Colleagues, comrades, compatriots, fellow South Africans, receive our warm fraternal and revolutionary greetings from the Ministry of Sport and Recreation South Africa. We join the Deputy Minister, Mr Gert Oosthuizen in extending a warm welcome to all delegates in attendance here today.
We welcome in our midst ladies and gentlemen of the fourth estate, the media, who are joining us during this open session of this august strategic workshop.
In the same vein, we trust that you have had a well deserved rest over the holidays and festive season and you are now rejuvenated and combat ready to join us in the battle trenches in our march for non-racialism, non-sexism, democratic, accessible, integrated and united sport and recreation system in 2011 and beyond.
Ladies and gentlemen, our approach to this strategic planning workshop is that all participants should, for a change, be freed from bureaucratic procedures, enjoy the benefits of equality and shared responsibility by taking off your shoes and jackets and just be your usual selves! Just for these three days we must resist the temptation of addressing one another, the Minister, Deputy Minister, the Director-General and MECs President of this or that federation; for only these three days we are just speakers/ facilitators or participants or simply delegates.
We would like to urge everyone present in this workshop to actively participate in all the deliberations without any fear or favour as we believe this is a festival of ideas that must be characterised and underpinned by frank, open and robust debates. We must tell no lies, we must mask to difficulties, and we must claim no easy victories!
We do so inspired by the urgent task to build a collective case for sport in our national and global discourse, to sharpen our theory, analysis and organisation of sport and recreation in South Africa.
Of cardinal importance, we do so to chart a common vision, a common implementation plan, a common delivery mechanisms, across all spheres of government, for sport development and total transformation of our sector.
The year 2010
We have as a country and as a people come out of a very eventful decade and year. The year 2010 will go down the annals of history as a milestone in the evolution of football in Africa. We closed the last decade on a positive note and it is therefore befitting to open the new decade on another positive note as well!
To all the sport loving people gathered in this room and South Africans at large, we salute you for your majestic contribution towards the successful hosting of the first FIFA World Cup ever staged on the African soil in June/July 2010. We will return to this magnificent achievement and what we plan to do as government to thank the people of South Africa.
We would also like to salute all those who have been tirelessly involved in organising a successful International Olympic Committee Conference (IOC) on 5 to 7 December 2010 that took place in Durban to discuss the relationship between sport, education and culture. Through these on going initiatives and dialogues we believe that sport and recreation will in the end become a definite body of opinion for the youth, sport activists and through sport, we can and we will promote intellectualism and contribute to socio-economic development.
Our electoral mandate
The aforementioned conference and our strategic planning workshop today are open-ended platforms and flexible intellectual engagements which will enable us to gain fresh elements of enlightenment and progress. However, given our country’s history of inequality and its uneven development we are duty-bound to undo all inequalities through directed policies, campaigns and programmes.
Our point of departure is the clarion call issued by the ruling party to the nation on the occasion of the African National Congress (ANC) 52nd National Conference 2007. The ANC called upon all of us in the sporting sector to ensure that:
- One emblem for all sports national teams is adopted.
- All schools must offer a minimum bouquet of extra mural, mass participation in sport activities.
- Physical education must be offered as a compulsory subject for learners from grade 0-12.
- Mass participation, physical activity and sport programmes must prioritise the involvement of girls, women and people with disability with a view to promoting equity.
- Funding currently under the Municipality Infrastructure Grant (MIG), which is aimed at sports facilities, should be diverted to the departments of Sports and Recreation and of Education.
- The ANC must ensure that the country's investments in 2010 FIFA World Cup should result in a lasting legacy for our communities and our people.
- Speed up the revival of school sport and ensure that it forms part of the school curriculum. In addition, the ANC government will ensure that the provision of sport facilities in poorer communities receives priority.
- To create further opportunities for the training of sports administrators, referees and coaches so as to improve standards in sport.
