Issued by: Gauteng Provincial Legislature
16 May 2001
Honorable Speaker,
Honorable Premier,
Honorable Members of the House,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a privilege for me to stand before this house and present the budget vote speech of the Department of Sport Recreation Arts and Culture for the financial year 2001/2002.
Before I go any further, allow me to take you on a brief journey - a journey of a 7-year-old boy named Vuyo. As a child growing up in Soweto Vuyo is no different to Kevin who grows up in Melville which is not very far from where the legislature is situated. Yet Vuyo wakes during school holidays to a neighborhood which has no functional library service where he can pick up a copy of the latest children story by Gcina Mhlophe, let alone the ever stimulating yet Eurocentric Harry Porter novel or even the ever green Tin-Tin comic. Vuyo has no access to a public swimming pool where he can cool off from the harsh African sun, no art museum to view the great works of the late Matsimela Manaka. Honorable speaker the list of the social injustices on the Vuyo's of this world is endless. As fate would have it, being born of a parent who lives in apartheid created surrounding condemns you to situation of intellectual and physical depravation.
Having painted this picture to you, it is clear that Vuyo's story could have been the very same path that was traveled by either you or I.
There are many thousands of Vuyos around South Africa today. However, with the advent of democracy, many of us both in and out of government have taken a solemn oath to ourselves, our families and our country that we will not subject our children, the children of this nation to such depravation, hardships and humiliation.
The people of South Africa have spoken and as the African National Congress led government we remain committed to ensuring that the Vuyos of our world are assured of a better life. As an old Swahili proverb reiterates: "The way you bring up a child is the way it grows up."
OVERVIEW
How then does the Department of Sport Recreation Arts and Culture contribute to the re-building of a culturally diverse but united, democratic, non-racial nation and a future in which our children can be South African and proud. A future where children are allowed to be children, not having to worry about the money to buy a real soccer ball or led astray by the symptoms of poverty.
Honorable Speaker, our manifesto as the ANC led government is based on the following three pillars:
These are the guiding principles that inform the Department's strategic objectives as well as programmes. Our Department has a role to play in reaching these Vuyos. In fulfilling these objectives we have experienced many victories, adversities and challenges.
As Martin Luther King Jr. said: "The true measure of a man is not how he behaves in moments of comfort and convenience but how he survives in times of controversy and challenges."
It is here that I congratulate my Department for they have humbly celebrated their successes, braved their challenges and learned their lessons well.
OUTPUTS
Honorable speaker, comrades and friends, 2000 - 2001 was used to create a platform and lay down the ground -work for the implementation of key projects. While we are aware of the saying: Rwalla tsatsi le sa tjhabile.
The strategy that was taken has resulted in more focused, streamlined projects that are based primarily on the needs of the communities of Gauteng.
The Department embarked on diversified programmes that ranged from the promotion of mass and quality participation in sports, arts, culture and library programmes to the development of sports, arts and culture at a grassroots level. In keeping with our mission we have managed to upgrade and maintain various facilities in Gauteng and in so doing enhancing the quality of life for people within these communities. All these programmes that were undertaken have also focused on HIV/AIDS awareness and have cut across boundaries of age, race, gender, abled and disabled persons.
Our stakeholders as well as communities around Gauteng are therefore eagerly anticipating projects for-2001 - 2002.
ECONOMIC GROWTH
Heritage Month: Through our fictitious character Vuyo, we have shown the significance of culture and heritage in one's life. Linked to identity, heritage and culture not only exemplify the uniqueness of a nation but also ensures that a sense of belonging and rootedness is prevalent within a community.
According to an old African saying: " he who does not cultivate his field will die of hunger." Similarly if we do not redress, reclaim and nurture our rich diverse culture as a people we are bound to be a nation that is at loss with itself, looking to the Western world for inspiration. To address these issues of reclamation, identity and preservation, the Department launched a Heritage Week Celebration last year.
The week - long celebration showcased various art forms, highlights of which was the jazz and choral music celebrations and a crafts exhibition. A pilot choral music programme was held in the Vaal, the culmination of which was seen in the Heritage Week Choral Celebrations. Hosted at the Newtown Cultural Precinct, the celebrations offered various job opportunities for artists as well as informal trade, but most importantly, allowed an opportunity for Johannesburg city centre to reclaim its position as the hub of cultural and economic activity.
