Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Ms Nocawe Mafu
Acting Director-General in the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture Dr Stella Khumalo
Members of the media Distinguished guests Fellow South Africans
Good morning
Over the past weekend, we learnt of the sad passing of former Orlando Pirates captain and Bafana Bafana defender, Mr Papi Khomane, who passed away in a car accident alongside his brother-in-law and mother Ms Rita Khomane. I request us all to observe a moment of silence as a sign of respect to the fallen football star and his family.
I have convened this media briefing to announce several developments in sport, arts, and culture. These include entities that have been appointed by virtue of the powers vested in the Ministry Sport, Arts and Culture.
The year 2023 at a glance
This has been a significant year in South African sport. This year began with South Africa hosting the Cricket Women’s T20 World Cup. The Proteas Women reached the final of this tournament, their best performance in a World Cup.
Our athletes also did the country proud at the World University in Chengdu China, where Team South Africa won 20 medals.
South Africa hosted the first ever Netball World Cup to take place on South African soil. The SPAR Proteas finishing in sixth position in this World Cup, but their performances did much to draw attention and support to the sport of netball.
South Africa has also hosted the premier events such as the World Rowing Regatta, and the Rugby Under-20 World Cup, where the Baby Boks finished in 3rd place.
The Senior Men’s Rugby Team, the Springboks, made the country proud by bringing the Rugby World Cup title home for a record fourth time. We saw during this tournament, and in the team’s World Cup trophy tour, just how much the Springboks mean to the country, and how much this country means to the entire Springboks team. We congratulate the players and the Coaching Staff for lifting the mood of the country.
We also salute the Senior Men’s Cricket Team, the Proteas, for fighting against all odds and reaching the semi-finals of the International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup. We take our hats off to the Proteas for their strong run in this World Cup. In the 2019 Cricket World Cup, the Proteas
were knocked out in the first round of the tournament. South Africa’s women and men’s cricket teams show a great future for South African cricket.
We salute all our national teams who participated and campaigned in World Championships in 2023. Thank you for flying the South African flag high! You are our heroes and heroines.
Implementation of the National School Sport Indaba outcomes
In August this year, we held a National School Sport Indaba that produced a framework of school sport as a bedrock for sports development. We are looking forward to the implementation of the Road Map that will inform the national roadshows, as part of the drive to revive school sport, especially in townships and rural areas.
Recently, Deputy Minister Ms Nocawe Mafu, with Acting Director-General Dr Stella Khumalo, went on a bilateral visit to Jamaica, where a cooperation agreement in the field of School Sport Development was signed with the Jamaican Government.
The Eminent Persons Group (EPG)
In 2011, Government held a Sport Indaba which profoundly changed sport’s approach to transformation with the adoption of a Transformation Charter.
The Indaba further resolved that to ensure the Charter is implemented, an independent entity to monitor and report on progress will be required. This led to the appointment of an independent Eminent Persons Group (EPG) on Sports Transformation, the EPG, with a mandate to:
- Design and implement a management system to collect, analyse and interpret data to establish and report on sport’s transformation status and progress.
- Provide an annual transformation status report for sport.
- Provide deeper insight and understanding of the factors affecting rate and extent of transformation.
- Monitor and evaluate the implementation of Sport’s Transformation Charter and Scorecard.
- Make recommendations to improve the rate and extent of transformation, and implementation effectiveness of the Charter.
- Ensure the Minister has sufficient information to effect appropriate interventions when required.
Since its inception, the EPG has completed 9 transformation audits and officially handed over 8 reports to the Minister. It is my pleasure to announce the new Eminent Persons Group.
The members of this committee represent diverse expertise in sports development, research, academia, and experience of working and dealing with issues of transformation across other sectors.
The new Eminent Persons Group is:
- Dr Sithembile Mbete (Chairperson)
- Ms Nonhlahla Nzuza
- Ms Ria Ledwaba
- Dr Len Konar
- Mr Ivor Hoff
- Mr Samkelo Radebe
- Mr Andile Nqini
- Mr Maxwell Jordaan
- Professor Christo De Coning
- Ms Ciska Austin
Appointment of an Independent Advisory Panel on Netball Professionalisation
At the closing of the 2023 Netball World Cup, President Cyril Ramaphosa pronounced that government would develop a Netball Arena to ensure the development, sustainability, and competitiveness of Netball.
The Minister met with Netball South Africa on 31 August 2023 and emphasized the need to sustain the momentum, as we move forward towards the 2027 Netball World Cup and beyond.
It was then agreed that an Independent Advisory Panel be appointed with the objective of developing a blueprint for Netball in the country. The panel will be expected to:
- Develop a blueprint (road map) for the development of Netball in the country.
- Review of Netball’s strategy
- ncrease Mass Participation to ensure Netball becomes a sport of first choice in communities.
- Ensuring the National league as a commercial product is clear and that it generates revenue for the system that increases the broadcast value and aids professionalization.
- Achieve Excellence (position, 1, 2 or 3 international rankings at major international competitions)
- Matters pertaining to Governance and finance.
- Realise Redress (Netball landscape on and off the field of play approximates the demographics of the country).