This call was further accentuated and amplified in our election manifesto that outlined our electoral mandate in January 2010; to “ensure that the 2010 FIFA World Cup leaves a proud legacy that our children and our communities will enjoy for many years to come, and contributes to the long-term development of the country. The ANC government will work with all stakeholders to ensure that this world event contributes to create decent work opportunities, particularly for the youth, women and street traders, promotes procurement of local goods, services and products; and that housing units and sports facilities developed for the event are made available to local communities after the event is over”.
At this juncture, we will not seek to answer the question of how far we have gone in the implementation of the resolutions of the 52nd Conference and to what extent has we realised our objective in response to our electoral mandate. These are critical questions and answers that we collectively need to openly and honestly deal with over the next three days.
However, since the 1994 democratic breakthrough our country still has a sporting and recreation landscape that does not talk to the Constitution of the Republic and our government national priorities. The country is still witnessing a sporting environment where there is a skewed picture of sporting facilities and opportunities.It is a responsibility of this government to change the status quo and ensure that South Africa have national teams and their structural arrangements that are a true reflection of South Africa’s population. This includes, race and class question, gender, demographics, age and geographical location.
The workshop objectives and purpose
The genesis of this Workshop is precipitated by the immediacy of implementing the Sport and Recreation South Africa framework agreement for 2011/2012 and the overall national and historical mission of the all-round unification, transformation and development of sport and recreation as means to create a better life for all. The purpose of this Workshop therefore is to, among others:
- To give final direction to the sector on key policy issues as captured in the draft white paper as the highest level of government policy on sport and recreation.
- To deal with the policy directives in a prioritised manner.
- To build on the sport and recreation delivery framework developed on the 24 November 2010.
- Finalise the strategic plan of the department for 2011 to 2015, as well as the key indicators of the 2011 Estimates of National Expenditure and outputs of the 2011 -2012 SRSA Business Plan.
- Identify initiatives to increase the budget of the department.
- Identify priority areas of the SRSA budget.
- Use the opportunity for senior management team building.
We have in recent days articulated our intention to review the transformation discourse in sport and recreation as to provide a new perspective and engage ourselves in a nation-wide debate that should deal directly with issues of equity, equality, excellence, access, organisational culture, good corporate governance and etc.
Infrastructure and facilities
We have in the past indicated the immediate challenge of building new facilities or the restoration and maintenance of others in all our schools and communities.We need to confront this challenge with a clear collaboration strategy between and amongst all spheres of government and across government departments including communities at large. We are collaborating with the Department Co-operative Government and Traditional Affairs and the South African Local Government Association to develop together with the municipality a plan for the installation and restoration of old sport and recreation facilities in the communities. We believe that the MECs will also assist in this important task as they are the closest to the coal face.
We are reviewing all available funding mechanisms; from our own budget, private sector investment and international donor funding to escalate the delivery of infrastructure and facilities in our communities. We have already agreed with the Congress of Traditional Leaders to collaborate with the Ministry of Sport and Recreation South Africa in the building of multipurpose sport centres on the country. We invite all other social partners and civil society to join us in this task and form social movements that will heighten consciousness and increase participation in sport and recreation.
Our generations challenge is to move from plan to action and planning for success. We count on your support in our endeavor.
Transformation
The national and provincial departments are acutely alive to the imperative of transformation for sport unity, social cohesion, sustenance, and well being of communities. The country can no longer afford another decade of endless debates on this topic hence our call to the sector to take practical steps towards the radical and progressive transformation of sport in our country. At the same time we call upon Parliament and the people of the Republic of South Africa to join hands with us in our campaign to provide a fresh perspective on transformation, a perspective that posits equity, equality, unity, quality, access and organisational culture at the centre of our national discourse.
Transformation must be an on-going-debate wherever our people converge. Young and old, black and white, women and children should draw inspiration and courage from the programmes introduced by the department and various federations and clubs’ to create access and better their lives. We want to achieve inclusivity and consensus on what each federation’s and/or club’s contribution is or will be towards the realisation of the objectives of the national goals and priorities.
In order to ensure that our actions are focused and directed, the ministry has started the process of drawing up a transformation charter which will apply to all sports organisations.
