Recreation, Mr Amichand Rajbansi, MPL, for 2007/08 financial year at the
Provincial Legislature
24 April 2007
Mr Speaker
Honourable Premier and colleagues in the Executive Council
Deputy Speaker
Honourable members
Chairperson and members of the Sport and Recreation Portfolio Committee
Members of the diplomatic corps
Distinguished guests
Business leaders
Members of the sporting fraternity, media
Ladies and gentlemen
Introduction
This budget speech is dedicated to the late Inkosi Albert Luthuli, a
stalwart of the struggle and a champion of football in KwaZulu-Natal. Inkosi
Luthuli was uncompromising in his stance against racism, tribalism and all
forms of racial and sectional exclusiveness. He believed in and fought for full
political, economic and social opportunities for the oppressed people of South
Africa regardless of colour or creed.
In his biography, Inkosi Albert Luthuli describes how his passion for
football developed whilst he was teaching at Adams College in Umbumbulu. Year
2007 marks the 40th anniversary of his passing away.
The spectacular development of sport through the media and its popularity
and ability to attract massive numbers of fans with diversified interests, lead
inevitably to greater consideration of its educational role to convey messages
and contribute to the communication of the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) ideals of contributing to peace
and security by promoting collaboration among nations through education,
science and culture in order to further universal respect for justice, for the
rule of law and for the human rights and fundamental freedoms which are
affirmed for the people of the world without distinction of race, sex, language
or religion by the Charter of the United Nations (UN). The practice of sport is
a recognised instrument for promoting peace, as it disregards both geographical
borders and social classes.
One of our rallying calls during the struggle for the liberation of our
people and our country was that the struggle for a non-racial sports
environment was an essential part of the struggle for freedom. We argued that
sport in every part of the world reflected the society it is practiced in. A
racially divided society, a society which gives preference to a particular
gender or class, all these things tend to be reflected in the sports of a
particular country subtly or sharply. A positive and developmental approach to
sport has potentially positive benefits as it can contribute to community and
nation building.
Focus areas
As we endeavour to grow the economy our partnership with the federations,
sponsors, other government departments and municipalities has ensured that
development and transformation in sport is taking place throughout the length
and breadth of our province to the extent that many from our previously
disadvantaged communities are now taking part in competitive sport such as
surfing, canoeing, swimming, rugby and tennis. Through innovative programmes
the Department has ensured that the poorest of the poor athletes are accorded
opportunities to participate in other major sporting events, like the Comrades
Marathon, Spar Ladies Race, Amashovashova Cycle Race, Rural Horse Riding,
Midmar Mile, International Gymnastrada Competition and the National Indigenous
Games. There is a resurgent interest in sport in the province and my Department
has been able to rise to the challenge in spite of our limited human and
financial resources.
The Department of Sport and Recreation has focused its efforts on the
following high leverage programmes:
* development programmes with sports federations
* infrastructure development
* African Renaissance programmes: rural horse riding and indigenous games
* community recreation programmes focusing on active seniors and rehabilitation
of vulnerable groups
* football enrichment initiatives
* Siyadlala Community Mass Participation Programme
* School Sport Mass Participation Programme
* club development
* equity programmes focusing on women and athletes with disability.
We are also challenged to equip the elite sportspersons of our province with
the skills and technical and scientific know how to make sure that
KwaZulu-Natal rises to become a major role player in the South African and
international sporting arenas. This is also very important for pride and social
cohesion. I must confess we have not always been successful in this regard,
especially with respect to football.
Taking sport and recreation to the people
With the Department's focus on good corporate governance, human resource
development has become critical. Sports federations and other institutions have
supported us admirably in these initiatives. In the past year we have truly
taken sport and recreation to the people of KwaZulu-Natal.
The following rate as our critical success factors:
* Over 80% of our budget was spent in previously disadvantaged areas and on
previously disadvantaged people, thus facilitating transformation.
* We have received high commendation from the national Department for the
effective utilisation of the conditional grant.
* KwaZulu-Natal is the leading province in respect of School Sport Mass
Participation Programme. The excellent partnership with the Department of
Education has benefited 159 rural schools, 2 852 educators, 41 976 learners,
recruitment and training of 170 unemployed youth in the community, 954
technical officials were trained and R45 000 of equipment supplied to each of
the 159 schools.
* The club development programme has successfully been piloted in Nkandla
Msinga, Mzimkhulu and Mtubatuba (Dukuduku Forest).
