Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Budget Speech, responses by FF+, DA, EFF, IFP

Watch: Mini-Plenary (Debate on Vote 37)

 

Minister Zizi Kodwa: Sport, Arts And Culture Dept Budget Vote 2023/24

9 May 2023

Address by Minister of Sport, Arts And Culture, Zizi Kodwa on the occasion of Budget Vote Debate 2023/24

House Chairperson
Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Hon Nocawe Mafu
Ministers and other Deputy Ministers here present
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee of Sport, Arts and Culture Hon Beauty Dlulane
Honourable Members
Chairpersons and Chief Executives of Public Entities
Distinguished Guests
Members of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen

Fellow South Africans, the Democratic State is charged with the responsibility to discover, develop and encourage national talent for the enhancement of our sport and cultural life. Conditions must be created for access to sporting and cultural treasures of humanity.

Right from the dawn of democracy we as the democratic government, have been seized with this objective of remaking South Africa into a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic and prosperous society. Sport and the arts have become the defining characteristic of those efforts towards nation building and Social Cohesion. The ultimate goal in all our endeavours as the sport, arts, culture and heritage fraternity is to ensure that progressively South Africa becomes a socially integrated and inclusive society.

We are making a steady progress towards the realisation of this objective.

The recent sporting and cultural achievements bear testimony to this.

In the last financial year South Africans from all walks of life celebrated the victories scored on the sporting front and highest achievements by our cultural workers. They have firmly put South Africa on the global map.

Banyana-Banyana won the 2022 edition of Women’s African Cup of Nations in Morocco. This win could not have come at a better time. Our people were still reeling from the effects of Covid-19. This win lifted the mood of our country. it communicated the message that we are a people of resilience and unending determination to conquer obstacles along the way. South Africans regained their confidence.

In the last quarter of the past financial year, South Africa had the honour of hosting the International Cricket Council’s Women’s T20 World Cup. At this event the Women’s Proteas Cricket Team made history by becoming the first ever South African Team to make it to the final of a World Cup. They came second best.

The trio of Nomcebo Zikode, Zakes Bantwini and Wouter Kellerman brought home the Grammy Award. Once more this demonstrated in no uncertain terms the quality of work the South African creatives produce.

The enormous potential of sport is the fact that it is increasingly being recognised around the world. It empowers and promotes the inclusion of marginalised groups, especially women, the youth, rural communities, and people with disabilities.

Sport contributes hugely to the GDP of the country particularly through Sport Tourism catalysed either through domestic and international sport events   It is for this reason that the Department has enabled the sport federations to host numerous international sport events in South Africa during the 2022 / 2023 financial year as a contribution to the economic recovery post COVID-19 . In the last financial year alone, sport contributed the following to the GDP:

• The South African Rugby Union indicates that their Economic Impact Assessment for the Springboks vs Wales Rugby match held in Cape Town in July 2022 saw an amount of R166.9 million in direct expenditure in Cape Town.
• The match between South Africa and New Zealand held in Mbombela, August 2022 generated R112,3 million in direct expenditure in Mpumalanga. 
• There was a record attendance at the 2022 Rugby Sevens World Cup held in Cape Town, with more than 105,000 record attendance between 09 and 11 September 2022.  with an estimated direct contribution was R765 million to the GDP as reported by the SARU.
• The Cape Town ePrix: (Formula E) event held on the 25 February 2023 was the first Formula E race to be held in Sub-Saharan Africa. According to the Southern and East African Tourism Update publication the event contributed R2.13 billion to South Africa’s economy.

During the financial year 2023 / 2024 the Department would continue to enable and support Federations to host international sport. To this end a number of international sport events have been approved to be hosted in South Africa. 

• City of Tshwane will host the World Masters Rowing Regatta. 
• The Individual World Table Tennis Championships will be held at the Durban ICC.
• The U20 Rugby World Cup will be held in Cape Town.
• The Commonwealth Judo Championships will be held in Gqeberha.
• The inaugural Down Syndrome World Gymnastics Championships will be held in the City of Tshwane.

In 80 days, South Africa plays host to the Netball World Cup from 28 July to 06 August 2023, demonstrating the commitment to the advancement of sport, particularly for women in the country. This is another historical moment as it is the first time that this event is hosted on the African soil.