In this regard, we are unflinchingly committed to transparency and good corporate governance and have already sent a very strong message to the federations and the sporting fraternity that we will not tolerate door-keeping, corruption and monopoly. Sport and Recreation are national assets that must be nurtured and developed for the sustenance of our people.
Mass participation
1. School Sport
We will be collaborating with the Department of Basic Education in our immediate task of reviving school sport in rural areas and townships. This is a campaign we have embarked on as we believe the future of the South African youth lies in positioning schools as incubators and nurseries for talented and professional sportspersons.
Our road map and roll out plan to bring back the culture of sport into the school environment will be marked by both focus on training and campaigns aimed at generating and encouraging popular participation. We are in the process of finalising the Frame-Work for collaboration that will be presented for consideration to the Department of Basic Education.
This agreement will clarify legislative, governance, funding, facilities, equipment, and attire and so on.
It is also important that we take note of the following information:
- Provincial departments of sport must ensure that provincial school code structures are in place to prepare for the national launch of school code structures scheduled for 25 to 27 February 2011.
- The Department of Sport and Recreation South Africa has been working closely with Federations to ensure the draft plans for school sport are in place for 2011 to 2012.
- The department is also working closely with the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) to support the completion of the coaching framework which will ensure a coordinated and accredited system of coaching is in place nationally.
2. Community sport
Community sport is an integral part of sport development and personal growth. We must provide young people with different pathways for personal growth during and after school-going period. This can only be achieved by reviving and bringing life back into community clubs. We want our communities to have all the expertise and facilities that will encourage them and all of us to consider sport and recreation as life-long activities that improve the quality of life and health. Our primary objective is to produce a wholesome individual and a unique cadre through sport and recreation.
Below are practical steps we are taking into schools and communities and we will appreciate your input in this regard.
- Teachers and administrators should be trained in the various sporting codes as it was the case in the past.
- Sport and recreation will become part of the academic calendar and we will bring back the practice of competitions and tournaments from districts, provinces to national levels.
- In communities we are working with the Ministry for Human Settlement to ensure that our spatial planning is directed at building houses and recreational facilities that enhance a better life for all and increased community participation in sporting activities.
- We are using our limited budget to provide to rural communities and townships sport attire, basic equipment and other basic necessities to encourage involvement and participation.
- In partnership with a host of sport heroes and heroines we have an annual event to visit communities distributing sport material and also inspiring youth to prevent them from being infected with HIV and AIDS.
Recreation
We have noted the unfortunate under-theorisation of the recreation component of our ministry and its attendant negative impact on communities in dire need of recreational facilities. The unfortunate situation that occurred in Schweizer Renecke, in North West where young people died in a shebeen due to a stampede during New Year Celebrations at the close of 2010. Shebeens must not and cannot replace recreation.
We have taken immediate steps to address this anomaly through the following measures:
- Mobilisation of all resources from local companies, multinational companies and foreign aid to build 98 multi-purpose centres in 2011/12 around the country. Our aim is to provide opportunities and create access to youth to play, socialise and connect through activities that enhances positive behavior.
- Through our engagement with our colleagues in all spheres of government we want to unlock the resources within the Municipal Infrastructure Grant with a view to address the collapsing and in most instances absent facilities and infrastructure in our communities’ especially rural areas and townships.
- The Ministry of Sport and Recreation have also appointed a Ministerial Committee comprising of experts, academics and practitioners in the field of recreation to advise on how we can further deepen our understanding in this field and what interventions should be undertaken.
Job creation and the role and place of sport in society
Two days ago ladies and gentlemen, the President charged all government departments to “put in the appropriate programmes in place and establish the right environment for the creation of many decent jobs and sustainable jobs in every way possible”. We have to deliberate on this presidential injunction during the sessions in this Workshop and ensure that at the end of our deliberations we a clear purpose, a clear programme on which we must relentlessly implements and constantly monitor.
We also have to deal with the broader question on the role and place of sport in society. We need to leverage on sport and recreation to address most of the social ills afflicting our communities. Our people must be an integral part of any plan that we must and will finally agree on.