Having realized the potential for such an event, the Department is planning a month - long celebration for this year. In an attempt to promote and develop cultural industries, the highlights this year will include a more extravagant jazz and choral music festival, as well as a cultural village.
We are presently consulting with the Gauteng Department of Finance and Economic Affairs to organise and promote a tourist route that will include a shebeen route and other cultural attractions. The primary aim of this project is to strive to position Gauteng as the capital of jazz, dance, choral, drama and crafts both nationally and internationally.
We are also seeking the co-operation of all local governments to ensure that all local initiatives are showcased in this high - profiled event. This will ensure that Gauteng becomes THE destination for the experiencing of a truly diverse South African culture.
Heritage Resource Management:
Despite many attempts at National and Provincial level to rationalize the otherwise fragmented heritage resource, the state of our heritage resources still reflects the apartheid era.
Failure on the part of our government to address the crisis in our theatres and the performing arts , will be a tantamount to failure to bring performing arts within the reach of our people who have been denied the richness of their culture and heritage by a cruel and wasteful system.
History will judge us by how well we bring these resources as near to Vuyo as it is to our Kevin of Melville. The Market and Windybrow theatres are not only a rich part of the heritage of Gauteng but are centers that are reminiscent of our struggle for freedom They are a reminder of how far we have come.
My Department has concluded a process of consultation with National and Local Government and is at present awaiting a response from the Executive Council on proposed strategic interventions. We are aware that it is all these pieces that put together the puzzle of our history and as a Department we fully realise that we need to strive to complete that puzzle.
These institutions are central to job creation and economic growth. This is evident in countries such as Australia, Nigeria and in the Far East, where heritage sites contribute significantly to the GDP especially with regards to cultural tourism.
Gauteng has much to offer in this domain, and over the next four years the Department will attempt to fully realise this potential.
The Department continues to support the Gauteng Museums and renders specialised services such as travelling exhibitions as well as building and textile conservation. In keeping with issues of redress and the reclamation of our history and heritage, the Department has continued its research and work on the Anglo - Boer War. A commemorative stone for the Black Concentration Camp was opened in Heidelberg on 4 May 2001 and will become a part of the Heidelberg tourist route. A permanent exhibition was opened in Benoni in July 2000 depicting the life and history of Oliver Tambo. This year will see the opening of the Sharpeville Monument.
The Department will continue its work with museums and has budgeted R 4, 270 million for the promotion of heritage in the province. The projects will include the establishment of two heritage societies in Ekuruleni and two in Sedibeng. The oral history projects in Sophiatown and Alexandra will also commence this year. The highlight for this year will be the opening on Heritage Day of the permanent exhibition of the history of man and the Batswana people, in Mogale City Council.
QUALITY SOCIAL SERVICES
Culture of Reading and Information Technology Both our President in his "state of the nation address" and our Honorable Premier in his "address at the opening of the legislature" have referred to the need for the consolidation of a culture of learning and reading. The consolidation of such a culture is an indispensable component in developing an economically viable and proud nation.
The culture of reading project has been identified not only as a means to develop, support and promote reading amongst the people of Gauteng but to also make libraries centres of inspiration and gardens of knowledge. The ability to read is the cornerstone of informed participation in today's age.
Our audit shows that 50% of our 3 million information resources in our libraries is irrelevant to our needs. As an ANC government we have a duty to ensure that our children and adults alike have access to material written by African writers. For many years we have been fed material from Abroad our shores. The time has come for us to reclaim our heritage and culture.
Honorable Speaker, allow me to share with the house a statement by Comrade Thabo as borrowed from an Ethiopian proverb
"Until the Lions have their historians own historians, History will continue to be told by Hunters".
In the past financial year the Department reached 15 000 mothers in a Born to Read programme. In this financial year we increase this number to 60 000 mothers.
Currently only 27 of the 200 libraries are linked to the global information networks. In line with our President's vision for our beloved country, the Department hosted an information technology seminar for 200 community librarians. This year we will ensure that all the 200 libraries have full use of information technology. So Vuyo will no longer have to catch a train and a taxi in order to surf the information network at the Sandton Library
Masakhane Games
In his Utopian Socialism memoirs Lenin wrote this about armchair critics"
An Observer Sees Most of the Game... But he is the least informed of the lot"
As the government elected by the majority in this province, the ANC has often been attacked for not speeding up change. As illustrated in Vuyo's story, despite having the sporting ability, having been exposed to no sporting code other than soccer, Vuyo was still unable to fully explore his talent due to the lack of opportunity and resources both personally and communally. We as the ANC did not create this situation for Vuyo.