* Completion of 38 sport and recreation facilities, including two swimming
pools (one in Gamalakhe opened on 3 March 2007 amongst much fanfare and a
fantastic response from the community), one athletic track and 37 Combi
(multipurpose) courts. Agreements have been signed with all affected
municipalities for provision of 2007/08 facilities. Of the R15 million
allocated for 2010 football enrichment and legacy amounts of R6,5 million and
R1,5 million were utilised for the construction of new facilities and for
renovations to existing facilities respectively.
* The number of mass participation hubs increased from 20 to 48 benefiting
over 500 000 people and creating 440 temporary employment for unemployed youth
in the communities, mostly women.
* We have successfully assisted in the restructuring of South African
Football Association (SAFA) along district municipality lines and the start of
a similar process with other codes.
* Increased participation of women in sport related activities.
* Capacity building, my Department in partnership with the Provincial
Academy of Sport and Sports Federations have trained and qualified coaches,
administrators, technical officials and administrators in football, athletics,
cricket, rugby, volleyball, aquatics, boxing, netball, hockey, table tennis,
golf, boxing and dance sport.
* The Department focused on developing policy to establish due processes,
capacitating staff and recruitment of volunteers for our mass participation
programmes.
* All components of the Department have secured permanent office
accommodation and in the 2007/08 financial year the Department will begin its
restructuring into districts with the establishment of two new district offices
in Ugu and Uthungulu.
* In partnership with SAFA, we have trained and qualified 457 football
referees at a basic level, conducted introductory level coaches' courses for
130 aspiring coaches and level 1 for 60 delegates. 120 football administrators
were trained in basic administration.
Succeeding in spite of constraints
Whilst the allocation for the Department of Sport and Recreation for 2007/08
shows an approximate increase of 51,95% from the previous baseline allocation,
closer examination will reveal that this amount includes an increased
conditional grant of R37,276 million from the national Department of Sport and
Recreation for our School Sport Mass Participation Programme, Siyadlala Mass
Participation Programme and Club Development Programme. The budget grows over
the outer years of the medium term expenditure framework (MTEF) period due
mainly to the substantial increase in the conditional grant.
The mass participation programmes will impact on human resources and
administrative support and thus place a tremendous burden on the Department to
meet its mandates.
Redressing disparities of the past
By its very nature, sport is a natural catalyst for an integrated and united
nation. Go to any place where children come together, until socialised
otherwise, children readily play together without prejudice.
Sport has potentially positive benefits in a transforming society and
investments and an increased budget to the Department of Sport and Recreation
will ensure that KwaZulu-Natal edges its way to the helm on team performances
and developmental programmes.
Sport and recreation must necessarily contribute to our countryâs
transformation agenda.
The preamble to our Constitution declares South Africa to belong "to all who
live in it, united in our diversity". Non-racialism and non-sexism are added to
human dignity, equality and human rights mentioned in the preamble. The
transformation agenda needs to transform those who must drive it in the first
place, black and white. By transformation we do not simply confine ourselves to
the demographics of national teams. Sport must contribute in an improved
situation in the health of our people. It must contribute to the reduction of
substance abuse and criminal activities. Above all, sport must contribute to
the provision of infrastructure in our communities and in human resource
development and participation in the economy. For this reason our development
must work at forging linkages with other governments and organisations.
We believe we can truly make a contribution to the attainment of the
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Section 7 (1), "participation in sport and
recreation is recognised by the UN as a fundamental human right and all
governments must ensure access for all their people". Equality of access and
opportunity to participate in physical activity should be made available to all
including those with disabilities and chronic illness.
Building a foundation for sport and recreation
Chairperson, it is important that the programmes of sport and recreation are
aligned to the policy pronouncements as contained in government's programme of
action, the MDGs, Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa
(AsgiSA). Sport and recreation has a responsibility to promote national
identity and social cohesion and we hope that our participation in sport and
recreational events in 2007, especially in the South African Games in September
2007 will also unite us as a province and ensure that we improve on our
previous performance in the games. The South African Games is the largest
developmental games incorporating 14 codes of sport and also caters for youth
with disability. The Department will assist with the selection, preparation,
provision of kit and clothing, transport and accommodation of Team
KwaZulu-Natal. The South African Games has been instrumental in ensuring the
integration of our mainstream athletes and those with disabilities. It has also
been an excellent medium through which we identify our talented athletes and
accelerate their high performance path.
We also have a responsibility of enrolling volunteers in various community
development activities to increase the participation of youth in our mass
participation programmes that also enhance social cohesion.
