with the federations and other stakeholders in sport. The blueprint in this regard has been the Gauteng Sport Plan as adopted by the Gauteng Sport Indaba of 2011.

The programme represents a number of initiatives that are a direct response to the various policies and partnerships we have with various stakeholders. The functioning of institutions and structures that govern sport is vitally important for the proper performance of our athletes both in the development and competitive trajectories.

One of the concerns that continue not to sit well with us is the tendency by some to want to kill our joy by refusing to among others:

• cooperate with structures that are being established in the regions
• Cooperate with local government in ensuring that our joint programmes are implemented fully.

In certain instances leadership structures are not recognised on the basis that "our people" are not in there. Some federations are not properly run and this is putting our athletes at a great disadvantage as they are not involved in some of the development programmes aimed at helping them grow.

We must reiterate the call we have made that good governance is an essential element in the proper running of our sport. Squabbles that do not help us advance the cause of development in sport cannot be tolerated. We must therefore give our full support to SASCOC in its bid to ensure that we run a clean game, devoid of greed and corrupt practices.

The Gauteng Sport Council has shown tremendous improvement and growth in the execution of its responsibilities as a civil society body governing sport in the province. Progress has been made with regard to the establishment of a Sport House that will be a hub for administrative and back office support for the council and the various federations. The establishment of the Gauteng Coaches Commission is at an advanced stage and will be at the centre of providing training and development programmes for our technical officials.

In order for the Gauteng Sport Council to effectively discharge its work, an allocation of R2.648 million is set aside to provide support for the sustenance of its programmes. Recreation otherwise known as Mass Participation is growing in stature and has proven vital in the task of social crime prevention, safety and healthy living.

Through the social sector grant we aim to have at least 68 Sport Development Workers. This is funded by the Expanded Public Works Programme. These workers will be additional capacity in our drive to deliver on mass based sport activities at community level.

Our focus is on Indigenous Games such as active ageing, Gymnaestrada, Fun Walk & Fun Runs, Aerobics and Disability Sport including football, netball, volleyball and basketball. The Gauteng Sport Village represents a long term vision through which we seek to drive a comprehensive development programme based on the model agreed upon by the Sport Indaba.

Ten (R10) million has been set aside for the refurbishment of the Bob Van Reenen stadium. The area around the stadium will be the seat of the sport village. An additional R10 million has been pledged by the Mogale City Municipality for phase 2 of the project. This phase would comprise of electrification work & re-installation of the bulk sewer system &storm water drainage.

The project currently employs about 50 EPWP contractors now at inception stage, but would have employed about 150 people with the roll out of phase two. It is worth mentioning honourable Speaker that most of the sub- contractors and supplies are sourced from within Mogale City and local content is encouraged. We envisage that by October 2013 we should be able to hand over the facility to the municipality.

The refurbishment of sport and recreation facilities is part of our on-going efforts to provide decent facilities for our communities. At this point I must indicate honourable Speaker that in as much as we are going to refurbish facilities in communities, it remains the responsibility of every community to take care and guard jealously against the damaging of their facilities.

School sport is the hub of our drive for both development through talent identification and the promotion of healthy living among the younger members of society. Our focus in this regard is on strengthening structures, providing training with regard to coaching and technical officiating.

An integral part that drives school sport development is the peer to peer SA Schools Championships that are held annually to test and consolidate competitive levels and prepare athletes for future national and international duty.

The allocation of resources for school sport will encompass the flowing; R8 000 000 million for the SA Schools Championships, R5, 462, million is set aside for capacity building, R4,096, 000 million for attire, R5, 462, 00 million for Provincial and Regional events, R2, 730, 000 million for focus schools, R4, 096, 000 for school sport structures and another R4, 096, 000 million for coordination.

I must also hasten to say that these facilities are not owned by provincial government but by municipalities. An allocation of R 5 million rand during this financial year goes towards the refurbishment of sport and recreation facilities.