This all-female event will also have an all-female television crew.  Major progress has been made with the preparations for the Netball World Cup with several milestones already celebrated, such as the launch of Netball Fridays.

The Netball World Cup 2023 Trophy tour will kick off in KwaZulu-Natal on Africa Day, 25 May 2023, travelling through all Provinces, and ending in the Western Cape, Cape Town on 12 July 2023.

In addition to the above hosted events the international sport calendar for 2023 / 2024 will be busy with South African Teams participating in the following international events;

• FIFA Women's World Cup to be held in Australia and New Zealand from 20 July - 20 August 2023
• Commonwealth Youth Games to be held in Trinidad and Tobago from 04 to 11 August 2023
• Rugby World Cup to be held in France from 08 September - 28 October 2023
• The 13th African Games to be held in three cities in Ghana from 08 to 23 March 2024

During the 2022 / 2023 financial year South Africa’s Women athletes dominated the international scene which saw the Department recognizing Banyana-Banyana for their excellent performance as they were crowned Champions of the 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations. 

The ultimate recognition of excellence was during the 16th edition of South African Sport Awards recently held at Sun City where history was made as the Sports Star of the Year award went to a female football athlete Ms Andile Dlamini. 

The Department will continue to collaborate with the G Sport Foundation in recognizing South African Women in Sport through the G-Sport Awards held annually during Women’s Month.

Whilst celebrating the milestones achieved, the Department pledged dedicated financial support to Cricket South Africa over the next three years to establish a Women’s Cricket League which will go a long way in the professionalization of Women’s Cricket.

Clubs are the fundamental building blocks or primary units in sport development continuum. Coming as they do at the lowest rung of the hierarchy of sport structures, they are in the closest proximity and in the most advantageous position in any community to add value and to make a difference in the lives of citizens.

A club is generally regarded as the foundation of structured sport in South Africa. A blueprint will be developed that will guide all provinces on the Club Development Programme. We currently invest over R118 million of the Conditional Grant Allocation towards the Club Development Programme. National Federations (NFs) must take responsibility to ensure that the growth of their sport is supported by a well-developed club system.

We are firm in our belief that, for any country to prosper in Sport, it must be rooted in the strong foundation of development at grassroots, and as such sport in schools is the bedrock of our sport in South Africa.

We had allocated R229 million from the Conditional Grant to School Sport. The MOU with Department of Basic Education has been finalised; and Minister of DBE and myself will be signing this soon.

Through the Sport Ambassador’s Programme, we hope to see the school sport leagues being fully rolled out and mentored by our Sport Ambassadors. With full participation of the sports ambassadors.

We were able to successfully host the Winter Championships in July 2022 in seven sporting codes and two Indigenous Games. The Winter Games had 52% male representation and 48% female representation. 

The total number of athletes with disability who took part at the Winter Games was 322 representing 17% of the total participants.

The Summer Championships took place in December 2022 with provinces competing in 7 sporting codes and 2 Indigenous Games. It was pleasing to note that 52% were female athletes with 48% of male athletes. These games were so inclusive that although the national prevalence of people with disability is 7.5%, the summer games had a total representation of 28% athletes with disability.

All nine provinces sent their top two schools who competed to represent the country at the CAF Schools Football Tournament. The winners for this segment were Edendale Technical High (Girls) and Clapham High School (Boys). We wish to congratulate both schools for winning the National Tournament and further representing South Africa at the COSAFA and CAF Schools Tournament.

They went all the way to the finals losing on penalties against Guinea. We say well done Clapham High School for flying the South African flag high. We are indeed proud of you and in you we see the future Bafana-Bafana and global stars.

In 2024 we hope to increase learners’ access to sport at schools by supporting 75 000 learners to participate in district school sport championships and 5 000 learners in the national school sport championship, and by providing equipment and attire to 2 500 schools, hubs, and clubs. Over the Medium term, 275 000 learners would have participated in district School Sport Championships and 20 000 in National School Sport Championships by March 2024.

