The Minister of Sport and Recreation South Africa, Mr Fikile Mbalula,
MECs and Members of Parliament here present,
The President SASCOC, Mr Gideon Sam,
Member of the IOC, Dr Sam Ramsamy,
Members of the SASCOC Board,
Sports administrators
Sportsmen and sportswomen,
Ladies and gentlemen.
We are honoured to join the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) ten year celebrations of existence.
We join in the celebration of an organization whose history and leading personalities has been intertwined with our own history of the struggle over many decades.
SASCOC's birth ten years ago was not an accident of history or miracle. It was a product of protracted struggles, bitter conflict and civil talks for a non-racial, democratic, non-sexist and equitable sporting landscape.
Your ten year celebrations coincides correctly so with the nation-wide 20 year celebrations since the advent of democracy and liberation in 1994.
This is another sign of our common and shared history dating back to the 1950s throughout the dark days of apartheid to the dawn of democracy.
Leaders such as Sam Ramsamy, Denis Brutus, avid cricket stars such as the late Cape Town born Basil D' Oliviera, pioneering sports administrators and community leader Dan Qeqe, Bill Jardin, are amongst a battalion of sports of activists who gave meaning and expression to sports and cultural boycott.
They gave life to the anti-apartheid movement campaigns and to the clarion call of No normal sport in an abnormal society. Their selfless sacrifices and their invaluable contribution that made it possible for us to gather and celebrate as we do.
We must take our hats off to them for liberating sport!
The liberation movement deeply understood the centrality of sport in the development, transformation and unity of the people of South Africa.
Throughout the journey to freedom in South Africa, we have at all material time and every step of the way deployed our tried and tested activists and leaders to the sports movement.
This is a tradition that dates back to the generations of Walter Rubusana early in the beginning of the 20th Century.
It continued from generation to generation to most recently, our legendary former Minister of Sport, the late Steve Tshwete, Reverend Makhenkesi Stofile, Ngconde Balfour, Joe Phaahla, Mthobi Tyamzatshe and many others.
We owe these sons of the soil a depth of gratitude for making it possible for us to rejoice as we celebrate SASCOC's 10 years of existence and 20 years of our democracy and freedom. We salute these pioneers and their generations of patriotic sportsmen and women.
We are also celebrating the history of struggles waged by progressive sports and Olympic bodies such as the South African Non-Racial Olympic Committee (SANROC), National Olympic Committee of South Africa (NOCSA), the South African Council for Non-racial Sport, South African Council on Sport (SACOS), the National Sport Councils.
As much as we have made many strides to achieve equity, excellence and representativity in sport, there is still a great deal of work to be done to ensure the leveling of the playing field, inclusivity and equal opportunities.
Due to the history of apartheid and the segregated manner in which facilities were provided, many communities still do not have recreational or sports facilities. That is one of the priorities of this government, to build human settlements that will have all these facilities ultimately for our people.
Another priority, which the Minister of Sport and Recreation has actively focused on, is the promotion of women's sports.
We have to do more to promote sports for persons with disabilities.
Another huge area of investment and focus, is the National School Sport Programme. Our Government has adopted the National Sport and Recreation Plan and we are looking forward to a funding formula that will ensure the successful implementation of the plan.
Schools is where we will find the sports stars of the future.
Investing in school sports also requires a strong talent development system, structured coaching framework, vibrant academy system and adequate nutrition and scientific support.
It is thus not a small matter and not something we can achieve overnight, but we will make progress with determination and support from the sports fraternity.
In this investment, lies the future role of SASCOC now and in the medium term. We urge you to work with us to build South African sports.
Compatriots,
In five day's time, we will be commemorating the first anniversary since the passing on of our founding President and international icon, Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.
This first anniversary should add more impetus to the journey of nation building and reconciliation, which Tata promoted immensely during his Presidency.
We thank South Africans again for the dignified manner in which Tata was laid to rest last year. He will forever remain in our hearts.
Compatriots, today the world marked World Aids Day. Our country has done exceptionally well in fighting this scourge in recent years, especially since the major turnaround that we effected in 2009.
More people than ever are receiving treatment which has increased the life expectancy in our country since 2009.
Through improved mother to child prevention of HIV, more babies are born negative and life has improved for people living with HIV in general.
Our country is making progress but there is still a lot of work to be done, especially in preventing new infections.
We urge the sports fraternity to continue participating in the campaign against HIV and Aids, to fight the stigma and to promote the campaign to prevent and reduce new infections.
Compatriots,
Last night we hosted the popular South African Sports Awards.
Allow me extend my hearty congratulations to all the award winners, our exceptional sports men and women. You all work hard to keep the passion of sport alive in the hearts of millions of South Africans!
We also congratulate Ms Portia Modise who broke the ceiling by the being the first woman to win the Sports Star of the Year Award.
This has affirmed the important role that women play in sport in our country.
We also salute Joost van der Westhuizen who has contributed immensely to the growth and success of rugby in our country.
We urge the whole nation to support Joost and his family as he fights a big and difficult battle against motor neuron disease.
Compatriots, we end the year 2014 on a high note as our teams have qualified for international tournaments.
This means that 2015 will be both a busy and exciting year for the nation as we cheer our teams on, awaiting good performance on all fronts.
We wish the Amantombazana, National Netball Team, the Proteas, the National Cricket Team, and the Springboks, National Rugby Team during their respective international championships campaigns next year.
We congratulate Bafana Bafana on their qualification to participate in the Africa Cup of Nations after a long period of drought.
We will all fully support the Team in this campaign to bring the Cup back home - just like we did in 1996.
Compatriots and friends,
We congratulate SASCOC on this wonderful occasion and anniversary.
It has been 10 years of hard work, 10 years of working to transform sport in our country into non-racial and inclusive sport.
It has been 10 years of working towards making sport a unifying factor in our country.
We wish you strength and success for years to come. We will support you all the way!
I thank you.