But nothing will distract us from turning Vuyo's situation around. The Masakhane Games seeks to alleviate Vuyo's challenge as well as promoting sports throughout the province. The games have been played in 49 communities. The four regional games were successfully staged in Ennerdale, Atterigeville, Benoni and Vereeniging. The provincial games were held in Soweto where 26 different sporting codes participated. More than 5000 youth participated in the Games; many of these codes included both male and female, abled and disabled participated.
21 venues were used in and around Soweto. Whilst the Games were successful in terms of spectators and community participation the need for more suitable sporting facilities in Soweto was highlighted. The Masakhane Games are now firmly established as an annual event within the Department. The many volunteers that are associated with the Games will improve organisational skills to ensure that the local Games are professionally co-ordinated. The provincial finals scheduled for the 13 October this year is eagerly anticipated by the local communities.
Our relationship with the Sport Science Institute of South Africa has been and continues to be a fruitful one. The Mobile Sports Unit that was sponsored by Woolworths was an identifiable feature of the 11 special events that were hosted by the province.
Students from 3 schools were tested in the past year for fitness and sporting performance. The Department's recreation programme has grown from strength to strength. The highlight of the programme has been the pre- school training and fun days. Many teachers from regions around Gauteng have received training and have been urged to organise fun days for the schools in their communities. Woolworth's partnered with the Department this year and sponsored toy boxes for schools.
This incentive resulted in an increase of schools participating in the programme. Through our memorandum of understanding with GDE, we have trained junior school staff in the Junior Sport Programme.
In collaboration with the Department of Correctional Services and the Department of Population Development and Social Services, we have hosted fun days at various juvenile detention centers around Gauteng. The Memorandum of Understanding between Department: Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture and the Gauteng Department of Education have born positive results.
The joint collaboration between the two Departments has ensured the success of the "Love Life" ball games, the ABSA Mea Cup in athletics and the fitness testing programmes. The focus for this year will shift to skill development by reinforcing the relationships between sports federations and schools.
Facilities In keeping with our mission, the CAPEX budget for the past financial year of R48 million has ensured that the Department managed to build and upgrade 58 facilities.
As most of these facilities directly addressed the needs of the communities as requested by the communities themselves, the Department prides itself in its quality service delivery. However, it should be noted that the enthusiasm and commitment of both Local Government and the communities have ultimately resulted in the success of the CAPEX project. Facilities remain one of the priorities for this year. R 20 million has been made available for the establishment and upgrading of facilities in disadvantaged areas.
Sports and Recreation
The volume of the Department's sports and recreational programmes has resulted in increased utilization of facilities. The Directorate of Sport and Recreation managed to successfully finance the redevelopment and construction of 46 facilities. The work ranged from fencing and securing of the facilities to the actual construction of the facilities. The Department is at present conducting a feasibility study for a high performance sports academy that will be the first of its kind in Gauteng.
Arts and Culture
As mentioned earlier on Heritage Month continues to be used as a vehicle to developing aspiring artist in the field of visual and performing arts. Last year more than 1000 artists participated in the events of the week of September. This year we will showcase more of our artists .
The vision of the Department is to develop our own cultural industries were we could produce more of the late Souli's (one of the greatest natural born pastel artists ever found on the streets of Johannesburg), Bheku Mseleku's, Busi Mhlongo's and the Mandoza's. These products of our work will then be showcased during our Heritage Month. We hope our proposal to have this, as one of the flagships in the next financial year will be met with success.
Most of the arts, culture and heritage facilities are in a dilapidated state and are inadequate to promote activities in such centers. The Directorate of Arts Culture and Heritage has managed to commit funds to redevelop eight facilities, which includes the construction of a monument and the redevelopment of arts and crafts centers. The projects that have begun in the past financial year are continuing and will be finished by the end of this financial year.
This year the Directorate will focus on the audit of facilities that will generate valuable information to inform future decision - making, formalize the already established relationship with local government and develop applications criteria for the provisioning of facilities.
Financial Assistance:
As a continued recognition of the importance of Non Governmental Organizations in the Development of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture we have given financial assistance in the form of grants - in - aid of R3, 750 million to sporting federations, arts, culture and heritage organizations for development and capacity building. This year a sum of 3, 450 million has been allocated to grants - in - aids.
