Report of the
Select Committee on Education and Recreation on Budget Vote 17: Sport and
Recreation, dated 01 July 2009
Having considered Budget Vote 17 of the Department of
Sport and Recreation, the Committee reports as follows:
1. Introduction
On 1 July 2009, the Select Committee on Education and
Recreation considered the Budget Vote of the Department of Sport and Recreation
as part of conducting parliamentary oversight and ensuring executive
accountability.
2.
Objectives of the
Department
The main aim of the Department is to maximise
access, development and excellence at all levels of participation in sport and
recreation to improve social cohesion, nation building and the quality of life
of all South Africans.
3. The Department
highlighted the following as the measurable objectives:
3.1. Sport Support Service
The Department intends to:
(a)
Increase the number of South Africans
participating in sport and recreation by approximately 12% over the next 3
years by supporting National Federations to run club development programmes, with a focus on disadvantaged communities.
(b)
Increase
the number of high performance athletes by approximately 10% over the next 4
years, with specific emphasis on participants from disadvantaged communities
and marginalised constituencies.
(c)
Ensure
good corporate governance in sports federations by providing education and
training, financial and human resource support to sports federations.
3.2. Mass Participation
Programme (MPP)
The Department intends
to:
(a)
Improve
delivery of the MPP in provinces by monitoring and supporting all provincial
departments in the delivery of their mass sport and recreation activities.
(b)
Increase
the number of participants in sport & recreation by 20% by hosting more
festivals, social mobilisation programmes
and sports tournaments in 2009/10.
(c)
Contribute
to the 2010 FIFA World Cup legacy by monitoring and supporting provinces and
other stakeholders to deliver 45 mass mobilisation programmes by June 2010.
3.3. International Liaison & Events
The Department intends to:
(a)
Maximise the
probability of success of SA teams and individuals in international events by
improving expertise in coaching, officiating, administration and sport science
through at least 10 bilateral exchanges in 2009/10.
(b)
Encourage
peace and social cohesion by promoting sports relations and organising
joint activities as a reconciliation pilot project in one post-conflict African
country in 2009/10.
(c)
Increase
the number of sports tourists to
3.4. 2010 FIFA World Cup Unit
The Department intends to:
(a)
Ensure
that all approved competition venues are completed by December 2009 by
monitoring progress and ensuring that all role players deliver on their
assigned responsibilities, as indicated in the funding agreement and the
construction programme.
(b)
Align
2010 FIFA World Cup programmes with broad government
strategic objectives and ASGISA by monitoring the social impact of the stadium
construction programme, focusing on the number of
jobs created and small enterprises involved in the procurement process.
3.5. 2009 Expenditure Trends
(a)
The Department Expenditure increased from R436.8
million in 2005/06 to R4.9 billion in 2008/09 at an average annual rate of
124%, due mainly to the additional allocations for upgrading and constructing
stadiums for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
(b)
Over the 7-year period, spending in programmes other than the 2010 FIFA World Cup Unit increase
at an average annual rate of 25.8%, mainly as an extension of the conditional
grant for the MPP, which has included school sport since 2006/07 and 2010
legacy projects since 2007/08.
(c)
Over the medium term, expenditure is expected to
decrease to R771 million at an average annual rate of 46%, as spending on the
2010 FIFA World Cup will be completed.
4. Conclusion
Having considered and deliberated on departmental budget vote 17 the
committee has noted the following:
4.1. There is no memorandum of understanding
between the Department of Education and the Department of Sport and Recreation
in terms of facilitating physical education in schools.
4.2. Transformation is moving at a snails pace in national teams.
4.3. The Local Organizing Committee (LOC) did an excellent job in organising the Confederations Cup Tournament.
4.4. The Department does not have clear programmes
to reach out to disadvantage areas.
4.5. Other provincial teams are expected to pay
participation fees and this has a negative impact in sports participation in
rural areas.
5.
Recommendations
In order to ensure continuous executive accountability
and parliamentary oversight over the Department, the Committee recommends that
the Department should:
5.1. Develop a
memorandum of understanding with the Department of Education to ensure that
there is proper infrastructure and physical education in schools.
5.2. Ensure that
transformation is not compromised and the national teams reflect the
demographics of the country.
5.3. Report to the
committee, together with the LOC on the challenges they had experienced during
the confederations cup and how those challenges will be addressed for the 2010
world cup.
5.4. Develop strategies on improving access and
reaching out to disadvantaged areas.
5.5. Develop mechanisms
to ensure that sports facilities are put in areas where communities live.
5.6. Ensure that the
schools do not charge extra money from learners who participate in sport.
5.7. Avail itself to
further engage with the committee on the issues that could not be discussed due
to limited time.
5.8 Ensure that after a period of three months
the department should be able to report to the committee on progress made wit
regard to the memorandum of understanding between the Department of Education
and the Department of Sports and Recreation.
The Committee recommends that budget vote 17 be
passed.
Report to be considered