Public Entities

To ensure the existence of an infrastructure enabling the achievement of our mandate in the Arts, Culture and Heritage sector, the department allocated R193 million to 16 Entities to implement infrastructure projects ranging from construction, upgrading, refurbishment and maintenance of their facilities. Beyond the transfer of these funds for Entities, the Department also provides construction project management support to ensure effective implementation of their infrastructure development projects.

In this financial year, the department has allocated R252 million through the ring-fenced Municipal Infrastructure Grant(MIG) to 29 municipalities for construction of sport facilities.

One of the beneficiaries of the Municipal Infrastructure Grant {MIG} funding is the Umlalazi Local Municipality. A project approved in this Municipality is the construction of Tap-Tap Makhathini Boxing Centre which is an initiative to honour a well celebrated, local living boxing legend Mr Elijah Xulu [affectionately known as “Tap Tap Makhathini] His dream is to contribute to the development of boxing, especially in his community, and promote it as one of the most attractive and preferred sporting codes. Consultations with Mr Xulu and stakeholders started from as far back as May 2022.

We are delighted that the allocation of R15m for this project has been approved and gazetted and we look forward to see the completion of this exciting development.

10 outdoor gyms and children play-parks will be built, and the majority of these will be in rural areas under the jurisdiction of traditional authorities to ensure that rural communities are not deprived of opportunities and services offered by these facilities. I will be launching the first one in Kwa-Ndamase, eNyandeni Great Place in June 2023. A total budget of R5 million has been allocated for these facilities.

Over and above the provision of outdoor gyms, my Department in consultation with the Kings and Queens will be declaring Great Places as heritage sites of historical significance.

Whilst the 2020 mapping study shows that, the direct impact of the CCI’s (Cultural and Creative Industries) in 2018 was R74.39 billion, which accounts for 1.7% of South Africa’s GDP, in 2022 this contribution is R161 billion, accounting for almost 3% of South Africa’s GDP. The creative economy’s contribution accounts for 6% of all employment in South Africa. The mandate of the South African Cultural Observatory has been extended to conduct similar for Sport.

Cabinet approved the Cultural Creative Industry Masterplan in August 2022. Following that, the department conducted Provincial sessions, in ALL provinces, to enable all stakeholders to input into the Implementation Plan., This has been finalised and short to medium plans as depicted in the CCI Masterplan will be implemented as of this financial year.

The Debut Fund programme targets young creatives and aims to provide these creatives a start-up and a chance for them to take their products and services to market.

I am happy to announce that the Business Arts South Africa Debut programme has produced 24 solid creative arts entrepreneurs, with 300 creatives being exposed to this Program. The graduates have been enlisted for the Debut Accelerator Programme.

One of the beneficiaries of this Program, Kganya Mogashoa says: "Thank you for making my dream a reality. It's great to create but even greater to run a lucrative art business. My heart is fuller than full."

The roll out to take on a new crop of young creatives onto this Program will commence with recruitment country wide, this financial year.

Film and Documentaries

involves highly creative activities wherein a task is given to arts practitioners to produce 10 short documentaries of unsung African heroes and heroines. Last financial year, this culminated in the production of an anthology titled “Not all heroes wear Capes”. These documentaries will be showcased during the Heritage Month in the current financial year. A budget of R5m has been allocated to this program.

Arts and Culture Academies and Incubator Programs

The department recognises the need to continuously ensure capacity development amongst the creatives. This is done through Academies where we partner with legends in the Industry to impart the skills and experience that they themselves gained and accumulated over years.

There is the National Academy of Africa’s Performing Arts, which is the initiative of Caiphus and Letta Semenya and is almost complete with minor touch-ups on construction, supported by the Department. It will offer a professional arts training in music, dance and drama.

The other programme is run by Sello Maake ka Ncube, a veteran in the theatre sector.

While Thato Molamu, a young creative director and a celebrated actor who refers to himself as a social entrepreneur, runs “The Leaders In Motion Academy” which is in the film and digital space.

The Mambazo Mobile Academy is run by the multiple Grammy Award winners, Ladysmith Black Mambazo which was the brainchild and vision of the late Joseph Shabalala, amongst others.

Our Capacity development Programs are not just focusing on the Performing arts cultural domain; but we also have others in the non-performing space, such as Igoda Fashion design; Creative and Technology Hub, etc. These Programs together with the Incubator Programs run by seven of our Cultural institutions throughout the country, have a budget of R35m.