In an attempt to ensure that we subscribe to Broad-Based Black Economic
Empowerment (BBBEE), we make a concerted effort to implement a developmentally
oriented supply chain management that targets specific groups in particular
poor women, youth and the disabled.
Overview of budget department budget allocation
The budget of the Department for the 2007/08 financial year is R161,177
million.
Included in this is an amount of R37,276 million for the mass sport and
recreation participation programme. The budget of the Department grows over the
outer years of the MTEF period due mainly to the increase in the conditional
grant. The grant reaches a substantial R81,771 million in the 2009/10 financial
year. The conditional grant represents 23%, 33% and 37% respectively of the
Department's allocation over the MTEF period.
Additional allocations
The following additional allocations have been made to the Department for
the 2007/08 financial year:
* R10 million for the establishment of two district offices and for the
employment of additional support staff
* R5,9 million for the hosting of major events
* R16,96 million for infrastructure development, this amount was made available
during the 2006/07 MTEF process
* R1,8 million for the incorporation of Umzimkhulu into KwaZulu-Natal, to be
used for improving service delivery within the area
* R1,5 million for administration costs.
Programme 1: Administration
The budget allocation for this programme is R35 347 000 and the funds will
be used to render support services to the Department and provide overall
management. The budget allocation will mainly be utilised on:
* office accommodation for the two new district offices of Ugu and
Uthungulu
* maintenance of the existing office accommodation
* maintenance of information technology (IT) equipment and licensing
thereof
* maintenance of government vehicles.
The main aims are policy formulation by the MEC, strategic planning and
management by the Head of Department, financial, human resource management and
auxiliary services.
The administration programme is also responsible for the development of
policies and procedures.
Programme 2: Sport co-ordination
A summary of the budget allocation for the 2007/08 financial year for this
programme is as follows:
- Sub programme budget 2007/2008
* Junior sport: R8 630 000
* Community sport: R15 834 000
* Sport management: R31 498 000
* Recreation: R8 485 000
* Facilities: R26 107 000
* Mass school sport: R18 960 000
* Community mass participation: R16 316 000
Total: R125 830 000
The purpose of this programme is to promote, develop, administer and fund
sport in the KwaZulu-Natal Province. It also ensures advancement of
participation in sport and recreation talent identification and the promotion
of performance excellence.
The purpose of each sub-programme is as follows:
* Sport management: to provide strategic direction for promotion and
development of sport
* Community sport: to promote and develop sport within the community,
promote high performance and the management and implementation of the club
development grant. The total budget available for community sport is R15,834
million including salary and administration costs. The community sport projects
promote and develop sport within the community and in collaboration with the
governing bodies of the different codes of Sport. The projects will be
implemented at a local municipality level to ensure that we are reaching the
communities. Sport structures will be established in each district and local
municipality. Approximately 500 000 will benefit from all programmes. Over 6
000 people will benefit from skills development with, at least 500 athletes
benefiting from the high performance programme.
* Junior sport: to promote and develop sport and recreation amongst the
youth in order to foster leadership, positive and healthy lifestyles and act as
a catalyst to high performance. Juniors are the founding blocks for skills
development, talent identification and sporting achievements. The total budget
available for junior sport is R8,630 million which includes salary and
administration costs. This programme will reach at least 200 000 participants
(3 000 athletes with disability) with another 2 000 people benefiting from
skills development.
* Recreation: to promote recreational activities in an attempt to promote
mass participation, healthy and active lifestyles, fun and enjoyment through
social interaction. The total available for recreation projects is R8,485
million including salary and administration costs. The projects will be
implemented at a local municipality level, in institutions and a variety of
recreation sites and benefiting approximately 400 000 people and at least 1 800
people benefiting from skills development.
* Facilities: to facilitate the provision and upgrading of sport and
recreation facilities in partnership with local authorities and to ensure the
provision of sport and recreation programmes where facilities exist. To
facilitate the establishment of committees in communities where facilities are
constructed and to use this project as a means of addressing poverty,
unemployment and economic development.
* Mass school sport: to promote mass participation at a school level.
* Community mass sport: to promote mass participation at a community
level.
Creating a soccer legacy
The awarding of the 2010 World Cup host to South Africa by FIFA is a legacy
on its own. For South Africa and the rest of Africa, the memory of that
tournament will be a lasting legacy. But we cannot end there. As government we
believe that preparations for the 2010 World Cup must leverage the fast
tracking of some elements of our transformation agenda. What our President
refers to as the "two Nations" in our country cannot be allowed to continue
unscathed by such a huge event. We must use this opportunity to level the
proverbial playing grounds, both in respect of infrastructure and
otherwise.
