BUDGET SPEECH, VOTE 20, BY DEPUTY MINISTER OF SPORT AND RECREATION, GC OOSTHUIZEN, TO THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
15 June 2004
CONSOLIDATING AND DELIVERING ON THE PEOPLE'S CONTRACT FOR A BETTER SOUTH AFRICA
Mev Speaker
Kabinet Kollegas
Agbare lede
Dit is en bly 'n voorreg om my nuwelings-toespraak in hierdie begrotingspos te maak. Ek is dankbaar teenoor die agbare Staats-President vir die geleentheid om as Adjunk Minister in hierdie uitdagende en opwindende portfeulje te kan dien. Sport is en bly 'n belangrike bou-blok in Nasie-bou en versoening. Trouens, wanneer ons sportspanne wen, gaan dit goed met alles - as hulle verloor, dan, soos wyle Koos du Plessis gesê het: "Alles wat eers vas was, die tafel endie laaikas, versmelt tot blote skadu's teen die muur."
Ons sal poog on alles vas te sement so ook ons Nasie-trots en gemeenskaplike patriotisme, Want; As Suid Afrikaners is ons mos 'n eenheid in verskeidenheid!
With regard to developments in sport and recreation, my tenureship could not have come at a more opportune and exciting time, given, amongst other developments, our successful Bid for hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals.
Madame Speaker, I confirm my allegiance to; and confidence in the direction given by this ANC-led government; as well as in the leadership of the Minister in this important portfolio of sport and recreation.
I can confirm that in the short space of time that we have been working together, I have been stimulated by his experience and knowledge.
I am equally encouraged by the extent to which people, from all our communities have rallied around me in support of the cause that we are pursuing, and the direction that we are taking. In particular, the positive feedback that I receive in response to the successful Bid for hosting the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup Finals, has reconfirmed my belief in the value, sport and recreation has in consolidating the nation-building process in our democracy.
Sport is, and can be a catalyst to unite all the people of our country. The responses to the victories of our football and rugby teams in major international competitions over these past two weekends, and the phone calls that I have received, especially from Afrikaans speaking compatriots in response to these outcomes, have been inspirational and are confirming the potential of sport as a nation builder.
As a department, we are not only driven by certain objectives and priorities, we contribute substantially to certain objectives and priorities as articulated in the President's State of the Nation address. Allow me to refer to some:
The President made direct reference to sport and recreation on three occasions in his budget speech. He emphasised the role that the institution can play in improving the quality of life of all our people. When he wished our participants in the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games well, he reminded them of the role that they can play in nation building, in promoting national pride and of their responsibility as ambassadors of the country. In congratulating the 2010 Soccer Bid Company on their success, our State President urged the nation to unite in order to ensure the success of 2010 as promised in our submission to FIFA.
Sport and recreation has the potential to, and is already contributing to the President's identified priority of eradicating poverty and under-development in our country. We do so by creating employment opportunities, generating income and, therefore, assist with poverty relief in a material sense.
The President also stressed the need to address the persisting conditions of racial and gender inequality that is so visibly articulated through the lack of representivity in our national and other sports teams. This can only mean that resources must be directed at creating opportunities for those who were previously excluded and disadvantaged.
The situation with regard to women's sport remains desperate especially with regard to representation. A reflection on the number of women and women's teams that have qualified to participate in the Athens Olympic Games, paint a less than satisfactory picture of our commitment to gender equity. Fortunately, the exploits of our athletes with a disability is an exception to the rule and provides some reprieve to what could be a serious indictment of our ostensible commitment to equality in our society.
Sport contributes admirably to the President's call for developing a sense of national unity and patriotism. When our representative teams are successful, we destroy those remaining vestiges of social barriers, which stand in the way of unfolding our freedom. Let me say; unwillingness to do so will be injurious to our common humanity.
Sport and recreation can contribute to the President's identified priority of the regeneration of Africa. This is in line with the NEPAD agenda. Our continent is firmly placed on the international map when athletes and teams from our continent are successful in major international sports competitions. This elicits admiration from people around the world. Together we win as Africans.
