Report of the Portfolio Committee of Sport & Recreation on Limpopo study tour August 2003
1. Introduction
The Portfolio Committee on Sport & Recreation, having conducted a study tour to Limpopo, reports as follows:
On the 18 of August 2003, representatives of the Portfolio Committee of Sport and Recreation in Parliament undertook a study visit to Limpopo to show an interest and provide a presence from the political perspective that a serious effort is being made to understand the unique and difficult circumstances under which the Department of Sports and Recreation especially the Limpopo operate.
2. Objective of the visit
It was decide in a meeting dated 24 June 2003 to focus on the following issues:
- School sport especially schools with special needs
- Usability of facilities
- Existence of sport structures on the ground
- Establishment of sport academies
- Targeting usability of sport facilities located in former colleges of education to assess the needs of the schools and local sport clubs
- Interaction with district councils aiming at assessing that existing facilities are open for multipurpose usage.
3. Delegation
The delegation was under the leadership of Mr B M Ntuli (ANC) with Mr A Mlangeni (ANC); Mr A Moropa (ANC); Ms M A Molebatsi and Ms N Borotho (Committee Assistant). Mr. E J Lucas and Mr Morkel could not join the group due to unforeseen circumstances.
4.Waterberg
The delegation visited the Mahwelereng stadium in Waterberg with the senior manager from the Mec’s office Mr Selepe. The municipal manager Mr. Sebola welcomed the delegation on behalf of the President and the Deputy President of LPSRC Mr Khorommbi and Mr Machaba
4.1 Findings
- The stadium was vandalized and was renovated by the department of Sport, Arts and Culture, funding was R678.000 and they also received the additional amount from the department of Local government and Housing which was paid in their bank account.
- The stadium was not utilized because there was no policy in place and the problem of water
- They had invited the sport council to develop the policy for facilities, but they found out that the policy was only catering for Mahwelereng not the whole area, and they came up with the general policy that was still being discussed.
- The capacity of the Mahwelereng stadium was 15000 and they also had three stadium in that area which would be covered by the same policy
- The department of community services was looking after the facility up until the policy was formulated then the council would look after the facility
- The was a dumping side next to the facility which they intend to close it and make a playing field for the residents
- The private sector was involved in upgrading water supply with funding of R2million
- They had no provincial teams but Mahwelereng was number one in sport
- State holder and the community who understands sport are not involved in the process of policy making
- They had a league of basket ball that is running but they have a problem of equipment and toilets
4.2 Recommendations
- The issue of policy was critical, they must compel the white community to exchange with the black community on issues of sport facilities
- They must take into account the political and the transformation imperatives and engage the different organs of the society when formulating the policy
- They must provide leadership as councils, so that they would not leave the policy process to the consultants
- They must have a committee that will plan integration of both structures in terms of policy making and would be facilitated by the department (time frame was 2 months)
- The councils must call the region sport council and local to draw up a programme for practicing, tournaments and they must monitor the programme in order to get the nation to play and the stadium to be utilized
The delegation proceeded to Ga Seleka stadium, where the province was launching the provincial Indigenous games. The MEC welcomed the delegation.
2. Vhembe, Mutale Municipality
The Limpopo President of Sport and Recreation Council, Mr. Khorommbi welcomed the delegation on behalf of the sport councilors. The General Secretary, Mr Nempumbuluni apologized behalf of the Mayor and expressed that they only noticed day before about the meeting and the Mayor was engaged with other commitments.
2.1 Input from the Municipality
2.1 Background
Mutale was under the Mutale Municipality and is situated at the far north bordering with Zimbabwe on the northern side of Kruger National Park on the eastern side.
The area was known as Mutale Magistrate before 1995 and with the inception of Municipalities at formerly homelands area, it was known as Mutale Municipality under Vhembe District Municipality. The area was mainly characterized by the most rural and poor scattered villages with few selected electrified homes.
2.2 The following Statistics prevail.
- Number of population was 64000 most of them are woman and youth
- Primary schools are 309
- Secondary schools are 40
- Number of ward in the municipality was nine
- Number of sport center is none
- Number of stadium - none
2.3 Sport Associations statistics
- Mutale District Football Association
-Number of open league clubs (male) 19
-Number of woman league clubs 53
-Number of development league (under 12-17) 64
- Netball association has 57 clubs
- School sport association: all schools
2.4 Findings
- The sport programme in place was the league competition organized by Mutale District Football Association administered through out the year and Mutale school sport association.
- There was no sport facilities in the area and in all schools
- They had physical education instructors but they need more formal training, equipment and most clubs has no sport kits
- There was no sport programme organized or sponsored by the municipality, only the South African Games that was initiated by the department
- There were no sport officials in Mutale but three in district level in Thohoyandou
- There is no former college of Education in the area
- The MEC or any provincial sport representatives has never paid a visit to the area.
- They participate in indigenous sport namely Muravharavha, Mufuvha, Khadi and Ndode
- They are paying R200 to utilize the community halls for any function
- Social problems affect mostly the youth, 95% of the youth is unemployed, victim of drugs, 60% fall pregnant at early age, 40% domestic violent against woman and children, 60% suicide cases and high rate of HIV/AIDS
- They have division of clubs namely SAFA, VODACOM, CASTLE league and Netball only at regional level division.