Our leaders have launched the African Renaissance and the New Partnership
for Africa's Development (NEPAD). This is our time to fit football concretely
into these initiatives.
Good managerial skills, sound finance management skills and overall good
governance are a sine qua non of this renaissance and the end of
Afro-pessimism.
Aligned to the national and overall provincial 2010 Soccer World Cup
strategy the Department's focus is on:
* team preparation and support
* improving the standard of football in the province
* leaving a legacy of infrastructure development by the provision of
appropriate facilities, equipment and support services
* assistance with the structural transformation of SAFA from four to 11
districts.
Each of these 11 SAFA districts were equipped with computers, appropriate
software, office furniture, fax machines and printers. Specialised stationery
was also provided to all the districts.
Develop a high level under 17 Soccer Enrichment Programme in partnership
with SAFA. A total of 600 players participated in qualification matches in the
2006/07 version of the event. One hundred and fifty trained officials were also
catered for. From each of the Districts a selected team (both men and women)
participated in a provincial final. Each of these district teams was equipped
with kits, balls, training equipment and tracksuits.
Capacity building of administrators, players, coaches and technical
officials. Development and implementation of a soccer management software
system in the 11 districts of KwaZulu-Natal. Marketing and communication tool
for all stakeholders: public, administrators and management. Create awareness,
sponsor advertising and communication.
Financial assistance to non-profit institutions
My Department consciously supports the development plans and initiatives of
sports federations, associations and community organisations because it has
prioritised the good governance of these bodies. Good governance should improve
the quality of our sport. We are making a humble but important contribution to
AsgiSA and Joint Initiative on Priority Skills Acquisition (JIPSA).
Financial assistance will be rendered to these non profit institutions
for:
* development programmes
* hosting provincial, national and international events
* assisting athletes who will participate in national events outside the
province.
Funding will be made available as per the Department's funding policy and
based on the business plans submitted by these institutions. The Department has
allocated an amount of R4,2 million for transfer payments to sporting
organisations.
Premier's Sports Awards
This annual sports awards function serves to acknowledge the talent and
achievements of the most outstanding sporting personalities in KwaZulu-Natal.
While the ceremony acknowledges our high achievers in the province, recognition
is also given to the contribution made by the communities and municipalities
towards the upliftment of sport and recreation from grass roots level to
excellence. The Premier's sports awards is an annual event that provides an
ideal opportunity for the province to showcase and reward its abundant talent
from the sporting fraternity.
South African Local Government Association (SALGA) - KwaZulu-Natal
/Kwanaloga Games
The Department supports SALGA in these games by making funding and human
resource available. These are developmental games aimed primarily at developing
the youth in the province from grass roots to world-class level and encourage
partnerships and co-ordination with relevant stakeholders. The vision of these
games is to nurture sports potential in all KwaZulu-Natal municipalities and
the games serve as a crucial point of entry for the youth into various
provincial, national and international competitions.
Operation MBO
Operation MBO is the provincial massification programme based on geographic
integration and co-ordination with joint planning and implementation of
projects that all contribute comprehensively towards poverty eradication, human
development and improved quality of life. Operation MBO has been undertaken
across all the sub-programmes i.e. community sport, junior sport, recreation,
facilities, mass school sport and community mass participation. The Department
will continue to facilitate programmes and projects in the identified areas of
Nkandla, Msinga, Mzimkhulu and Makhatini Flats.
Building the economy through partnerships with sports federations
Our partnerships with sports federations are key to the delivery of sport
and recreation in the province. Our sports federations are the custodians of
our athletes and by virtue of their constituency, govern the respective codes
of sport.
Having successfully assisted SAFA through the process of structural
transformation and starting a similar process in some of the other codes of
sport, greater emphasis will be placed on ensuring that every district
municipality benefits from the programmes and projects of sports federations.
This will be done through the formation of clubs, the establishment of leagues
and the rolling out of projects to build the capacity of administrators,
coaches and technical officials in the nationally recognised priority codes of
sport. Focus will also be on talent identification and scientific support,
where the Provincial Academy of Sport will play a key role. All programmes will
cater for athletes with special needs.
Priority codes of sport are: athletics, aquatics, boxing, cricket,
basketball, netball, volleyball, golf, hockey, gymnastics, baseball, tennis,
table tennis, canoeing, surfing, lifesaving, karate, dance sport and handball.