The dominance of our athletes in certain athletic events, demonstrates the capacity of people on our continent to excel; if only they are given the opportunity. We must, therefore continue to improve the functioning of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and, in particular its technical arm, the Supreme Council for Sport in Africa, Zone VI (SASC (VI)). We must do so by assisting our neighbours in the same manner as we supported Mozambique to host the first Zone VI Games. That event brought together more than 2000 young people from the region, and contributed to the harmony and understanding between people of the sub-continent. We must continue to build on other bilateral relations with countries beyond the African continent. We do this with a view to develop these relations into multi-lateral relations with countries on the continent, as is the case with our relations with Canada.
The President urged South Africans to develop active lifestyles that will contribute to a healthier nation, a decrease in the country's health bill and greater levels of productivity. Sport and recreation is all about an active lifestyle and will, therefore, play a major role in this regard. This calls for joint initiatives with the Departments of Health and Education.
The President's call for programmes, dealing with human settlements must ensure that adequate provision is made for open spaces for sport and recreation facilities; that can contribute to enhancing the life experiences of the citizens residing in there.
Sport and recreation is continuing to be a vehicle amongst the youth in particular to promote positive experiences. We aim to counter anti-social behaviour and to promote a sense of belonging. We aim to assist, through sport, a community spirit in pursuit of greater social cohesion, crime prevention and moral regeneration.
The President emphasised the need for promoting cooperative governance in our society, especially between the three spheres of government. The Minister has referred to this. Sport and recreation is delivered at the local level, where communities participate socially, recreationally and in formal sport and recreational clubs. We, therefore, have to ensure that the structures at these levels are sufficiently capacitated to ensure that sport and recreation services are delivered and that it provides the basis for "getting the nation to play". We have to ensure that the Integrated Development Programmes (IDPs) of the Local Authorities, the Growth and Development Strategies (GDSs) of the Provinces and the National Spatial Perspective of the National Government is in sync. This is an objective of our government, which we dare not fail. In particular, we have to ensure that the local sphere of government continues to prioritise and invest in sport and recreation facilities, getting the nation to play and improving the quality of life of our people.
When we think of the needs of the majority of the people of our country, the most important and pressing need is job creation, income generation and poverty alleviation.
As sport and recreation, we have taken up that challenge. We are aware that communities can question the efficacy of an investment in sport and recreation, when there are so many other needs. Basic necessities such as housing, water supply, sanitation, electricity and health care, to name a few. Our priority is to remain relevant.
We commit to this with the knowledge that certain local authorities are under pressure not to prioritise sport and recreation in terms of expenditure. We trust that all local authorities will assist in ensuring that we "get the nation" to play in such a way, that sport and recreation will affect the lives of our people on a daily basis. We ask the commitment of the local authorities to our programmes, because it is in our communities where the Makhaya Ntini's; the Lucas Radebe's; the Esekiel Sepeng's and the Bakkies Botha's are. In fact, our communities and our youth deserve better opportunities.
Madame Speaker, in 1995 we determined that in order to eliminate the backlog in sport and recreation facilities in disadvantaged areas by the year 2005, an investment of some R5 billion was required. We were also aware, that given the sport and recreation budget of the provinces whose competency it is to build facilities, we would never reach that target. Accordingly we set out to acquire those funds and registered our first success in 1995 by managing to procure R150 million from the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP). When those funds dried up at the end of 1999 the building programme came to an end that, to the great distress, of course, of the sport and recreation fraternity and the public who yearned for opportunities to participate. Our efforts were rewarded in 2000 when we successfully made a bid for funds from the Poverty Relief, Infrastructure Creation and Job Summit Fund enabling us to continue building sport and recreation facilities in deprived communities.
Die belang van hierdie meevaller was duidelik sigbaar toe ons die ontwikkeling van sport infrastruktuur, arbeids-intensief gemaak het. Dit het brood op mense se tafels gesit.
The results were remarkable, especially as that pertained to the impact we were able to make on social indicators. Over the three years of this project, we were able to employ some 13 000 people over the project period. These were temporary jobs during the building phase of the labour intensive projects, utilising only local, emerging contractors. Of these, more than 30% were women, 20% youths and 2% people with a disability. We have managed to build or upgrade more than 250 facilities over the last three years. As a result of our performance, we were rewarded with the extension of the project by a further year during which we plan to build another 110 facilities. To reach our target, we are still in need of some R4, 5 billion.
Madame Speaker, the remaining resources for the project will be transferred to the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) of the Department of Provincial and Local Government (DPLG) in the next financial year. Our task as a department will be one of policy development and monitoring, advocacy, and reporting on the progress.
