Date: 21/06/2004
Source: Ministry of Sport and Recreation
Title: G Oosthuizen: Sport & Recreation Dept Budget Vote debate, NCOP


BUDGET SPEECH BY DEPUTY MINISTER OF SPORT AND RECREATION, GC OOSTHUIZEN, VOTE 20, National Council of Provinces, 21 June 2004

CONSOLIDATING AND DELIVERING ON THE PEOPLE'S CONTRACT FOR A BETTER SOUTH AFRICA

Chairperson,
Honourable Members

I ask this august house to accept the apologies of the Honourable Minister of Sport and Recreation for being absent toady. The House may be aware that, he is at present attending the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Foundation Board Meeting in Canada. We trust that the importance of this meeting is understood and appreciated.

I support the leadership of the Minister in this important portfolio of Sport and Recreation. I can confirm that in the short space of time that we have been working together, I have been stimulated by his experience and knowledge.

It is an honour to deliver my maiden budget address to this august house, just over a month after having been appointed to the position of Deputy Minister. In the short space of time, the Minister and I have spent a lot of time orientating ourselves to the new environment. We have started to make the strategic adjustments to the course in which sport and recreation is heading in our country. The past few weeks have been heady, however, we have taken up the challenge with the enthusiasm that a dynamic area such as sport and recreation deserves. As a team - the Minister and I, the Portfolio Committee on Sport and Recreation, the Standing Committee on Education and Recreation, the evolving Ministry of Sport and Recreation and the Department with its associated Public Entities - will soon be moulded into a well-oiled machine that will take sport to new heights in our country.

Ek is dankbaar teenoor die agbare President vir die geleentheid om as Adjunk Minister in hierdie uitdagende en opwindende portfeulje te kan dien. Sport is en bly 'n belangrike bou-blok in Nasie-bou en versoening. Trouens, wanneer ons sportspanne wen, gaan dit goed met alles - as hulle verloor, dan, soos wyle Koos du Plessis ges