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Gungubele: Tabling of Gauteng Sport, Recreation, Arts & Culture annual report (25/08/2003)

25th August 2003

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Date: 25/08/2003
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government
Title: Gungubele: Tabling of Gauteng Sport, Recreation, Arts & Culture annual report


ADDRESS BY THE GAUTENG SPORT, RECREATION, ARTS AND CULTURE MEC, MONDLI GUNGUBELE, ON THE TABLING OF DEPARTMENTAL ANNUAL REPORT, Provincial Legislature, Monday, 25 August 2003

Honourable Speaker
Honourable members
Leaders of popular movements
Members of the press

As we are fast approaching the tenth anniversary of our democracy, I am reminded of the fact that many people never believed that we were going to steer this country successfully in the direction of a better life for South African citizens.

In 1994 we set ourselves the challenge of building a united, democratic, non-racial and non-sexist South Africa. Part of this challenge was to improve the quality of life and free the human potential of all South Africans.

We said that we would have Good Governance by ensuring accountable and transparent government. To ensure good governance, this government has put systems in place like the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), whose primary objective is to ensure that people entrusted with the management of state resources do so in an efficient and effective manner. The department, for the second year in a row, obtained an unqualified financial report from the Auditor-General.

Indeed as we continued to discuss and debate the actualisation of these promises, it was said that we were dreamers. There is massive power in dreaming as history has shown, the likes of Martin Luther King, and TE Lawrence in the "Seven Pillars of Wisdom". I personally concur with T.E Lawrence when he says: "All men dream, but not equally. But those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake up in the day to find it was vanity. But the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dream with open eyes to make it possible". Indeed we are dangerous dreamers who act their dreams with open eyes to make them possible.

Our Constitution is highly regarded as the best in the world, not only because of what is enshrined in it, but because most citizens witness its implementation, e.g. we consult them on sporting facilities, we built on basic skills of people to be economically viable through arts and crafts.

I am certain that if Pixley ka Isaka Seme was alive today, he would be sharing with us the joy as expressed in his words of wisdom which he uttered in 1906, 5th April, in the Africa abroad, when he said "Oh for the historian who, with the open pen of truth, will bring to Africa's claim the strength of written proof. He will tell of a race whose onward tide was often swelled with tears, but in whose heart bondage has not quenched the fire of former years. He will write that in these later days when earths noble ones are named, she has a roll of honour too, of whom she is not ashamed. The giant is awakening! From the four corners of the earth Africa's sons, who have been proved through fire and sword, are marching to the future's golden door bearing the records of deeds of valour done".

As a department we have continuously contributed to the fulfilment of this dream through our core business. In this report we account on our mandate, which focuses on the promotion and facilitation of development of Sports and Recreation, Arts, Culture and Heritage, Libraries and Information services. This report will clearly illustrate that we have gone a long way in developing the human capital within communities and ensured mass participation in the process of implementing our core business.

Our performance on our core areas of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture is beginning to demonstrate its importance in nation building and contribution towards the socio-economic challenges facing our country. The department's core areas naturally focus on the priority sectors of the country, which are the previously disadvantaged, people with disabilities, youth and women.

One of the success areas has been the establishment and launch of statutory bodies like the Gauteng Arts and Culture Council, the Gauteng Heritage Resource Authority (GHRA), the Provincial Geographic Names Committee, as well as the approval for the funding of the Sports Academy by the Executive Council.

Virtually all our programmes achieved their set targets and were able to spend their allocated budgets at 96. When one reflects on our achievements and progress, it is clear that we are on track to achieve the vision and the strategic objectives of this department.

Library and Information Services

We have completed the service and resource audit, which quantified the community library status quo. We've further determined the information needs of existing users, whilst those of non-users will be finalised in the next financial year. The information will be used to draft a LIS Equity report.

50 community librarians received training that translated traditional Librarians to Community Centred Facilitators whose are instrumental in facilitating community participation.

The Department developed and hosted a pre-workshop for the Regional Standing Conference of Eastern, Central, and Southern African Librarians (SCECSAL) conference, which focused on Indigenous Knowledge Management Systems. It also sponsored the attendance of community librarians. 92 Librarians and Teachers were reached through the presentation of workshops on how to access information.

Exhaustive consultation took place on the draft LIS policy with all stakeholders, resulting in a 13th draft.

Sport and Recreation

The systematic development and training of elite athletes, coaches and administrators, through the Academy programme equally gained momentum. This programme, which consisted of four codes in 2002/2003, is supplied by our Masakhane Games, the Departmental flagship that ensures mass participation in the rural, local, regional and provincial areas. Team Gauteng participated in the inaugural SA Games hosted by our Province and won 74 medals.

In our drive to empower and develop healthy communities, the Department held 31 Recreational activities and recreation programmes, targeting pre-scholars, youth and the aged. We also embarked on introducing and popularising Indigenous games to the youth and communities. We further facilitated the establishment of Sport councils in Ivory Park, Ebony and Kaalfontein and trained twenty people in the Metsweding area in sport leadership.

Arts and Culture

Arts and Culture in Gauteng is complex. It ranges from the ancient drums and buffalo horn that are characteristic sounds of the great African kingdoms, to the modern global arts trends, the Gauteng arts and culture landscape blossoms with innovation and diversity.