Our approach will be developmental in nature and skill development projects
will culminate in Community Development Games, selection tournaments for
competitions of the various sports codes and importantly serve as a preparation
for the South African Games in September 2007.
School Sport Mass Participation Programme
The Department has received an allocation of R18,960 million as a
conditional grant for the School Sport Mass Participation Programme. This
programme is run in conjunction with the Department of Education for the
resuscitation and revitalisation of our schools sports and physical education
programmes.
In 2006/07, 159 schools in the most rural areas benefited from this
programme, creating employment for 170 sport assistants and admin staff
involving 2862 educators and giving 100 000 learners an opportunity to
participate in sport and recreation. There were nine festivals that took place
throughout the province, where approximately 500 learners and 100 officials
participated and attendance at each event was approximately 1 000 indicating
the interest and enthusiasm in this programme. Other benefits included the
provision of equipment and Sector Education Training Authority (SETA)
accredited training to all sports assistants and cluster co-ordinators.
In 2007/08, financial year focuses on schools and clusters from both
previously disadvantaged rural and urban areas and a further 162 schools will
benefit from this programme.12 schools in this programme have been identified
as having a high rate of crime and have been included in an endeavour to
provide learners with a positive alternative and to also assess the impact of
sport and recreation in the reduction of crime. A further 173 personnel will be
employed as sports assistants, cluster co-ordinators and admin support staff in
this programme, bringing the total number of jobs created to 343, benefiting
321 schools. Equipment and human resource development will also be part of the
benefits. Amongst the areas benefiting from this programme will be Msinga,
Buffalo Flats, Wentworth, Klip River and Hlazakazi.
This programme also has a link to the United Kingdom programme of "Dreams
and Teams", "Junior Football Organisers' Programmes" and the "Fairplay Today"
project which provide human resource development for identified sports
assistants, educators and learners.
Gender and disability
Our transformation agenda cannot be complete without attending to gender and
disability issues. "All sporting federations in South Africa still treat women
as 'add-ons'. This is more so in team sport than it is in individual sport and
for this reason most women athletes remain marginalised. The challenge would be
to mobilise and to consociate women to ensure they become truly liberal." A
quick look at the organisation, budget and media coverage of such codes as
football, rugby, cricket, netball, hockey, etc will verify our argument.
Sponsors are also very prejudiced against women in sport.
The Department aims to mobilise and increase the number of women and girls
participating in sports. Programmes are also aimed at dealing with areas facing
the development and participation of women and sports federations are urged to
have definite strategies and make concerted efforts to address the challenges
facing women's participation in sport and recreation.
The Department's equity programme targets active involvement of women and
the disabled in sporting activities.
This includes:
* capacity building to prepare women for leadership/decision making roles in
sport organisations
* celebration of women's month with sport and recreation activities
* women's seminars
* affording access to mostly disadvantaged women to the Spar Ladies Race, the
largest women's road race in the country.
In order to address the issues of transformation and needs of people with
disabilities, the Department works closely with Disability Sport South Africa
(DISSA) to:
* ensure inclusivity in as many of the mainstream activities as possible
* co-ordinate and arrange development programmes for the different disability
groups
* organise events for the disabled in communities
* provides financial and human resource assistance at major events and
festivals
* form new structures in rural areas and townships
* encourage the club links and capacity building programmes.
Club development
Club development is a new national programme that aims to:
* develop the human resource potential of sports federations
* ensure that sport and recreation bodies achieve their transformation/
affirmative action objectives
* increase participation in sport and recreation at grass roots level at the
simplest level of organisation and the club
* to serve as a link between the mass participation and high performance
programme.
A number of clubs will be formed to play in the leagues within communities.
The following areas will benefit, Nkandla, Msinga, Mtubatuba, uMzimkhulu,
uMziwabantu.
Codes of sport will include football and netball. A conditional grant has
been made available to fund the club development programme.
Our vision is to see the participation in our programmes lead to community
clubs. These will in turn be the basic sites of sport development and the
building bricks of social cohesion. Together with school sport, community clubs
are also where the catchments of players for skills and transformation will
come from.
Indigenous games
My Department is driven to protect and promote indigenous games to further
community spirit, bring people together and instil a sense of pride in a
society's cultural roots. Indigenous sports and games are part of intangible
heritage and a symbol of the cultural diversities of our societies. They are
also an efficient means to convey values of solidarity, diversity,
inclusiveness and cultural awareness.
