Chairperson
Deputy Minister: Sport and Recreation South Africa (SRSA), Honourable Mr Gert Oostuizen
Members of the Nine Executive Councils (MEC’s) for Sport and Recreation in the Republic
The Acting Director-General: SRSA, Ms Sumaya Khan
Head of Departments of various Provincial Sport and Recreation Departments present here
SRSA senior management services’ staff present here
Media organisations that are here today
Ladies and gentlemen
Comrades and friends
Fellow South Africans
30 June 2011 becomes the last day in the long month of the “Youth Action for Economic Freedom in our Life Time”.This month is an appreciation for the role that the youth of South Africa played in the process of social and political change.
June 2011 marks the 35th anniversary of the Soweto Uprisings and the 67th anniversary of the birth of the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL). It also marks the 9th anniversary of the untimely death of the leader and stalwart of the youth movement in South Africa, Comrade Peter Mokaba.For those born in 1976, it marks their ultimate retirement from the ranks of the youth movement and they will fall out of the definition of youth in our country; to others it meant the lapsing of their ANCYL membership. In addition, June 2011 also marks the second year of the existence of the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) and 24th National Congress of the ANC Youth League.
In line with that June 2011, 2 June 2011, a Thursday evening, a profound ‘tsunami and hurricane’ of death wiped the streets, the valleys, the mountains and the scenery of our country. Barely fifteen days after a fitting celebration of the birthday of one of the stalwarts of our struggle for freedom and liberty, tata comrade Walter Sisulu. Mama Albertina Nontsikelelo Sisulu became breathless; her flesh and blood succumbed to the paranormal.A mystical impale of icebergs cut through the soul of our nation.
Imaginary squeals and squalls of heavy storms; sounds of whooshing rains wetting a ‘thirsty Thursday’, reverberated the veins and flesh of our people; unflinching an unbearable pain in the inner bones of all South Africans.
Perverted into a gasping moment for the Sisulu family; a giant gash for our nation, a pain penetrating the inner-end of our hearts until reaching the pinnacle of the organisation of our people.
The chink-chunk wave of the ‘tsunami and hurricane of death’ robbed South Africa of its rocket of rocks; the “Mother of the Nation” – MaAlbertina Sisulu - one of our revolutionary ovens and ovulates.
In the same month our movement was called upon one Wednesday, 22 June 2011, six days after the 35th anniversary of the commemoration and celebration of the 1976 Uprisings and twenty one days after the untimely passing-on of MaSisulu, comrade Professor Kader Asmal succumbed to cancer.
Comrade Kader, a profound academic, a formidable independent thinker of the 21st century, a knowledgeable constitutionalist till the end, and a torch bearer amongst academic and organic intellectuals, an intelligentsia of our liberation struggle could take no more on that faithful day.
South Africans woke-up as usual and continued with their daily chores.In the Northern Cape, people of Kimberley continued to protest against Mayor-elect peltering state vehicles with stones and destroying property. In kwaZulu-Natal (KZN), near eThekwini two police officers appeared in the magistrate court for soliciting a bribe from a member of society for in return to drop his case.In the Eastern Cape, in Nelson Mandela Bay Metro, mob justice inflamed the streets like wild fire against allegedly criminals that continue to make the lives of communities’ unbearable.
These acts are some of the social ills that comrade Asmal and many our stalwarts dedicated all their lives to oppose and fight against till their last breath.
However, in Cape Town the people woke-up beneath sixty percent (60%) possibilities of heavy rain, nearly twelve degree Celsius and highly freezing fifty percent (50%) South- Easterly roaring winds, comrade Kaders’ body gave up and was cremated on Saturday, 25 June 2011 in Maitland, Cape Town.
Till their last breath, both these stalwarts of our struggle remained African democrats; cognizant of their revolutionary duties as a cadres of the working class baptized in the revolutionary fires of our struggle for national liberation and social emancipation. A great leaders of their generations and tireless ANC organisers till the end, bred among the brave young lions of the 40’s and 50’s! Equal to the challenges of their time, they occupied the centre stage of our struggle in the twentieth (20th) and twenty first (21st) centuries in response to the call by our movement that, “South Africa belongs to all who live in it, Black and White’ and that there is no government that can claim authority unless it is based on the will of the people”!
Ladies and gentlemen, in the last meeting of the MINMEC of 24 March 2011, at Coca Cola Park, we agreed that HEADCOM should immediately process all the resolutions of MINMEC and collate all the strategic issues discussed and bring them for the attention of this meeting for noting, discussion and/or approval.
High on the programme of proceedings was the implementation of the Road Map to Optimal Performance and Functional Excellence as the bedrock of the Sport and Recreation South Africa’s (SRSA) programme of action (POA) for 2011/12 financial period.
The meeting acknowledged that the road map presents us with an opportunity to change and reposition sport and recreation landscapein South Africa and provides a strategic political direction to reposition SRSA; and stimulate serviceable efficienciesand accelerated service delivery.
