South Africa’s Minister of Sport and Recreation, Mr Fikile Mbalula, announced a National Sport and Recreation Indaba at a launch held at Coca-Cola Park in Johannesburg on Tuesday, 5 April 2011 in a bid to make South African sport more inclusive and develop a National Sports Plan for the country.
The Minister said he believes that the future of sport and recreation in South Africa is not just the responsibility of a single entity, but of all the stakeholders in the sports sector. And he added that now was the time to take collective action.
“The National Sport and Recreation Indaba is intended to pave the way forward for sport in South Africa and its purpose is more than just creating conducive environments, providing resources and facilities and providing scientific support and training. It will provide a platform where sport and recreation issues can be discussed frankly and without prejudice; where policies can be translated into practice and a National Sports Plan for the country can be finalised,” he said.
“This all-encompassing Indaba will be supported by structures and individuals with interests in sport and recreation. The key stakeholders in the sport and recreation sector include politicians, business people, federations, SASCOC, public entities, NGOs, public servants, the sport departments of institutions of higher learning, youth formations and other relevant stakeholders.
“The overall objective is to reach a people-centred, developmental and transformative discourse that will continue to evolve organically from every nook and cranny of the South African society. The Ministry of Sport hopes that these thoughts and opinions of all sport loving people in their organised and voluntary formations will result in a vibrant debate and solid platform for national dialogue.”
In a landmark Strategic Planning Workshop held in January, the Ministry of Sport along with sports federations and other significant roleplayers in the sports sector resolved to host a National Sport and Recreation Indaba in order to create an environment for people in sport to perform their duties effectively, and to clarify and translate into practice the various policies that have been put into place to govern the country’s sport.
“The logical conclusion is the restoration of sport and recreation to its rightful owners – the people,” said the Minister.
Enquiries:
Mr Paena Galane (Media Liaison Officer, Office of the Minister)
Tel: 012 304 5255/ 079 509 9833
E-mail: paena@srsa.gov.za
