M Stofile on Sport and Recreation Budget Vote

1 June 2006

Sport has potentially positive benefits in a transforming society like South
Africa, and investments and an increased budget to the Sport and Recreation
Department will ensure that South Africa remains at the helm on team
performances and developmental programmes, Minister of Sport and Recreation
South Africa (SRSA), Rev Dr Makhenkesi Stofile told Parliament in his 2006/07
Budget Vote speech in Cape Town yesterday. He said sport and recreation must
necessarily contribute to our country’s transformation agenda. “Sport must
contribute to the redressing of the disparities of the past with regards to
equal opportunities, access to infrastructure, equipment and kit, skills and
skilled coaches, referees and efficient managers.”

“Our Siyadlala Mass Participation Programme (SMPP) positions our sector well
to make a contribution to human resource development and poverty alleviation,”
said the Minister. Sport and Recreation South Africa (SRSA) launched this
flagship programme two years ago with a meagre budget of R20 million. The
Department is now entering the third year of the programme with a budget of R79
million. The programme has expanded since its launch in 36 (activity) hubs
involving 200 000 participants around the country in 2004/05 to 131 hubs
involving 1 239 363 people in 2005/06. In 2006/07, SRSA plans plans to add a
further 133 hubs. “Our aim, eventually, is to ensure that no child has to walk
more than five kilometres to access an activity hub anywhere in the country. We
would like to see the establishment of at least one hub in every ward in every
municipality across South Africa. That means that there will eventually be more
than 3800 hubs bustling with active South Africans.”

Regarding the support to sports federations, the Minister pointed out that
SRSA consciously supports these initiatives because it has prioritised the good
governance of our federations as a priority. He added that if the management of
these environments is not up to scratch, it is highly unlikely to see success.
“Unhappy athletes do not perform as well as they could. Good governance should
improve the quality of our sport. We are making a humble but important
contribution to Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa
(AsgiSA) and Joint Initiative on Priority Skills Acquisition (JIPSA), he
said.”

The Minister also highlighted that SRSA has concluded an agreement with the
Department of Education for the resuscitation and revitalisation of our school
sports and physical education programmes. In the 2006/07 budget, more than R85
million has been set aside for SRSA’s two school sport programmes. “While we
appreciate this investment, it still falls far short of what we require to
ensure a truly comprehensive and vibrant 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.”

He further challenged municipalities to continue co-operating with SRSA in
these plans. “We hope they will stop the bad habit of selling public facilities
or leasing them to monopolies that exclude our people through exorbitant
registration or participation fees. Sport must belong to all. It must be
accessible to all. We hope the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) will
perform better this year in delivering the much-needed infrastructure.

Commenting on the preparation for the FIFA World Cup in 2010, the Minister
emphasised that South Africa’s preparations for 2010 “have to be in synchrony
with government plans for the betterment of the lives of our people.” The
resources that have been made available through SRSA for facilities have more
than doubled the Department’s budget during the last financial year. The R241,5
million that has been availed to date is intended for stadium planning and some
capital spend. “This is why we opted for ten match stadia instead of just
eight. That is why we will also build or refurbish practice stadia in smaller
areas like Kimberley. The road infrastructure, the technology and business
opportunities must have an impact on the lives of our people and on the economy
of our country.”

Enquiries: Zweli Mnisi
Director: Communications and Marketing
Sport and Recreation South Africa
Tel: (012) 334 3120
Fax: (012) 326 4026
Cell: 082 464 4659
E-mail: zweli@srsa.gov.za

Issued by: Sport and Recreation South Africa
1 June 2006
Source: Sport and Recreation South Africa (http://www.srsa.gov.za)