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Date : 17/11/2005
Source: KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
Title: Ndebele: Premier’s Sports Awards 2005


  Speech by the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Mr JS Ndebele, at the occasion of the Premier’s Sports Awards 2005 ICC, Durban

The Honourable MEC for Sport and Recreation,
Mr A Rajbansi
Members of the Provincial Executive Council,
Members of the Provincial Legislature
Members of the Consular Corp
Mayors present
Members of the sporting fraternity,
Nominees
Ladies and Gentlemen

The world has waited with bated breadth today. Waiting to hear the news of who was going to win the multi-million rand race to host rugby’s 2011 World Cup. Would it be Japan or South Africa? We all wondered. I am happy to mention that once again we have done it. We, as a country, are going to host the Rugby World Cup 2011. I wish to congratulate the bidding team for all their hard work in making sure that we remain in the world’s attention.

(If we do not get it) I am rather sad to announce that Japan will be the host of the Rugby World Cup 2011. We, however, wish to thank the bidding team for their attempts in making sure that we remain in the world’s attention. Tonight is a time for celebration. As we celebrate, let us not forget the blood, sweat and tears that have gotten us here. Let us not forget the struggle and the sacrifices we had to make to get where we are today. I want us to spend some time reflecting. Everyday our government departments are involved in projects that hope to turn the Province of KwaZulu-Natal into a safe place with an improved quality of life, and where prosperity and development are our key building blocks.

Eminent among these is the Dube Trade port, of which you would have read or heard that it is finally hooked onto a strict time-table for completion by November 2009. The Trade port will be ready in time for the 2010 Soccer World Cup and will become a hub of a myriad of economic activities. The Soccer World Cup has also acted as a stimulus, with infrastructural developments and sustainable jobs. Things are happening and it is a privilege for all of us to serve our province.

However, as I look at all these developments I am painfully aware that these are often just concrete blocks that do not feel, do not think, and do not have values. And what is development without a value system? There have been many societies through history who have had grand development plans and a genuine commitment to carrying them out, only for these countries to fall into ruin because of an inability to build a society imbued with a value system that ‘glued’ them together as they catapulted forward.

Sport offers us that energy and the occasion because of the principles it embodies. This then allows us to reflect not just on development as economics, but development as building a nation with beautiful and long-lasting values. Sporting unity shows giving, sharing, of joy, of the recognition of how the human spirit can endure.

Sport has played an extremely important role in breaking down barriers between communities, and in world sports, brought nations together. From disparaging groupings, we are unified in fair and friendly competition. When we bring about peace and unity, we encourage development and maximise the country’s revenue.

In KwaZulu-Natal, we are striving towards sports excellence and tonight is indicative of the strides we are making. It is sport that will build our province that will bring unity between African and African, African and Indian, African and Coloured and African and white. Tonight we salute you, members of the sporting fraternity who have worked tirelessly to achieve at the highest levels. I am mindful of the discipline, dedication and passion that is required for you to have accomplished this feat.

Whilst many athletes compete in events, achieve excellence and are glorified on the podium, let us acknowledge those who work tirelessly to support these athletes to prepare them for high performance. A special word of acknowledgement is extended to all coaches, technical officials and administrators for the valuable contribution that they are making to ensure that they promote participation and development of Sport and Recreation. Tonight, we have an impressive list of nominees and I want to congratulate you all for your achievements and I am optimistic that we will see some of your names in the bright lights at the Commonwealth Games next year as well as at other major national and international competitions.

Our country is in the forefront of making us the continent’s favourite sport capital. At a recent national sports indaba, our government put on the table, our desire to create an Africa World Cup. This will prompt us to elevate the agenda of sport through New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), to retain African talent in Africa, to give capacity to our coaches and technical officials.

In five year’s time, South Africa will host the biggest and most spectacular single sporting event in the world, the 2010 FIFA Football World Cup. This is a landmark event for South Africa, as it is the first on African soil. We are guided by the principles that this event will build a legacy in the province, build a tourism base and ensure sustainability of investment post the event. In preparation for the World Cup in 2010, we have set up a task team chaired by Sport and Recreation MEC, Mr Amichand Rajbansi, together with Finance and Economic Development MEC, Dr Zweli Mkhize and Transport, Safety and Security MEC, Mr Bheki Cele to look at logistical and other issues, including tourism, accommodation, stadia including training venues and disaster management.

In Dublin when sporting administrators pondered the question of where to land the Rugby World Cup for 2011, South Africa’s chances were always good. Having hosted one World Cup already; hosting the Soccer World Cup in 2010 and the fact that we are global sports competitors were feathers in our cap. South Africa has staged more successful high–profile international events in the 11 years since apartheid ended than many developed nations. South Africa hosted the 1995 Rugby World Cup, African Cup of Nations in 1996 and the 2003 Cricket World Cup.