Community Arts Centre Development Program

is recognised as being the bedrock of development of the creative industry We see Community Arts Centres as being the pipeline to performing arts institutions and the academies, the global platforms. In addition to the R30m budget that went to this Program in 2022/23; for the first time my department gave provinces an additional budget to hold Provincial Indabas; giving the Community Arts Centre management and practitioners opportunity to contribute to the development of their Program.

This financial year we will be holding a National Indaba, that will ensure an integrated Program for more than 250 Community Arts Centres in the country.

A budget of R36m to support Community Arts Centres has been allocated.

An additional R20.5m has been set aside for upgrading of Community Arts Centres, mostly in rural areas.

Policy development

The Department has finalised the theatre and dance policy which is now before the relevant Cabinet Committee. There is also a number of policies to be developed this financial year, as depicted in the Revised White Paper of Arts, Culture and Heritage; this includes the Books and Publishing policy, visual arts policy, design policy, and we have also embarked in the standardisation of policy including the Mzansi Golden Economy funding.

Once again the Department is pleased to announce that it will take South African authors to participate at the 2023 Gothenburg Book Fair in Sweden, following the 2022 successful participation as Guest of honour at the Book Fair, where more than 20 authors and publishers from SA participated. Amongst those authors are the following: Prof Wally Serote, Sindi Magona; Ntandokayise Kunene and Thokozani Dyosini. The latter are young co-authors of the book “Cory in the Universe”, a Children’s book on Covid-19.

Apart from this, access to international platforms are also made possible through Cultural Seasons program. This financial year we are taking our creatives to Egypt and Zambia. Such platforms create an enabling environment for the creatives, to network and grow their businesses.

This program which is giving market access to local and international platforms includes the Beautiful Things project where we give opportunities to visual artists, crafters, sculptors and other such creatives, to gain skills but even more importantly have their artwork showcased to the public. More than 40 producers stand to benefit from this Program with a budget of R6.7m. The aim is to make this an annual feature to ensure a wider scope, enhance inclusion of more crafters and allow for wider reach of potential markets.

The Department, as of April 2023 has set up a permanent craft exhibition and craft outlet at the Women’s Living Heritage Monument in Pretoria, at the Sammy Marks Square. The exhibition and outlet are being managed as an incubator programme by the South African Creative Industries and open daily from Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 16:30, and on Saturdays from 9:00 to 13:00.

The exhibition and craft outlet contain stock which represents support to craft producers who have supplied products to the project. The project is looking to expand the product offering at the exhibition and outlet over the next few months by spending a ± R 1 million to procure more product from craft producers all over country. This activity will be underpinned by ongoing capacity building by the incubator to suppliers in the areas of products improvement, costing and pricing and packaging.  The project is strategically located in the Pretoria CBD to give access to government and corporate clients to access corporate gifts, while also targeting the public in general.

The Silapha wellness: intervention is about the wellbeing of athletes and artists, be it on mental health, legal matters, financial management, amongst others. Since its launch in 2020/ 2021, where it started off as a pilot, 2190 artists and athletes were reached. Of these, 518 used the Call centre services. The response during the pilot indicated that there is a dire need for this service; hence the department has commenced with a three year program, to ensure that those that bring entertainment to your homes, also are taken care of.

Creating jobs: The Presidential Employment Stimulus Package Phase 4:

The Department has been allocated a budget of R462 million this financial year, to continue creating jobs in the Cultural and Creative Industry. A total of 40 000 jobs will be created through the employment multiplier model used to create jobs in this industry.

Last financial year, which was R440m more than 30 000 jobs were created The implementers of this Program are the National Arts Council, the National Film and Video Foundation, the National Museum, the National Heritage Council and Business Arts of South Africa.

The implementation is closely monitored by the newly formed Project Management Unit in the department that works closely with a similar Unit in the Presidency and plays oversight. This financial year we have added R20 Million of this towards the employment of 120 unemployed youth to assist in the digitisation of archival collections and newsreels. This process will be implemented by NFVF working with the National Archives of South Africa (NARSSA).