These infrastructure projects include the following:

• Refurbishment of the East Bank swimming pool in Alexandra
• The heating of the swimming pool in Rabie Ridge
• The refurbishment of the swimming pool in Sharpeville
• The refurbishment of the swimming pool in Kagiso
• The renovation of the Ratanda Stadium
• The refurbishment of the Lakeside Sport Stadium
• The upgrade of the Wesbury soccer grounds and Cecil Payne Stadium including the upgrading of the Union Stadium and Bosmont sport complex
• The construction of the Hekpoort Netball field
• The upgrading of the Soweto Golf course
• The upgrading of a park in Eldorado Park.

Another R3.8 million is allocated to the programmes aligned to the academy programme as dictated by SASCOC focuses on the seven (7) priority codes we have chosen. Our priority codes are Athletics, Swimming, Boxing, Netball, Rugby, Cricket and Football. Through their competition programmes and coaching clinics, the seven sport federations are responsible for identifying talented athletes that have the potential to be selected for provincial and sport competition.

The Water Safety campaign is a long term programme through which we seek to equip young people with swimming skills in order to avoid water fatalities which rank among the highest of the unnatural deaths. We are setting aside R1.4 million for purposes of training an additional 70 instructors and running safety campaigns in various regions of the province.

The Club Development Programme aims to facilitate access for those clubs that do not participate in mainstream sport as well as to assist with the establishment, revival and strengthening of existing clubs. In this financial year, the following codes of sport will form part of the programme: Women’s Football, Netball, Rugby, Athletics, Swimming, as well as sport for people with disabilities.

The budget allocated through the Conditional Grant for this programme is R17 million. This will be utilised to assist the clubs with capacity building programmes, transport, equipment and attire.

At a competitive level and in the context of our drive to position Gauteng as a preferred destination for major sporting events of reputable and international standard, we are setting aside a total of R13, 8 million for the Gauteng Sport Challenge. The multi coded tournament sees the major teams and athletes battle it out in the Gauteng Marathon hosted by West Rand and Johannesburg; the Gauteng Cup hosted by Tshwane and the Soweto Rugby Benefit hosted by Johannesburg.

The recognition of excellence in sport is critical if we are to become a Home of Champions and a winning nation. The Gauteng Sport Awards which began two years now form part of our country’s premier sporting events. In the year 2011 the awards were televised on Super Sport TV channel and in that year we recorded a viewership of about 850 000 people on the night of broadcast.

In the year 2012 the awards were broadcast live on SABC 1 and we recorded a viewership of over 2.2 million people on the night of the awards and the brand reached over 6 million people in that year. This year the awards will be bigger and better and we hope to reach at least 5 million viewers on the night this year. We encourage members to diarise the 29th of June 2013 as we will be hosting the third edition of the Gauteng Sport Awards at the Emperors Palace. This will be a black tie event and we urge members to prepare themselves accordingly.

As part of enhancing our own knowledge and in keeping with best practice we will take part in the following key events:

• The 4th World Conference on Doping in Sport 2013 taking place at the Sandton Convention Centre from 12 - 15 November 2013
• Sports and Events Tourism Exchange, from 10 - 13 September 2013 at the ICC Durban, in KwaZulu-Natal as part of a concerted effort to attracting
  more coherent partnerships in order to gain a competitive advantage in the sport events industry
• An international study tour to Cuba to assess their competitive and development path in sport
• Participate and exhibit at the Soccerex 2013.

We will release the draft Gauteng Sport Bill for public comment and promulgation by the Legislature. The bill, once it becomes law will place us on the path of uniformity, ensure that our investment in development and sport in general is targeted and driven by a specific set of objectives and clearly defined outcomes.

The Sport and Recreation programme receives R160, 484 million

Conclusion

Speaker, Honourable members,

There should be absolutely no doubt in the minds of the people of Gauteng that the making of a better province and country is in progress. As we march full steam into the third decade of our freedom - we can look back with great pride at the things we have achieved as a province, both individually and collectively.

Whilst we appreciate the great leaps we have made in the many facets of our quest to re-engineer the functioning of government and changing the lives of the people for the better – we must, in the same spirit, acknowledge our challenges. It is an indispensable lesson that must serve as a compass for all of us who are interested in conducting ourselves in a manner that benefits society.

Given the inevitability of change and the lessons we can draw from history - we who are progressive in our outlook have chosen to be on the side of the people.