SPEECH BY MR. BONGINKOSI W. DHLAMINI - MP
 

Madame Speaker, Honourable Minister,

The main aim of Sport and Recreation SA is to improve the quality of life of all South Africans by promoting participation in sport and recreational activities.

On paper, this main objective sounds so simple and no one could argue against it. Of course, we all want our people to be healthy and improve their lives by participating in some or another form of sport and recreation.

However, reality suggests that the task of the Department is much more complicated and more difficult to achieve. For instance, the demands and attractions of the modern way of life mean that fewer people have the time, or want to make time for exercise and other healthy activities.  The result is a whole range of health problems that detract from our national state of well-being.

Turning to the budget, SRSA receives R352 Million for the current financial year. This is actually substantially less than last year's allocation but we note that the budget then was higher because of a once-off allocation for 2010 World Cup planning.

While the IFP supports the budget, we would like to raise a number of concerns and challenges relating to the sports arena.

The first is transformation.  Almost everyday we hear of the commitment of federations, administrators and coaches to transform various sports. We also have a Transformation Charter in place which is supposed to guide all macro bodies, national and provincial federations and clubs on the need to transform sport. But, commitment is one thing; implementation and visible results are quite another. The fact is that this so-called commitment does not translate into fully representative sport, but just lip service and a time buying tactic.

Hon. Minister, we must acknowledge this harsh reality that transformation on the basis of voluntarism does not work. Surely the time has come to legislate on the matter.

The fact is that if more previously disadvantaged players are not given a chance to participate in the domestic game at provincial level, we stand little chance of preparing these players for the international stage. If this situation continues South Africa's representative teams will not be fully representative of our country.

Previously disadvantaged players must be given opportunities to gain experience and to perform to the best of their abilities otherwise the chances of them being picked for national teams are to say the least remote.

Here is a startling question: how many black players do Honourable Members think will be in the starting fifteen for next year's Rugby World Cup in France? Two, perhaps three? This stark reality must be confronted head-on.

Government funding of sport is inadequate to say the least. We acknowledge that there are many competing demands on the national fiscus, but we have to ask why millions and millions of Rand lie undistributed in the National Lottery Fund? This money could so easily be channelled into sports developments, for new facilities, training programmes, academies and other projects for sport and development and access.

We therefore call on the Government to allow more of the Lotto proceeds to be channelled to sport and recreation. No doubt that will assist the Department to achieve its objectives of promoting participation in sports and recreation. Why not even shift the Lotto funds from DTI to Sport and Recreation?

The 2006 Soccer World Cup kicks off in Germany next week. After the Olympic Games this is the biggest sporting event on the global calendar.

In 2010, it is our chance to host the World Cup. But, Hon. Members we should be concerned. We should be concerned about the state of our preparedness for 2010. Thus far, we have heard a lot about planning, getting structures in place and so on. The Local Organising Committee tells us that they have been prevented from releasing more concrete details because of the imminent start of the German tournament. We certainly hope that by the end of the German World Cup we will hear more about new public transport systems, new stadiums and the other infrastructural requirements for hosting a tournament of this magnitude.

There are only four years left before 2010. That may sound like a lot of time but it is not and we should be vigilant that time does not run out before we are fully prepared, leaving South Africa embarrassed and ridiculed. This tournament means too much to our country, and indeed to Africa, that we cannot afford to fail.

Thank you.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Mr. Bonginkosi Dhlamini: 083 254 8576
Noleen Hendricks: 082 886 9848