Arts and Culture (Creative) Ambassadors

I have taken a decision to have a program in the Creative industry, similar to the Sport Ambassador Program. Ambassadors in the Creative industry will of course take into account the uniqueness of this industry, and my department have finalised a draft framework that outlines how this Program will work.

I am honoured to be joined on-line by some of these ambassadors like uMama Lillian Dube and Florence Masebe.

Celebrating our own

I have recently recognised Grammy Award Winners for their work that raised the South African flag high amongst the nations of the world. This recognition was not only for the latest winners but since the first recipient of the award, Miriam Makeba who won it in 1966. 

I have instructed my Departmental officials to develop Creative industry awards similar to Sport excellent awards.

Further, the department is pursuing opportunities to bring the Grammy Awards to South Africa to profile artists and create market access opportunities.

To this end The Recording Academy has subsequently submitted a Memorandum of Understanding, which we consulting on with the  industry  role players. This will result in formalising the establishment of the African Grammys chapter, with South Africa as the Headquarters.

Ensuring that the industry is regulated

Upon joining the department I have come to realise the level of exploitation of our creatives by producers and agencies, and the urgent need to have this industry regulated so that we do not have artists who do not benefit from their work; who do not get their well-deserved royalties and sign contracts that grossly short change them. This is why I have engaged seriously with relevant parties to ensure that the two Bills, the Copyright amendment Bill and the Performers Protection Bill are passed, and there is a commitment that this will be done by the end of May.

International Relations

Through international collaborations, partnerships, and cooperation the Department will continue to facilitate access to international platform and markets for South Africans to show case their talents and skills to a wide international audience.

We have localised Pan Africanism through Africa Month celebrations. The 2023 Africa Month Celebration is aimed to track and reflect on progress and achievements made by the African Continent to realize Aspiration 5 of the African Union Agenda 2063. Various activities will be held across the country.

South Africa has assumed the Chairpersonship for BRICS 2023. Over and above this, the DSAC will host the BRICS Ministers of Culture and Sports meetings, BRICS Games and the BRICS Film Festival for 2023.

Through these engagements we aim to strengthen and promote People to People exchange as part of the BRICS forum.

Social Cohesion Advocates

Through Community Conversations, we will continue to engage communities in pertinent social cohesion issues such as racism, class, inequality, exclusion, solidarity, unity, respect, and trust.  Platforms for promoting Social Cohesion and Nation building will continue through the Social Cohesion Advocates in their various areas of work and work streams. Working in partnership with the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development plus other development partners, we will endeavour to develop the Early Warning System and the Rapid Response System.

Prioritising Target Groups

It is important before I conclude, Chairperson, that I highlight that my department has prioritised target groups, i.e. Youth, Women and People with disabilities. There are specific interventions in the department’s Annual Performance Plan for this financial year. I would like to highlight that I will be launching one such program in June 2023 where 250 young creatives will be placed in Community Arts Centre across the country, a Program addressing youth unemployment while supporting the creative industry at grassroots level.

There are 300 artists placed in schools to support educators by bringing the practical part of Cultural and creative industry; we also provide bursaries to students studying heritage and language fields at Higher Education Institutions.

Women also get prioritised through various program as well as people with disabilities. Specifically for the artists with disabilities we have the “ We can” Program that has been extended to be more than just a Festival but includes skills development and master class programs that stand to benefit 200 artists with disabilities throughout the country. All these interventions are outlined in the Annual Performance Plan.

Filling of vacancies

Upon my arrival at the department; I have ensured that the filling of the Director General position is prioritised. This post was advertised in different platforms this past weekend. Over and above that I have instructed my department to come up with a concrete strategy and measures to fill all vacant posts in the department, as a matter of priority.

I thank you.

 

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Deputy Minister Nocawe Mafu: Sport, Arts And Culture Dept Budget Vote 2023/24

9 May 2023

House Chairperson.
Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Hon Goodenough Kodwa.
Ministers and other Deputy Ministers here present.
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee of Sport, Arts and Culture Hon Beauty Dlulane.
Honourable Members.
Chairpersons and Chief Executives of Public Entities.
Distinguished Guests.
Members of the Media.
Ladies and Gentlemen.