We re-emphasised that the road map:
“Provides a compendium to transform the department into an agile, athletic and responsive institutional architecture … which … epitomises a new paradigm of a vibrant epoch for both leadership and management of Sport and Recreation South Africa to confront a complex set of challenges and opportunities with much vigour, vibe and resolution”.
Strategically located in such an approach was the acceleration acknowledgement of our developmental state’s fundamental tenets and by giving attention and authority to the six priority areas of the road map, namely:
“Accelerating transformation; rekindling school sport; reshaping institutional mechanisms; fostering mass mobilisation; revitalising the recreation genre; and mobilising sufficient funds for optimal programme execution”.
Therefore, six months after our strategic planning session and six months before the end of the year, we are called upon to take stock of the progress made since January 2011 and two moths after our last MINMEC.
Hence the genesis of this gathering, today, would be to consider the road traversed since the adoption of the road map, milestones in the implementation of the road map, opportunities presented by the road map and the presentation of the path to the completion of the map.
This would be coupled by the synopsis of the progress made in the organisation and coordination of the National Sport and Recreation Indaba.At the centre of such an abridgment, it could be fitting to recall what we said to the people of the republic in the official launch of the Sport and Recreation Indaba in March 2011:
“The Freedom Charter emphasised that “the colour bar in cultural life, in sport and recreation and in education shall be abolished … and that government shall discover, develop and encourage national talent for the enhancement of our sporting and cultural life.”
In the same vein, the Constitution of the Republic guarantees these freedoms.In its preamble, the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa:
“recognises the injustices of our past; honour those who suffered for justice and freedom in our land; respect those who have worked to build and develop our country; and believe that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in our diversity; to heal the divisions of the past and establish a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights; lay the foundations for a democratic and open society in which government is based on the will of the people and every citizen is equally protected by law; and improve the quality of life of all citizens and free the potential of each person.”
Comrades and colleagues, it is fifteen years after the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic and our people, through that Constitution, gave the developmental state a political mandate to transform all the institution of the state and other undemocratic institutions and practices based on the will of the people.
Hence we believe 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.
Therefore, the 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.
This should be an all-encompassing assembly which should be supported by all the structures and individuals with interests in sport and recreation. The key stakeholders in the sport and recreation sector include politicians, business people, federations, South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC), public entities, non-governmental organstaions (NGOs), public servants, the sport departments of institutions of higher learning, youth formations and other relevant stakeholders should be accounted for during credentials.
Hence our 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. We hope 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.
Ladies and gentlemen, in order to reach an overall trajectory of a people-centred, developmental and transformative discourse that will continue to evolve organically; schools, as incubators and nurseries of grassroots sport development, are strategically located to assist in the delivery of schools sport in the republic.
Thus, in the January 2011 strategic planning workshop we confirmed that school sport is the bedrock for sport mass participation, social cohesion and one crucial anti-juvenile delinquency measures … and that … the Department of Sport and Recreation South Africa (SRSA), the provincial departments and the federations have committed themselves and seek to achieve the following measurable outputs on schools sport:
“SRSA will take charge of school sport, and sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Basic Education by end of March 2011, in order to make schools accessible for participation and development in sport. This exercise will also assist in clarifying the role of teachers with regards to extra mural activities – sport; work closely with the Department of Higher Education and Training, on the incorporation of sport and other extra-mural education activities into the teacher training curriculum, as a medium term goal; to draft and approve school sports development plan by 1 December 2011, and to ensure that school sport code structures are established from local to national level; to ensure that physical education is compulsory and implemented in all schools from next year; to ensure that school sport is a compulsory offer to all schools; to investigate international best-practice regarding the implementation of school sport as part of continued improvement; to draft a national school sport policy adopted by cabinet to give direction to all stakeholders for seamless implementation by the end of the year; to establish provincial and national structures for the coordination of school sport; to implement on-going leagues throughout the year with the support of the Federations; to implement Talent Identification and development with the support of Federations; to identify sport focused schools to ensure sport excellence; to ensure budget for the provision of school sport facilities from the Lotto Fund”.
In addition to the above imperatives, the priorities for 2011 in this regards included, the following and immediate issues: “Identification of priority sport codes; resuscitation of the concept of “Wednesday sport” or Sports Woensdag, with scheduled Wednesdays visit to schools in the afternoons to show our commitment to reclaim Wednesday afternoons school sport days; auditing of structures and related governance of school sport at provincial level; establishing of a national coordinating school sport structure; establishing of school sport code committees; placing of sports coordinators and assistants in identified schools; identification of tangible targets for job creation (MPP Conditional Grant); building capacity - Train the trainers; implementation of school sport leagues; identify sports focus schools per cluster to develop talented school athletes; address and budget for the provision of school facilities (including access to Lotto funding); and address access to school facilities”.