- The NGO’s that are involved are SAFA, Mutale District Football Association and Limpopo Athletics Association
- They have Youth desk with two woman representatives and none disable
- There are no cricket structure in place in local level
2.5 Recommendations
- The province needs assistance particularly the Mutale area and the province must regard sport as the national asset.
3. Tshilizini Special School
The delegation proceeded to Tshilizini special school. Sister Mudau and the Principal of the school and Mr. Monere welcomed the delegation. Sister Mudau briefed the delegation about different types of children they are working with, namely oral, visually and physically handicap.
3.1 Concern
- The member of SAFA, Mr. Monere raised concern about the visit of the Portfolio Committee that was not well organized by the department and mentioned that the province has critical issues that must be discussed with the Portfolio Committee.
3.2 Recommendations
- The province must write a letter to the Portfolio Committee and invite the committee if they want to discuss the sport matters.
4. Mopani, Phalaborwa Municipality
The district Manager, Mr. Shimange welcomed the delegation on behalf of the councilors.
4.1 Findings
- They had Sport and Recreation programmes at provincial level namely South African Games, SAFA Games and Cricket events
- Type of sport that is played in the area is soccer, netball, athletics, softball, codes that are not popular are cricket and tennis
- There are 68 schools in the area and only four that has sport facilities
- There was no former college of Education in the area and special schools
- They do not have sport equipment and sport kits in the municipal level
- They participate in the Indigenous game
- The facilities are owned by the municipality
- They have Phalaborwa sport council and sport forum
- They have sport desk with representatives of woman in softball, netball and volleyball
- They had established Cricket Union between Whites and Black
5. Bohlabela
The delegation visited the Naphuno Stadium in Bohlabela accompanied by the Department Manager, Mr. Selepe.
5.1 Findings
- The stadium has been renovated and the project started in February 2003
- They are using boreholes for watering the lawn
- The stadium is situated in the center of the community and they are also planning to build a tennis court
- The stadium was funded by Sport and Recreation South Africa
- They do not have policy in place hence this was their first facility in the area
- They have sport meeting once a month consist of youth, sport councilors and sporting codes to discuss sport issues.
5.2 Recommendations
- In terms of ownership, they must use the concept of "Vukuzenzele" and involve the youth especially during weekends to clean the facility on voluntary basis and also to prevent vandalism.
6. Maruleng Municipality
The councilor, Mr Moagi welcomed the delegation on behalf of the Chief Mr Malesele Monyaqoabe, the Deputy Chief Mr Moagi, the chairperson of crime prevention, Mr Komana and the councilors. Mr Moagi briefed the delegation that previously they had no facilities and the challenges that the area is facing namely teenage pregnancy, crime, unemployed and HIV/AIDS hampering the youth people.
6.1 Findings
- The amount of R1.3million was approved to build another facility in Willows
- They have a sport desk for disabled people and also participate in indigenous games
- They had a qualified tennis trainer, cricket team, rugby and athletics but they do not have facilities for these codes
- There was two colleges that was closed and can be used for sport academy
- Businessman from the area are sponsoring the sport and also assisting the community with paying school fees.
6.2 Input from the businessman, Mr Komana
- The government must workshop with the business people to remind them that they must assist the community. The government is building facilities and the business people must sponsor the sporting codes in terms of transport, equipment and sport kits.
6.3 Concern
- The issue of school feeding scheme, the department of Education does not support the black business people, they support only white business people in their area and plea to government to raise this matter in Parliament
6.4 Recommendation
- The issue of school feeding scheme will be taken into consideration with the Department of Education, Health and Welfare
7. Sekhukhune
The Mayor, Mr. Lekola welcomed the delegation with the Executive Mayor, Mr. Masemola and the Corporate Service Manager, Mr. Kgetjepe. The delegation proceeded to visit sport
7.1 Findings
- They had sport teams through out the region that had performed well but the problem is with the sport team committee which is not coordinated well
- The stadium was renovated and with no grandstands. The renovations was the toilets, the installation of power and lights
- The stadium is situated in the central part of scattered villages
- They have a committee that deals with sporting codes issues
- They have a White man who does training programme in the village for netball and tennis, especially the youth to build capacity for sporting codes
8. Meeting with the MEC
The Head of the Department, Mr. Rapholo welcomed the delegation on behalf of the MEC and members of the department. The leader of the delegation, Mr. Ntuli briefed the MEC about the purpose of the visit and mentioned the issue of Mutale municipality that has not even one facility. In Naphuno the delegation met with business people who showed interest in assisting in sport matters.
The MEC briefed the delegation on the provincial policy process and mentioned that they had the same problem with national level. The role of Sport Commission and Department is not clear and it is affecting the provinces. The Sport Commission was supposed to raise funds for sport development in the country but it does not have capacity to do that. The issue of handing over of facilities had no concrete policy because of the history of the province.
In terms of sport development the province is trying with the help of federations but the problem is lack of budget, also there is no clear policy on federations, because national federations are getting money but they do not service the federations on the ground level.
The departments budget goes to administration, they survive mostly on funds from private sectors. They have a problem with Department of Education that does not allocate budget for school sport. The issue of Lottery funding needs to be revisited by the national government and the policy around the application because questions that are asked does not consider people in rural areas
8.1 Recommendations
- The Department of Sport must increase the budget in order to get the nation to play
- The MEC must ensure that there are policies in place for all provincial sport matters and mostly the handing over of facilities.