From the depths and splendour of the landscapes and traditions of our peoples, comes a fierce yet humble spark of creation, a drum that houses centuries of expression, while at the same time paving pathways of present and great cultures to come.

It gives me pride to say that four jazz groups from our Jazz Development Programme have secured recording contracts. Our Craft Programme has facilitated skills transfer to many women. Through various exhibitions and craft fairs, our women, many who had previously no source of income, are able to generate revenue.

In terms of dance, we held 8 dance showcases with the participation of 355 groups, 16 of which were selected for further training and development. We partnered with the FNB Dance Umbrella among other stakeholders.

We held 4 regional craft fairs, in which 460 crafters participated. We selected 100 crafters to participate in the first provincial craft fair. This was officially opened by Minister Ben Ngubane at the Bus Factory during the Arts Alive Heritage Month festivities, and also coincided with the WSSD.

We held 8 choral showcases, in which 2 700 choristers participated. 45 choirs, inclusive of choristers and conductors, were trained in voice and projection, breathing techniques, intonation and conducting skills. The Young African Sweet Melodies choir participated in the Sowetan Nation Building Choral Festival, whilst the Emfuleni Chorale represented Gauteng at the National Sasol Choral festival in KwaZulu-Natal.

3 Regional jazz auditions were held at the Windybrow, Mphatlalatsane and Spoornet State Theatres, with 53 groups participating. Of these, 30 groups were selected, and provided training by the MIDI Trust. Art Ensemble Ladies in Jazz were invited to participate in Woman's Day Festivities in Durban. Four jazz groups from our Jazz Development Programme have secured recording contracts.

The Gauteng Theatre Practitioners Committee was established in 2002 to assist the Department in implementing the Theatre Development Programme. 7 theatre auditions were held. From this 12 productions were selected, and were on show during the Arts Alive Heritage Month festival. 180 actors benefited from training.

The Provincial Heritage Resources Authority (PHRA) was established and gazetted on 24 July 2002. PHRA was assessed by the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) and assigned the function of heritage resources management. The Ekurhuleni Heritage Society was also established and launched.

The Department is in the process of concluding the language audit for the Province. The audit commenced in April 2002, and the report will inform the provincial language policy within the national framework.

Facilities development

This programme is aimed at developing facilities for our core functional areas to facilitate equitable access to all communities, and thus improve the quality of life of the people of Gauteng, whilst simultaneously contributing to economic growth by creating permanent and temporary jobs. As our contribution towards Black Economic Empowerment, 70% of consultants and contractors employed were Previously Disadvantaged Individuals (PDI).

In total there were about 2 595 facilities audited around Gauteng, which included amongst others Sports, Arts, Recreation and Library facilities. This audit, in spite of its limitations, will serve as a basis for planning of projects to be constructed and upgraded.

The need to build Multipurpose centres as a vehicle to deliver on our core programmes as well as our outcomes was identified. Six Multi purpose centre projects in Onverwacht, Duduza, Ga-Mohale, Orange Farm, Diepsloot, and Klipkruisfontein were prioritised and are under construction and some are scheduled to be opened in this financial year. The Multi purpose centres will have indoor cultural, recreational and sport activities, space for crafters and artists to exhibit and sell their products, break-away rooms for group activities and committee meetings as well as a library and a youth centre. The aim of the multipurpose concept is to have a one-stop shop where communities can access and participate in our programmes.

For the 2002/03 financial years a budget of R32m was set aside for Capex projects. R30, 4m was transferred to the relevant local authorities for the building of multi purpose centres in line with the Integrated Development Programme of Local Governments.

Utilisation and maintenance of facilities continue to pose a challenge for the department. While the local government has the responsibility to ensure that facilities are maintained and utilised, the department has made strides in form of Memoranda of Understanding to improve service delivery.

Management Support

Sound systems and procedures for expenditure management and control were put in place; these ensured that programmes are delivered with some level of efficiency and effectiveness. Processes to track expenditure and commitments against the vote and identification and reporting of fruitless and wasteful expenditure were implemented.

As required by Resolution 7, the department completed the HR planning processes in consultation with Labour representatives and assessed the performance of all employees, rewarding those deserving.

Hosting of commemorative events

The gesture of the Premier towards the Afrikaner Culture on Human Rights Day is but one example of how to promote nation building. An average of 20 000 people attended commemorative days coordinated in various areas. The department received an award for best exhibition at the opening of the Legislature and the Rand Easter Show.

Youth Development

15 Service providers received grants based on their capacity to employ and skill youth. Regional youth summits, which provided an opportunity and platform for all stakeholders to interact, network and strengthen relationships, were held. These culminated in a Provincial summit that emerged with resolution and recommendations tabled at the Executive Council. The Executive Council noted these recommendation some of which were put as Plan of Action for the GYD.

GYD improved co-operation with other departments, which will prove worthwhile in the coming financial year when we publish the annual GYD report whose objective will be to reflect the situation of the youth of Gauteng with the view to support the Gauteng Commission on Youth Development to be chaired by the Premier. This unit further launched the GYD website.

I must take this opportunity to thank the standing committee, all our stakeholders, the Executive Council, our staff members and the media for the continued support that this Department continues to get.

For more information contact Nomazwe Ntlokwana on (011) 355 2578 / 083 507 8068
Issued by Gauteng Provincial Government
25 August 2003
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