- Address challenges within the Netball eco system.
I am pleased to announce the following members of the Independent Advisory Panel on Netball:
- Ms. Maria Magdalena Bezuidenhout, University of Pretoria Netball
- Ms. Nozipho Jafta, CEO of SASCOC.
- Ms. Blanche De la Guerre, former CEO of Netball South Africa
- Ms. Zanele Mdodana, former Spar Proteas Captain., Netball coach at University of Stellenbosch
- Dr. Hajira Mashego, an academic and Director of Sport at Tshwane University of Technology.
Appointment of Members of the Boxing South Africa Board
The current term of the Board of Boxing South African expires on 11 December 2023. This Board was appointed and given an important task of renewing Boxing and ensuring that boxing is returned to its former glory.
For the 3-year term the Board was able to come up with a renewal strategy. Yet, there have been challenges.
Administratively, the organisation has been without a Chief Executive Officer for an extended period since the litigation by the former CEO of Boxing SA. This situation led to one of the Board members taking a role of the CEO, which is not a good practice but became a necessary emergency merger for an unforeseen situation. The new Board’s immediate task is to ensure that the position of the CEO is advertised and filled as a matter of urgency.
The newly appointed Board members that are being announced today bring in diverse skills in the sport of boxing, corporate governance, legal, finance, marketing, and other professional disciplines to bring valuable competences and command on intricate matters pertaining to the sport of boxing.
I therefore am pleased to announce that I have decided to appoint the following people as members of the Board of Boxing SA with effect from 12 December 2023 until 11 December 2026
- Mr Sifiso Shongwe (appointed as Chairperson of the Board)
- Ms Princess Mangoma
- Ms Nande Mheshe
- Mr Sakhiwe Sodo
- Mr Luxolo September
- Ms Romy Titus
- Dr Mary-Gene Manthata-Setati
Let me take this opportunity to thank the outgoing board members for the work that they have done during the period and wish them well in their future endeavours. I wish to thank the incoming Board for agreeing to serve and accepting their appointments.
An update on WADA
SAIDS Amendment Bill
Following the news in September 2023 that South Africa’s existing legislation was not compliant with the World Anti-Doping Code, I am pleased to advise that we have worked tirelessly to amend legislation as recommended by World Anti-Doping Authority (WADA).
There has also been input by WADA in working with us to draft the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) Amendment Bill, which has now been taken through the South African Constitutional process of finalising a Bill.
Through the Leader of Government Business, the Bill has been submitted to the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, who have acknowledged receipt and directed that Bill be gazetted.
The Bill was formally placed in the Government Gazette on Thursday 23 November 2023.
Hosting of the WADA Regional Office
In April 2023, WADA published a call for Expressions of Interest to host its Africa Office. This office is currently hosted in Cape Town by the Republic of South Africa.
Three countries, namely Egypt, Morocco, and South Africa, formally expressed interest and submitted a candidate file. Evaluation visits took place in these three countries at the beginning of October 2023.
We are pleased to announce that WADA has once again awarded the hosting of the WADA Africa Regional office to South Africa. The office will continue to be based in Cape Town.
2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup Bid
We have noted the media statement from the South African Football Association (SAFA) to withdraw its bid to host the FIFA Women’s Football World Cup 2027.
The Government of South Africa was clear in November 2022 when supporting SAFA’s Expression of Interest in hosting the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup that the letter cannot be considered an underwriting, a guarantee or a financial commitment by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture or any other Department in the Republic of South Africa.
The Department has fully supported SAFA in providing the Federation with a platform to address various levels of Government.
Government was also prepared to participate in the FIFA Observer programme for potential host Cities during the FIFA Women’s World Cup in New Zealand and Australia. We respect the decision by SAFA to work towards a well-prepared bid in 2031.
ICC Cricket under 19 World cup 2024
The 2024 International Cricket Council (ICC) Under 19 Cricket World Cup was scheduled to take place in Sri Lanka.
On 21 November 2023, the ICC Board decided to move this tournament from Sri Lanka and award it to South Africa. The move was taken as a consequence of the ICC provisionally suspending Sri Lanka Cricket due to extensive government interference in the board's administration.
The Under 19 Cricket World Cup will now take place in South Africa from 20 January to 11 February 2024.
The event will take place at the following venues:
- Buffalo Park Cricket Stadium, East London
- Diamond Oval, Kimberley
- JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom
- Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein
- Willowmore Park, Benoni
Sixteen countries are expected to participate. No government funding is required. The International Cricket Council and Cricket South Africa will provide funding for the tournament.
The South African Creative Arts Awards
Finally, I am also pleased to announce the new, all-encompassing Awards for the Arts and Culture Sector.
The South African Creative Arts Awards will be the be most desired recognition and cultural recognition in the South African creative industry.
These awards will be bestowed to South Africa’s leading creatives in the various creative sector categories and subdomains, who exhibit outstanding artistic and technical achievement.
The South African Creative Arts Awards are for creatives from across cultural domains who push boundaries of their creative ability and show devotion to excellence.
The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture intends to hold the South African Creative Arts Awards annually.
The launch date will be announced in due course. Thank you.