We are concerned that sports facilities will now be competing with other interests in the social infrastructure sector of the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG). Despite this, we remain confident, that local authorities will continue to recognise the need for sport and recreation facilities despite other pressing needs. As a department we will redouble our advocacy initiatives at local government level. At the political level, the Minister and I will continue to lobby for a "ring-fenced" allocation for sport and recreation facilities.
THE HOSTING OF INTERNATIONAL SPORT AND RECREATION EVENTS
Sport and Recreation also contributes to the economic objectives as set out by government in other ways. As part of the national strategy for hosting international events in our country, we have turned to the lucrative world of bidding for, and hosting major sport events. The Honourable Minister alluded to this and, in particular, to the ethos that we will adopt in this regard.
We conducted an economic impact study on the 2003 Cricket World Cup. Positive results emanated from that event for our country. The full results of the study have been published on our website for you Honourable Members and the public to peruse.
It is estimated that the economic impact of the Cricket World Cup on South Africa in terms of South African economic activity was R2 billion. In terms of the net foreign spend into the country; the economic impact was R1.1 billion. That indicates, the benefits for the economy when such events are hosted. Approximately 18 500 foreigners visited our country during the tournament and stayed in the country for an average of 16 days. It was shown that the economic benefit created by one foreign visitor was more than that of 16 local spectators at sports events. We must know that every eight foreign visitors create one permanent job in South Africa.
Tournament specific costs amounted to R536.6 million while income amounted to R869 million of which R748.5 million came from foreign sources. Companies spent some R390 million on sponsorship, the flighty of advertisements on local television, promotional activities and communication infrastructure for outside broadcasts. The Department is presently engaged in an investigation into the exact extent of the procurement strategy, aimed at benefiting disadvantaged communities.
Foreign visitors viewed the event very positively. The main concern of visitors before the event was safety and security, however, this concern showed the biggest improvement in ratings from before to after the event. Due to the levels of security and police deployed, there were no reported incidents of crime in and around the venues. In fact, 99% of visitors indicated that they would return to South Africa and would recommend it as a destination to others. 75% of media coverage was positive focussing mainly on South Africa as event hosts. The positive safety and security measures were also highlighted. All of this points, unequivocally, to the value of cooperation between the different sectors - we say, thank you to all who contributed. It demonstrates that - "Together we Win!"
Madame speaker, the Cricket World Cup is a minor international event. The Soccer World Cup is the second biggest sports spectacle in the world, surpassed only by the Olympic Games. The benefits to our country of that event in 2010 will be immense. Accordingly, we will have to plan and prepare for it thoroughly to ensure that we reap the maximum benefit from it. Moreover, we must ensure that the continent and our region, SADC, benefits. We humbly accept the honour to host 2010 on behalf of our nation and continent. South Africa will merely be "Africa's stage". It is our duty to consolidate as Africans and to show the world who we are, what we are and what we have to offer.
Minister Stofile has already alluded to the possibility of incorporating the 2010 project into the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), Government is financially committed to the event. The infrastructure development projects that will necessarily have to be undertaken fall into the EPWP. We will ensure that it is completed timeously. We will be using labour intensive methods to ensure that we create as many employment opportunities as possible. More than that, we will have to train many South Africans and up-skill many others in the service sectors. 2010 will thus not only provide opportunities for employment, it will hopefully ensure the sustainability of jobs well beyond the hosting of 2010. It will contribute to our objective of ensuring that the country's wealth, skills training and other opportunities are more equitably shared by all our people, irrespective of race, gender, disability or age difference. In short, it should contribute to our commitment to reduce the levels of unemployment.
Madame speaker, I know that we all share the excitement of the 2010 Soccer World Cup finals, irrespective of political persuasion. I encourage South Africa to join us in ensuring that we derive the full benefit from the event in terms of its potential to unite our nation, develop patriotism and inculcate a sense of pride. We cannot allow this opportunity to slip through our hands. In fact, the hosting of the 2010 finals should contribute to ensuring that South Africa, the region and the continent takes up its rightful place as a full and active member of the global family of nations.
In conclusion, I invite all South Africans to work together with the Ministry and the Department, setting our country on course in terms of sport and recreation; allowing us to reap the benefits that the institution has on offer for the entire nation.