I have the pleasure to commend to this Honorable House, part of the Department’s budget for the financial year 2023/2024, noting the other portions which the Minister has already presented.

The budget here today is being presented in the context of two important historical anniversaries. First the 30th anniversary since the passing of our struggle icon Oliver Reginald Tambo. Secondly the untimely departure of the beloved son of the soil Chris Thembisile Hani, who also left us 30 years ago; just as we were set for the all-important general elections in 1994. Today, as we commend this budget to the House, it is appropriate that we pause and remember them!

In this budget vote, we report on progress against commitments made in the preceding financial year and spell out our plans for 2023/2024 .

In the area of heritage preservation and promotion, the Department made great strides in 2022/2023. Firstly, I am delighted to report to this House that we completed restoration of the Winnie Madikizela Mandela House in the Free State and installed an exhibition in a town now known as Winnie Mandela. Upon completion, the Department handed over the House Memorial to the Free State Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation in December 2022. This newly completed museum is being equipped with modern state-of-the-art Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment. The Province is now in the process of operationalising the Memorial as a Museum.

As part of the second phase, the DSAC has appointed a service provider who is in the process of preserving and protecting the clinic that was bombed in the 80s by the Apartheid government. The bombed clinic will be part of the interpretation space that will narrate the life and experience of Mama Winnie in the then Brandfort. The Clinic will be completed in this current financial year. For that purpose, an amount of R5 million has been set aside.

The construction of the OR Tambo Garden of Remembrance was completed in 2020. The Department is finalising the installation of the ICT equipped library that will serve as a resource service-centre to the local communities. The beneficiaries in the main will be learners and out of school youth in the community as well as those in the neighbouring communities

The challenge however has been around ensuring that the site is fully operational. In that regard, the current plan is that it would be incorporated into the management and operations of Nelson Mandela Museum for a period of three years, while its actual launch is scheduled for October this year.

In 2022 the Council for the Iziko Museums of South Africa approved for the integration of the Nelson Mandela House complex located at the former Victor Verster prison (now called Drakenstein Correctional Centre) in Paarl, Western Cape.

In 2020, Liliesleaf had to close due to Covid 19 pandemic. The closure was also necessitated by perennial operational challenges at the time. Given the situation, the Department engaged the National Treasury who granted the Department permission to provide relief assistance of R12 million. Liliesfield Museum is currently fully operational and for the current financial year, an allocation of R8 million has been made towards operations through Freedom Park.

In consultation with the relevant Provinces and the National Heritage Council, the Department is in the process of implementing recommendation of the feasibility studies for design and installation of exhibitions in Bisho Massacre site, Waaihoek Wesleyan Church and Victor Verster Nelson Mandela Prison House. The Department has set aside an amount of R6 million for the design and installation process of the three sites.

Regarding transformation and preservation of our heritage landscape, the department will ensure finalisation of the construction of the Sarah Baartman Centre of Remembrance (SBCR) in Hankey in the Eastern Cape and allocated R82 million for the current financial year.

 The second capital project is the Upgrading of the Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning (HVAC) and Fire Protection System at the National Archive Building in Pretoria, and this project is allocated R55 million, and the last project is  Enyokeni Cultural Precinct in Nongoma and is  allocated R57 million. All three projects are multi-year projects and will be completed over the 2023 MTEF period.

Cabinet has approved the country-to-country approach for repatriation of human remains of the fallen liberation fighters and the construction of monuments to recognize and appreciate the contribution of other countries in its liberation struggle. In this current financial year, the Department will embark on a process for identification, survey and mapping of heritage sites including graves in the SADC Region and R3 million has been set aside for this purpose.

Honorable Members! In terms of digitization of archival records, phenomenal work was done in 2022/2023, with some noteworthy achievements. The Truth & Reconciliation Commission (TRC) audio tapes target was 90, the Department was able to digitize no less than 1721.

There was also a set target of 150 Treason Trial Dictabelts to be digitized. Against this set target of 150, the Department was able to digitize 463.

Against the set target of 30 000 general archival records, the Department was able to digitize 106 773 which included paper records and photographs.