Hence, our last MINMEC observed the lack of consultation with the provincial counterparts in Basic Education and resolved that the provincial Departments of Basic (DoBE) should be brought on board as a matter of urgency through consultation with the national Department of Basic Education (DoBE). We further instructed the department to finalise and launch school sport programme. Coupled with that we called upon the department utilise funds earmarked for schools sport towards a fast-tracked programme with definite timelines to establish and support school code committees and ongoing school sport leagues, to place cluster coordination to enable access to participation of all schools and to develop and implement a monitoring and evaluation system that will report on impact.
In this regard, the year 2012 should see the launch of the South African Schools Sport Olympics that will be a culmination of all the school sport competitions.This is envisaged to take place at the end of 2012 academic calendar.
Comrades and compatriots, in the last MINMEC, we have taken stock of the organisational and leadership questions in the implementation of the resolution to fast-track the rejuvenation of sport councils across the length and breadth of the republic of South Africa. We noted the uneven implementation of the objectives of the road map across the country.We further noted the challenges that are faced by the organisation to complete all its tasks in record time.
However, we can’t be complaisant and wait for manna from haven, Oh God, Give our Daily Bread!We expert the guidelines for the establishment of the sport councils should reach us before the National Sport and Recreation Indaba.The Indaba should resolve on this matter!
There is ready available information from different provinces on the best-practice on the approach to establish sport council as an independent and organised civil society voice on sport and recreation issues.Lets tap on that and fast-track this process.
Ladies and gentlemen, we are extremely disturbed by the spending patterns of some provinces when it comes to the mass participation and sport development grant.We do not see value for money in the implementation of the mass participation programmes especially at the provincial level. The national office continues to bear the brunt of the ill-disciplined officials who careless about compliance and service delivery to the poor.
At the end of this financial year we should have dealt with this deliberate and unprofessional quagmire and put systems and rules in place, even disciplinary mechanisms, to deal with nightmare once and for all. This matter was raised sharply in Parliament of the Republic of South Africa (RSA) by members of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP). However, we need to congratulate those officials who have shown determination and dedication to see sport and recreation enjoyed by millions of ordinary South Africans, especially the youth from all corners of our country.
Thus, today we should finalise the review process for mass participation programmes and adopt guidelines to manage the conditional grants to provinces and rules to utilise the ministerial outreach funding. This should be coupled by the departments recommendations on the distribution strategy of the grant to provinces.
In the same token, this meeting should intensively discuss the issue of “volunteers in relation to contract workers. This exercise should include the adoption of the guidelines for contract workers in sport and recreation.
Colleagues and friends, we exhausted the issue of Bills, legislation and policies.The National Sport and Recreation Indaba will pronounce itself clearly on matters pertaining to such issues. However, we echoed that the combat sport bill should appreciate the existence of other indigenous sports and they should clearly acknowledge in the drafting and finalisation of the bill. This includes, but not limited to, iiNtonga, Bare-Fist-Fighting, Martial Arts, and etc. These are supposed to be discussed in the overall context of transforming and changing the status quo in sport and recreation in our country, including related pieces of legislation.
Comrades, we must go out of this MINMEC today having finalised the issue of the plight of our students studying in Cuba. In our previous MINMEC, we agreed that provinces should provide work experience and a stipend to the South African students studying in Cuba during the vacations as a way of preparing them for future employment.
In that light the meeting should be charged with a duty to unpack the pros and cons of that decision. For the fact that we send our youth to a foreign land to study towards a sport qualification; it is our intention to contribute towards skills development in the country. This is an investment for sport and recreation South Africa into knowledge creation and dissemination. Thus, after such an investment, it will make sense for SRSA, provincial departments, SASCOC, Federations, Sport Academies, and etc to allow each student an Internship period of one year. Every effort we do should not be in direct conflict with the Constitutional Requirements, including Labour Relations Act and Conditions of Employment Act.
In conclusion, let me take this opportunity to summarise some of our flagship programme that this meeting is expected deliberate on:
- Progress made to date and the preparedness of our organisation to host the 123rd International Olympic Committee (IOC) General Council taking place in Durban, next week
- Progress made so far and challenges facing the organisation and hosting of the South Africa Sport Awards
- The status of the South African Games in relation to signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and the finalisation of the Policy Guidelines for SA Games; including the state of readiness in all aspects
In closing I would like to re-iterate the points rose in the closing remarks of 24 March MINMEC for consideration in this gathering:
- Emphasis should be made into the symbiotic link between the road map and the six priority areas of the document
- Improvement of coordination and communication around the bidding and hosting of the International Sport Events
- Consolidating cooperation and alignment pacts between SRSA and provinces between and amongst provinces with clear benchmarks and milestones for effective monitoring and evaluation.
I hope these issues raised above capture the spirit of this meeting and that each and every person will be afforded an opportunity to contribute meaningfully towards the realisation of the objectives of our democratic state in general; and sport and recreation fraternity’s strategic priorities as espoused by our road map and strategic plan 2011 – 2015.
Thank you, very much!
