Admin
26 May, 2017
Debate on Budget Vote 40 – Sport and Recreation South Africa by Mr Mncedisi Filtane, MP
The United Democratic Movement (UDM) supports the budget vote. The budget reduction in this department does not augur well for the promotion, development and transformation of sport in our Country. Already, compensation to the departmental employees had to be reduced on an escalating scale during the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) period, totalling R4.9 million. The next victims of this reduction are goods and services. Regrettably, the very people who would have benefitted from the programmes of this department stand to suffer severely. When departmental officials and sport practitioners are locked in office, and therefore cannot reach-out to communities, due to budget cuts, the development of sport and recreation activities are compromised. It also, means that there will be less usage of the sporting facilities already available and this may result in such facilities being white elephants. The economic activity that is a natural by-product of sport and recreation, activism, will be lost in the process. Nevertheless, the UDM welcomes the newly appointed Minister and his team to the batting crease. Minister, you are now facing the first bouncer, which you have to deal with in the first over. The second new ball you have to face is that of provinces, which are failing to obtain data from their distant district offices. So, as technology has been targeted as a cost-saving area, the flow of information to and from district offices will be hampered. Nationally, this will impede the department’s ability to plan ahead. No data, no detailed planning. The potential result you are about to get, will be, either you are bowled out or caught at leg-off, as you try to scoop the ball for 6 runs. Also, savings on facilities means that less facilities will be accessible to the sporting bodies. Yes, the time has come for the Memorandum of Agreement between Sport and Recreation South Africa (SRSA) and the Department of Basic Education to be reviewed, because the relationship between the two departments has yielded minimal results, so far. A better working relationship between these departments has the potential to identify, nurture, mould and develop the young talent that this country need so dearly. In the same context, a working relationship can also be used to host those with less intellectual capacity, but excellent sports orientation, to develop their talent and ultimately make a career in sport. In that way, job opportunities will have been created. Penalising non-compliant provinces is most welcome since school sport is the foundation on which transformation can be built. The intensive support for volleyball in 2017 is much appreciated. They have been in the cold for far too long. Minister, your other challenge is the high up-and-under that you are facing in rugby, and that is sustaining as well as supporting transformation. You may not knock on that ball, or else the wings will pick it up and score under the posts, thus reversing all the yards made under the stewardship of your predecessor. Shame Mbaks, ubuzama kodwa. Bafana–Bafana are with their new coach are on the nation’s radar. We expect better from them under your stewardship. In this regard, and at the risk of contradicting my principal, I wish Orlando Pirates to show them the way on 24 June at reclaim the Nedbank Cup.
Admin
21 May, 2015
2015 Budget Vote 40: Sport and Recreation – address by Mr ML Filtane, MP
Honourable Chairperson, Minister and Members The United Democratic Movement supports budget vote 40. • Sports and partisan politics have always been uncomfortable with each other in South Africa since the old days of Peter Hein in apartheid times. • A careful balancing act has to be found by either party in order for equilibrium to be struck. Between the two there are gladiators, spectators, administrators and sponsors (either potential or actual) because each party is in it for its own selfish purposes. It then becomes necessary that there should be absolute co-operation, otherwise the game suffers. • Parliament has to play its oversight role. This is why it is absolutely necessary for Minister to attend regularly the portfolio committee meetings. • Transformation: for this important programme to be effected it is necessary that all parties should understand its purpose, politically, socially and economically. • While some of the codes are doing well in this regard others are lagging behind. Of the major codes, SA Cricket appears to be dragging itself into this fold. Its transformation targets reflect an institution that is neither poised nor paced for transformation. It lacks all the necessary specifics like current status, programmes and dates. This is just not Cricket. • SA rugby has demonstrated its commitment to the committee, although there is still a long way to go to 2019. We hope nothing will be kicked-out to touch. • South Africa needs to reach a stage of development where some people stop thinking that the inclusion of players of colour automatically translates to poor performance. • Codes need to have strong development programmes. This is where parliament has to play its oversight role, effectively. • Often the social element, so necessary for national cohesion, is left out of the equation in pursuit of winning. • During apartheid years it did not matter whether teams lost or won as long as they were pure white. • Amongst other important pillars of a successful sporting nation, is appropriate sport infrastructure. This requires that we ensure appropriateness of our sporting facilities with serious commitment from Local Government, Public Works Department as well as cooperation with all other relevant departments like education. • National government and other agencies, continue to budget and transfer monies to municipalities for rolling our sports infrastructure. We call for the Minister to apply regular monitoring of the use of these resources so that they are able to achieve their intended objectives. I thank you
