Programme Director
Honourable Minister, Comrade Fikile Mbalula
Projects Chairman of The Sports Trust, Mr Max Jordaan
Chairman of the Board of Pareto Limited, Mr Saul Gumede
Principal of Batho Primary School, Mr Mafoyane
Honoured Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
Comrades
In assessing the 18th year of our democracy, we can definitely claim some successes in various socio economic aspects of our society, but it is equally clear that much more needs to be done to further open the doors of learning and culture to all our people. This gathering presents us with a unique opportunity to explore ways of ensuring that our learners become both active and responsive within the school environment.
For far too long sport in our schools has been underestimated as a means of developing and defining the psyche of our nation. It is important to realise that sport is an integral part of the life of a nation.
Our government has identified sport as one of the major catalysts for social cohesion and economic development. It is important that we collectively identify the problem areas in our communities that impact negatively on the development of sport, and that we put in place strategies to resuscitate sport in our communities more especially in schools.
As government we are prepared to engage in programmes that ensure and create conditions in which our learners can excel in sport. This means providing sports fields, training equipment and facilities.
We have a duty to revive sport in our schools, and ensure mass participation from our learners. Competitiveness from a young age is healthy, as long as it is nurtured in a positive spirit. Incorporating sports and reviving mass participation in our schools, will give renewed opportunities to our learners to remain in school and complete their education.
We must use school sport as a nursery for talent identification and development, which will lead to our learners moving onto higher honours and make us all proud. But in all our work, we are guided by the President's call for partnerships. If indeed we are going to grow and develop our province as a learning home for all our children, we all need to join hands.
It is within this context that we commend and appreciate the involvement of Pareto Limited (owners of Mimosa Mall) and the Sports Trust for their contribution and partnership in making this project a success. The R900 000 contribution by Pareto Limited towards the construction of this facility is highly appreciated. We hope that this act of social responsibility will encourage other business entities to partner government in supporting amicably beneficial public/private partnerships such as this one.
This complex forms part of a total of 10 such facilities to be opened in the province and is part of the department’s vision to ensure the provision of state of the art sport and recreation facilities that enable communities to actively take part in sport and recreational activities. The programme is also aimed to further enhance the promotion and development of various sport codes within communities.
Programmes such as this one are indeed important and beneficial to our communities. I wish to thank Pareto Limited for partnering us in making this project a reality, let me also commend the Sports Trust for their continued support and contribution in the advancement of sport in our country.
In conclusion, I wish to take this opportunity to introduce our honoured guest this morning, the Minister of Sport Mr Fikile Mbalula.Since assuming this position Minister Mbalula has brought about meaningful changes in the administration of sport in the country. We are pleased to have an individual who brings passion and responsibility in running a department that is crucial in promoting unity and social cohesion in our country.
Ladies and Gentlemen: The Minister of Sport, Mr Fikile Mbalula
I thank you.
The Speech of the Free State MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Mr Dan Kgothule, on the occasion of the Handover of the Batho Primary School Multipurpose Sport Court, Bloemfontein.
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