GOOD GOVERNANCE
Human Resources A West African proverb says:
"When a king has good councilors, his reign is peaceful." It is clear that to effectively and efficiently deliver the services that the Department provides, it is necessary that the human capacity is not only equipped with the skills that are required to fulfill the tasks but that this is done in a conducive working environment.
During the past financial year the Department has approved a new organizational structure. It is significant to note that the new structure will give impetus to our ideas of integrated planning, improved service delivery and efficient use of public resources.
Women currently make up 57% of the senior management echelon. However, the challenge for the Department is to see that women are represented on all management levels in all Directorates within the Department. In trying to meet these challenges we will be guided by national norms.
The past year has also been the first year that our human resources have operated under the New Management Framework. As I have illustrated, their input is already beginning to add value to the overall objectives.
Finance and General Administration
To ensure good governance we have rationalized and centralized the procurement and provisioning in the Department. This will ensure more efficient control and monitoring and further minimize fraud and corruption.
Capacity in this area is being boosted by the appointment of a Chief Financial Office in Aril 2001. We have streamlined our financial management systems to improve efficiency and transparency. Our strategies and plans are being aligned to our budgets, ensuring mproved programme management.
Mechanisms to monitor and control of expenditure have been implemented as well as internal control systems, policies and procedures.
NATION BUILDING
Commemorative Days
Honorable speaker, as a nation we continue to strive for a united, democratic non- - racial, non- - sexist South Africa. This is an ideal, which we as the African National Congress led government will continue to cherish. But it is only through the unified efforts of government and our people that we can achieve a truly united democratic South Africa. The Romanians believed that the "voice of the people is the voice of God."
Similarly it is only through the union of our efforts and beliefs that we can speak in one voice as a South African Nation. The celebration and commemoration of the various national holidays, all significant in their own right are the mechanisms that the Department uses to promote and achieve a new patriotic order.
In the past financial year the Department has organized and co -ordinated very successful Human Rights, Freedom, Women's and Heritage Days. Last year saw the launch of the Premiers Awards to the Women of Gauteng.
This year's Women's Day Celebration will be marked by the first Provincial Women's Awards. The awards will recognize women that have been instrumental in their contribution to communities in Gauteng and will cut across various categories.
Human Rights Day commemorated all those heroes and heroines that died in the Sharpeville Massacre.
Freedom Day continues to be an annual success and is symbolic of the positive move towards nation - building. This year being the 25th Anniversary of Youth Day, the Department in conjunction with other stakeholders will be hosting a National event in Soweto. The highlight of this event will be the bringing together of Children form the predominantly white schools, through the assistance of the Education Department, into Soweto to commemorate Youth Day.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Having said all this, it is clear that there are many people that I have to thank. I would like to thank the Members of the Standing Committee for their diligent work and support of the Department at all time. A heartfelt thanks to all the civil servants within the Department for their hard work and commitment in ensuring that the needs of the people of Gauteng are fully realized. Your belief and passion in your work is a sure ingredient to our success. As the poet John Stuart Mill wrote: "one person with a belief is equal to ninety - nine who have interests".
To my management team I congratulate you on keeping the spirit and the hope of the Department alive. Your assiduousness and fortitude in meeting the objectives of the Provincial government has been second to none.
I would also like to thank all the volunteers, who have assisted the Department during the year, it was due to your support and commitment that we have succeeded in many of our events. And finally I would like to thank all our stakeholders and communities that we service. It is through your guidance and your passion and commitment to your community that we are able to provide our services efficiently and effectively.
CONCLUSION
As I've stated previously the year that has past has been a year that has seen both successes and challenges.
Honorable Speaker we have tabled before this house the outputs for the year that past and our budgetary plans for the next financial year. We will continue to strive to optimally utilize the money that our taxpayers have so graciously contributed.
However, I urge you not to judge our success on all I have just said. As Baltasar Gracian said: "Great ability develops and reveals itself increasingly with every new assignment."
When all is said and done, Vuyo's Mother should look at a culturally aware, holistically healthy and intellectually stimulated son and say "Ukuzala kukuzelula Amathambo" Enkosi!
I thank you.
Issued by the Gauteng Provincial Government.
For further nformation contact: Erishnee Naidu Tel:(011) 355-2578