The overachievement in the digitisation space was made possible by the employment of Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme (PESP) interns, Departmental interns, as well as partnerships with other institutions. These strategic interventions helped to shoulder the human resource burden, which the Department would have been unable on its own.

For the current financial year, the target for Treason Trial Dictabelts is 200; TRC Audio Tapes 100 and General Archival records 30 000.

In addition, the National Archives and Records Service of South Africa (NARSSA) has been allocated R20 million through the PESP 4, for the digitisation of records. As mentioned by the Minister, it is a further 120 interns will be employed for that purpose in the current financial year.

The library project has been key in ensuring that our people have access to information. Also most importantly, is that the project on building of new libraries, as well as refurbishment of existing ones, has intentionally focused on the township and rural communities, which were neglected during apartheid. Through the community library services grant, an amount of R1.5 billion was allocated in the last financial year.

Of the 29 targeted, the Department was able to support 31 newly built and / or modular libraries. In the current financial year, the Department will support 32 newly built and / or modular libraries to the tune of R1.5 billion. The funds will be utilised for infrastructure projects among other library services implemented by the Provinces, including, for example, library material, Information and Communication Technologies infrastructure and equipment, compensation of employees, establishment of visually impaired services and reading programmes.

Honourable members, the Department continues with the project to transform South Africa’s naming landscape. During the 2022/2023 financial year three (3) gazettes were published with geographical names that were standardized and changed.

The notable names changed are from the Eastern Cape namely KwaMaqoma from Fort Beaufort, Enxuba from Cradock in the Eastern Cape, and Solomon Linda from Pomeroy in KwaZulu Natal. We need to create more awareness within our constituencies so that more colonial and apartheid names are changed in order to reflect the languages and cultural heritage of the majority of the people of South Africa.

It is worth noting that five (5) books on living human treasures were published. These five books recognize the lives and work of our elders in all elements of intangible cultural heritage. These living human treasures have excelled in various fields of our indigenous knowledge.

 The candidates that were documented in 2022/2023 are Dr. Thomas Chauke, Oom Petrus Vaalbooi, Mr. Themba Magaisa, Ms. Grace Masuku and Vho Esther Sinyengwe.

House Chair and honourable members, please join me in congratulating one of our past candidates of Human Treasures award, Mam Noria Mabasa, on being conferred an Honorary Doctorate in Arts and Design by the University of Johannesburg on the 19th April. Our Department is encouraged by this recognition of Mme Mabasa as it is further affirmation that we are on the right track.

The Department will also be in consultation with Gauteng Province in ensuring that the planned memorialization projects of the three women struggle icons are completed. These are  Mama Margaret Gazo, Mama Francis Baard and Mama Charlotte Maxeke.

The Department’s mandate is to develop and promote all official languages of the Republic. In responding to the mandate, the Department awarded language bursaries to 312 students from institutions of higher learning. In 2023/2024, the Department will award 250 students across these six institutions at an amount of R6.6 million. This initiative is done to ensure that there is a growing cadre of new language practitioners, scholars and researchers.

UNESCO has declared the years 2022 to 2032 as the International Decade of Indigenous Languages. In support of this initiative, we launched the Roadmap of milestones which will assist us in tracking our progress, measuring our success and recognizing and addressing potential bottlenecks.  Among these, is the strengthening of partnerships with Language Research Networks, particularly, with institutions of higher learning in strengthening multilingualism and promoting indigenous languages.

We embrace the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government decision to adopt Swahili as an AU working language and a communication language extended to the whole continent.

This is one of our contributions towards the decolonization and regeneration of the African continent- A better Africa, A Better World!

In 2023/2024, additional work in this area includes collaborating with the Department of Basic Education on development of multilingual terminologies for Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Technology for Grade 4-6. These terminologies will help in facilitating teaching and learning in the indigenous languages. In this area of terminology development, an amount of R1.9 million has been set aside for the current financial year.

We welcome the unopposed adoption by the National Assembly of the Constitution’s 18th Amendment Bill, which officialises South African Sign Language. We are prioritizing the development of South African Sign Language, through initiating and supporting projects that include developing language technologies, that will facilitate communication between hearing and non-hearing individuals; and developing Sign Language interpreting systems, to assist Sign Language interpreters when providing the service.