Come 2010, South Africa will be able to provide the sporting world tournament with an unprecedented platform.

A gleaming landscape of outstanding stadia, infrastructure, human skills, commercial strength and a legislative framework tailored for staging major events - will be primed for the Federation International de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup in 2010, and ready for rugby in 2011, and further available to the world and more importantly our communities to make sport accessible. We will reach the largest global television (TV) audience, draw a record number of visitors and spectators to the matches, and thus measurably grow the game across the planet. The year 2005 has thus far been an eventful year for KwaZulu-Natal for Sport and Recreation.

On an annual basis, the province plays host to a number of major sporting events like the Comrades Marathon, the Dusi Canoe Marathon, major international swimming events, football, cricket and rugby matches, Cycling events and in January the South African leg of the A1 Grand Prix will take place in Durban. This firmly confirms KwaZulu-Natal as an ideal venue for hosting major provincial, national and international sporting events.

Let us not forget about the launch of the Inter-Provincial Games which took place in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) last month, which provided an important opportunity to spread the influence of sport to promote unity of purpose and nation building. KZN was chosen as host province for the inaugural event. We have been grouped with Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, Free State in what has been referred to as the Eastern Region.

Hosting major events is also a catalyst for participation amongst the people at grass roots level. Each time the province or the country hosts or participates in a major event there is major interest. Young children can be seen playing football in every street corner emulating their heroes from the national teams. This also confirms that excellence at the highest level is a great motivation for participation at a grass roots level.

We encourage competition and at the same time unify the nation. We interact as members of teams, clubs, regions, provinces and as a country with the vision of winning competitions, as well as promoting positive and healthy lifestyles whilst participating for fun and enjoyment.

The Department of Sport and Recreation faces many challenges in the province in ensuring that sport and recreation programmes reach the approximately Nine million people of this province, many of whom live in the rural areas. It is imperative that there is co-operation between all role players, namely the various government departments, sports federations, tertiary institutions and the private sector amongst others.

In our multi-sphere system of government, we can only function optimally if we work as an integrated entity. In particular, I wish to encourage strong partnerships among the departments of Sport and Recreation, Health, Education and Local Government. This will ensure that there is seamless planning and execution of all our plans and projects in the upliftment of the whole province.

It is believed that in developing countries, for every rand spent on sport and recreation, the health bill is lowered by R100. Increased physical activity has a positive impact on health and has a favourable effect on productivity levels. In South Africa, the cases of obesity and other lifestyle diseases like diabetes and heart problem are very high. Studies also show that about 20% of South African children are obese due to decreased physical activity of children.

Sport can also play a pivotal role in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Engaging our youth meaningfully in sport and recreation will definitely ensure that their boundless energy is channelled in a positive direction. As more people engage in sport, we will also notice an improvement in the moral regeneration of society. In that way crime, women, child and substance abuse will be successfully tackled.

It is also my hope that the mass participation programmed currently operational in 20 hubs in the province, will reach their set targets. This will ensure that a major impact is made on the people who have no wish to participate competitively but want to engage in activities that impact positively and promote healthy lifestyles, fun and enjoyment. We need to ensure that these programmes also cater for senior citizens and also play a meaningful role in rehabilitating people in institutions.

I will be failing in my duty if I do not address the issue of transformation is sport. Whilst there are many success stories in this regard, the transformation of sport in still in its infancy. Many black people have already demonstrated great potential in the field of rugby and cricket but greater effort is required to help them develop to levels where they could be considered for permanent places in the provincial or even national teams. They need support of every kind especially financially. I hereby wish to call on our business fraternity to adopt some of these rising stars so that ultimately when they shine, they should shine with your brand on their backs.

Ladies and gentlemen, a historical event took place in KwaZulu-Natal this week with the launch of the Provincial Citizen’s Charter. This means that government has made a firm commitment to ensure an effective and efficient service to the people of KwaZulu-Natal is delivered. I know that the department has committed itself to maximizing opportunities to improve the quality of life through active participation of its citizens in Sport and Recreation. This is part of their service commitment charter. This charter should be made known to all your stakeholders so that they can know what you promise as a department.

A knowledgeable citizen is indeed an empowered citizen. KwaZulu-Natal has shown a deep passion for sport, whether it be soccer, rugby, cricket or other sporting codes. We are more than confident that sports fans –be they in the spectator stands or the comfort of their armchairs – will be part and parcel of the sporting mania capturing our Province. An active nation is a healthy and successful nation!

Thank you.

Issued by: Office of the Premier, KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
17 November 2005

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