National and international events
2010 FIFA World Cup
In June/July 2010, together with the people of the world, we witnessed the biggest and most prestigious mega-sport event held on the African soil. We once more thank FIFA for affording us the opportunity to host this event that has further propelled our country to a place of honour in the global village.
Also and most importantly we thank the people of South Africa for their generosity and hospitality towards the thousand of visitors and tourists that ascended in our country and graced our shores with their presence.
The 2010 close out report, specifically reporting on our delivery of the guarantees has already been tabled to Cabinet.
The Ministry of Sport and Recreation South Africa have already set afoot consultation and plans to ensure that:
- The 800 million rands allocated by FIFA to the Sport Trust is utilised for the development of our people especially the destitute in rural areas and townships.
- We have commissioned additional research through the Human Science Research Council with a view to specifically expand upon the impact of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in the following areas: Social Cohesion, Nation building, legacy, stadia sustainability, economic impact of the World Cup. The comprehensive country report will add much value to researchers and countries planning mega events.
- As government we will be hosting a football extravaganza between the World Cup Champions Spain and South Africa eleven on the 15 May 2011. This football extravaganza is organised in all humility to say thank you in a big way to the people of South Africa and all fellow patriots who were involved in this event of local international significance.
Rugby and Cricket World Cup
- 2011 will be another exciting year of international sport events for team South Africa. The Springboks will travel to New Zealand to defend their 2007 World Cup Title. With the good mix of new youthful talent and experience in the Springbok team, I am confident that if they stick to the structure that brought them success against England in 2007, they have all the potential to reach the semi-finals and finals. Let us wish “die bokke” well and also participate in all the build up programmes to the world cup.
- The Proteas will travel to the Asian sub-continent to play in the 2011 ICC World Cup. With the high percentage of wins in previous One Day International competitions and the multiple individual world record holders in the team, the depth of talent in the batting, bowling and fielding departments, I am confident that the Proteas will do us proud and make it through to the finals.
- This is the time to exhibit the magical and famous football Friday to magical Cricket Friday and later the magical Rugby Fridays in our quest to unite and rally behind the Proteas and the Springboks. As we were reminded by the President three days ago of the ‘powerful images of the entire country clad in national colours during the FIFA World Cup that unleashed the overwhelming patriotism’.
- We did it for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. We therefore call on the entire nation to unite behind our national teams and show them that they have the whole country behind them. They should be able to feel the South African spirit of success
- The Department of Sport and Recreation South Africa is working jointly with SASCOC to prepare for the successful hosting of the 123 International Olympic Committee (IOC) General Assembly Session in Durban from 1 to 9 July 2011. This event will also be an opportunity to put South Africa and our perspective on the world map in areas of sport development and will be attended by several heads of state, royal families, sport personalities and administrators from around the world. This will further be an opportunity for the three cities bidding to host the 2018 Winter Games to present their bids to the IOC. The winning city will be announced via live broadcast during the duration of the conference.
We are working with The Presidency and other government departments to ensure that this event is well prepared and successfully organised.
Following on the footsteps of this workshop, I am delighted to announce that we are convening a Sport and Recreation Indaba in May and all role-players and partners will be invited. The Deputy Minister will elaborate on the plans during the proceedings of this workshop.
Ladies and gentlemen, following his gallant display and scoring the beautiful goal that opened the Soccer City during the FIFA World Cup, we are proud to wish Bafana Bafana midfielder Simphiwe Tshabalala well during the FIFA Puskas Awards to be held in Zurich tonight.
We would like to take this opportunity to salute one of the finest cricketers and son of the soil ever produced in our land; Makhaya Ntini for his immense contribution to the South African and International Cricket fraternity. We thank him for believing in himself and thus making us proud through his gallant fighting spirit on and off the field of cricket. We wish him happy retirement from the national cricket team and invite him to join hands with us as we seek to produce many more young sportsmen and women of his calibre. Thank you Mdingi “Express for all those memorable times on our crease.”
We also want to thank the late Steve Tshwete, former Minister of Sport for his vision in identifying Makhaya Ntini at an early stage and supporting his development from school to international stardom.
I declare this strategic session workshop open and wish the workshop successful deliberation!
Thank you!