The Department has been able to rise to the challenge of tracing,
reintroducing and promoting the rich games such as induku, mlabalaba, khokho
and juskei. The momentum will be carried from local communities to the
provincial and national indigenous games festivals.
Rural horse riding
An initiative was undertaken by the Department by staging the biggest rural
horse riding festival at Dundee in July 2005 and 2006 and has become an annual
event taking place on the last Saturday of July. In 2007 this project will be
introduced to other districts across the province. Activities will include
ukutelebhela, show jumping, tripling and traditional fashion. This year's event
will take place on the 28 July 2007.
Other recreation programmes
Learn to swim: this programme focuses on water safety, basic swimming skills
and fun.
Learn and play: this is a fun filled activity for those under 12 years of age.
Unhealthy lifestyles leading to obesity is a serious problem among children in
South Africa. The goal is to promote active lifestyles at a young age and
provide learning opportunities at the same time.
Recre-hab: this is a rehabilitation programme for prisoners and street
children. Recreation can be an alternative to unhealthy behaviour such as drug
abuse and violence.
In the prisons, the recreâhab programmes are integrated with other prison
programmes on a daily and weekly basis. In the case of street children, the
programme is integrated with other activities which seek to re-integrate street
children with society.
Work and play: employee well-being and attitude can affect production and
service delivery. Recreation provides the necessary atmosphere and environment
to energise employees, encourage interdepartmental co-operation and improve
their well-being.
Active seniors: senior citizens, like children are classified as most
vulnerable. Senior citizens recreation clubs will be created and/or supported
with some activities held during pension days. The Department will work closely
with the Department of Social Welfare to maximise resources.
Siyadlala Mass Participation (MPP) programme
The aim of this grant is to fund the promotion of mass participation within
disadvantaged communities in a selected number of sports codes, in conjunction
with local municipalities. The total available for the mass participation
conditional grant is R16,316 million, Siyadlala is a national flagship
programme. South Africa has a high level of lifestyle challenges, diseases
including high blood pressure, heart attacks and crime. The programme will
focus on high crime areas, government nodal points, rural and poverty stricken
areas. An additional 24 new hubs will be created bringing the total number of
hubs to 64. New hubs will be established in Jolivet, Ezingolweni, Utrecht and
Mboza amongst other areas. A variety of activities will be offered in the hubs
including aerobics, gymnastrada, fun walks/joggings, street ball (soccer,
netball, basketball and handball) and indigenous games. The hubs will render
life skills support to the youth in their communities.
A total of 500 000 people shall benefit from this programme with a total of
640 youth being employed on a contract basis, with women receiving
priority.
Infrastructure development
Infrastructure development is a flagship programme of the Department that
focuses on building and upgrading of sport and recreation facilities. The
programmes have been instrumental in creating job opportunities, poverty
alleviation, capacity building and strengthening inter-governmental
relations.
The construction of 26 of the facilities has been completed in the 2004/05
and 2005/06 financial years. The Department allocated R26,107 million in the
2007/08 financial year towards the building and upgrading of 19 sports
facilities throughout the province. Amongst other facilities will be built in
Ndumo, Kokstad, Umzumbe, Hlabisa, Mpolweni, Ndumeni, Ezakheni and Mondlo. An
allocation of R6 million has been made for the construction of combination
courts in communities. These facilities will accommodate various codes of sport
and will be open to everyone in the community.
They are housed within school compounds to avoid vandalism and malicious
damage to the facilities.
By 2009/10 the Department would have constructed 89 facilities and created
more than 2 000 job opportunities throughout the province.
Conclusion
Finally I wish to thank the Chairperson of the portfolio Committee, Mr
Paulus Ngcobo and members of the committee for the excellent partnership that
exists between my Department and the committee. I must also express my
appreciation to the Head of Department, Mrs S Khan, senior management and the
rest of my small staff of 124 for the manner in which they have handled the
challenges experienced by the Department, where the Department of Public
Service and Administration has suggested that in order to perform our task
effectively we require a compliment of 313. These small staffs has effectively
carried out the mandate given to us by the honourable Premier, the national
Department of Sport and Recreation and South African Sports Confederation and
Olympic Committee (SASCOC), the supreme sports controlling body in South
Africa. We are indeed grateful to the members of the sporting fraternity and
the media for all their efforts.
I recommend that the budget be adopted.
Issued by: Department of Sport and Recreation, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial
Government
24 April 2007
Source: Department of Sport and Recreation (http://www.kzndsr.gov.za/)