An amount of R10.9 million has been set aside in 2023/2024 in advancing this work further.

The process of establishing the Council is at an advanced stage, with shortlisting and interviewing of potential Board members having been concluded, and recommendations for appointment made. The Council will therefore be appointed, inaugurated and assume duty within a month.

National symbols are a marker of a country’s national sovereignty and are collectively used as a rallying point for national unity, cohesion and national pride. South Africa has a collection of statutory national symbols, which came with the dawn of the new dispensation in 1994. The new collection of symbols marked a deliberate break from a pariah and divisive past into a new dispensation premised on fundamental human rights.

For the current financial year, it is envisaged that R2 million would be spent towards the popularization of the national symbols.

The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture is the custodian of the Government’s commemorative program, inclusive of the National Days, as determined by the Public Holidays Act of 1994. Given that divisions are still self-evident, owing to the country’s colonial and apartheid past, Government looks to the national commemorative programme, and in particular, the National Days, as a platform to promote one of its key priorities in the Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) i.e. social cohesion and nation building (including moral regeneration).

All the key national days were successfully commemorated in 2022/2023 and were all in-person events – signaling a marked departure from the COVID-19 era. For this current financial year, the Department has set aside R31.5 million toward the national days.

2023 is a big year in terms of women’s sport

The Women in Sport policy has been developed to redress existing inequalities for girls and women in the South African sport ecosystem – particularly in participation, competition, coaching, officiating and leadership. The formulation of the draft has followed a consultative process and was approved by Cabinet for gazetting for public comments. In alignment with global policy frameworks, trends and national development priorities, this policy addresses multiple challenges women and girls face in sport associated with race, disability, age, religion, culture, geographical location, and sexual orientation, inclusive of those belonging to the LGBTQI+ population and women with differences of sex development (DSD).

I want to echo Minister’s earlier words of commendations by acknowledging the superb performance of the Proteas Women’s cricket Team who amassed the highest number of spectators in Women World Cup history. They raised the bar at the T20 Women’s Cricket World Cup held on South African soil in February 2023.

Please allow me to also pay tribute to one of their stars who has just retired from international cricket. I wish to invite you to join me in wishing Shabnim Ismail, one of the world’s most prolific fast bowlers who mesmerized world’s audiences at the International.

In the spirit of celebrating women achievers in sport, it is my pleasure and delight to acknowledge Banyana-Banyana in their continental conquest. We wish Banyana Banyana well, as they also carry the hopes and dreams of all South Africans when they compete at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia / New Zealand in July this year. Their first match 25 July in New Zealand.

May I also acknowledge Andile Dlamini, on whom we bestowed the Sport Star of the Year at the National Sport Awards.

House Chair, allow me to take this opportunity to congratulate another woman of firsts, Ms Lydia Monyepoa on her appointment as the first-ever female Chief Executive Officer of the South African Football Association! Igama lamakhosikazi! Malibongwe

As indicated earlier, 2023 has been a great year for Women Sport; Let us pause and congratulate Ms Kirsten Neuscafer who made history by becoming the first woman to win the Prestigious Golden Globe round the world race, becoming the only female sailor to contest the race without the use of modern technology.

Cabinet approved South Africa’s hosting of the Netball World Cup from 28 July to 06 August 2023, demonstrating the commitment to the advancement of sport, particularly for women in the country. This is another historical moment, as it is the first time that this event is hosted on the African Continent.

The Department has committed to and has provided R30 million per year over three years, from 2020/2021, 2021/2022 – 2022/2023, leading up to the NWC2023 for planning and implementation of the event.

In that regard, it is my singular honor and privilege to acknowledge the President of Netball SA Ms Cecilia Molokwane and her leadership team, the Chairperson of the Netball World Cup Board, Ms Patience Shikwambana as well as other members of the Board, the Local Organising Committee, the Captain, Ms Bongi Msomi and the members of the Spar Proteas and the broader Netball family. I would also like to appreciate the co-operation between the Department, the Province and the City of Cape Town in ensuring this event becomes the success that we all want it to be.

Collectively, they shall carry the aspirations of our nation, carry our flag high and make us proud!

I now commend this budget to this honorable House for approval.

I thank you!