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PRESIDENT
SASCOC AGM
26 AUGUST 2011
ORION SAFARI LODGE,
RUSTENBURG
Mr. Gert C. Oosthuizen MP
Deputy Minister of Sport and
Recreation SA
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Programme Director
SASCOC President, Mr Gideon
Sam
Members
of
the
SASCOC
Executive Board
Presidents
of
National
Federations
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
Thank you for the kind invitation to
address you at this Annual
General Meeting of SASCOC.
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First of all I would like to thank the
leadership of SASCOC and our
National Federations for the good
relationship and cooperation that
exists with our Department. I value
the collaborative working
relationship we experience with
our sport leaders and this
cooperation augers well for the
very important phase we enter in
determining the future of South
African sport.
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Your presence at the 2011
SASCOC AGM here in
Rustenburg is part of the process
to make South African sport more
inclusive as we work together on
the development of the first ever
National Sport and Recreation
Plan - briefly referred to as the
NSRP.
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Yesterday you made important
and valuable inputs and
contributions to the draft National
Sport Plan. I want to thank you for
your dedicated efforts to enrich the
Plan. It is my belief that the future
of sport and recreation in South
Africa is not just the responsibility
of a single entity, but of all the
stakeholders in the sport sector.
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We are all part of a process aimed
at creating a vibrant sport system
that encourages growth and
development, and supports South
Africans to be world-beaters.
Allow me the opportunity to update
you this morning on progress
made and the latest developments
regarding the development of the
National Sport and Recreation
Plan and the upcoming National
Indaba.
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Ladies and gentleman, first of all it
is important to realise that to fully
benefit from and exploit the social
and economic opportunities of
sport, especially as experienced
during the 2010 FIFA World Cup,
it is essential to have an integrated
sport system in place that is
effectively coordinated, aligned,
functional
and
oriented.
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performance
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I have no doubt that the National
Sport and Recreation Plan that is
now developed will pave the way
for such a sport system. The
strategic focus of the Plan is to
reconstruct and revitalize the sport
and recreation sector for an active
and
winning
nation
whilst
improving the lives of all South
Africans.
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Early
in
2011
Sport
and
Recreation South Africa finalised
an updated White Paper on sport
and recreation and a Road Map
outlining
priority
areas.
These
documents serve as the basis for
the development of Government’s
first
ever
National
Sport
and
Recreation Plan.
In the 2011 State of the Nation
Address, President Jacob Zuma,
informed
the
joint
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sitting
of
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Parliament that: ‘Given the work
that must still be done, we decided
in 2009 to focus on five priorities,
namely education, health, rural
development and agrarian reform,
taking forward the fight against
crime and creating decent work.’
Ladies
and
gentlemen
after
perusing the NSRP very carefully,
I am comfortable that this Plan will
not only pave the way for a well
coordinated
and
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vibrant
sport
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system, but it will also allow for the
building of a very important case
for sport as the activities identified
in the Plan will make valuable
contributions to the priorities of
Government.
The
sport
and
recreation sector has indeed a
very important role to play in the
achievement of all Government
priorities.
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MILESTONES
Some of the important milestones
in developing the National Sport
and Recreation Plan and building
up to the National Indaba include
the following:
 At a Departmental strategic
workshop from 10 – 12 January
2011 delegates agreed to
organise a National Sport Indaba
to finalise South Africa’s first
National Sport and Recreation
Plan.
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 Following this workshop Minister
Fikile Mbalula appointed myself
as Chairperson of a Steering
Committee. The first meeting of
the Steering Committee was held
on 4 February 2011. All
Provinces, SALGA, SASCOC
and identified individual roleplayers are represented on the
Steering Committee.
 The concept of the NSRP and
Indaba was launched through
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the media to stimulate public
debate on 5 April.
 Also in April the SRSA website
was used to encourage public
participation and inputs to the
NSRP. This was supplemented
by targeting social media.
 The draft NSRP was finalised in
May 2011 and distributed for
comments and inputs. Together
with an Indaba Opinion Piece on
the National Indaba was also
released to stimulate debate.
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 The first draft of the
Transformation Charter
accompanied by a score card the only annexure to the NSRP was finalized in June and
distributed for comments and
inputs.
 During the consultation process
various Reference Documents
supplementing the Plan and
providing greater insight
regarding the NSRP were
identified and developed.
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 A Project Manager was
appointed on 1 June 2011 to
assist with the planning and
organizing of the National
Indaba.
CONSULTATION PROCESS
Ladies and gentlemen, you can
rest assured that the National
Sport and Recreation Plan will be
the result of a broad consultative
process. The draft NSRP was
discussed and debated at regional
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and district workshops that
culminated in Provincial iZindaba
that took place as follows:
 Mpumalanga - 23 & 24 July 2011
 Western Cape – 30 July 2011
 Gauteng – 3 August 2011
 KZN – 11 & 12 August 2011
 Eastern Cape – 13 August 2011
 Limpopo – 12, 13 &14 August
2011
 Northern Cape – 19 August 2011
 North West – due to take place
on 17 September 2011.
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As you can recall the intentions to
develop a National Sport and
Recreation Plan and to host a
National Indaba were
communicated at your General
Meeting in East London on 16
April 2011. The interactions at this
AGM provided all recognized NFs
with the opportunity to make
inputs on the National Sport and
Recreation Plan.
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A briefing session on the National
Sport and Recreation Plan was
held with the staff of Sport and
Recreation South Africa on 15
August 2011.
A presentation on the NSRP was
done to the Portfolio Committee
on 23 August 2011. Some of the
main comments of the Portfolio
Committee were the following:
 Elevating the status of sport
within Government is important
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for the successful
implementation of the NSRP.
 The NSRP has the potential to
uplift South African sport and
recreation and it is critical that
the document is resourced and
properly implemented.
 The transformation of the sport
sector is at the heart of the
NSRP and the Department must
ensure that the necessary
mechanisms are deployed to
determine the transformation
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status quo and to monitor
progress. It must also be realised
that transformation will only
succeed if the required resources
are made available.
 School sport remains a key
factor to a successful sport
system making the relationship
between SRSA and DBE critical.
 The provision of facilities is
central to the development of
sport and recreation.
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 The NSRP must assist with a
clear role demarcation of the key
role-players in sport and
recreation.
 A functional personnel structure
for the sector is required to
ensure the proper
implementation of the NSRP.
 The funding of sport must be
reviewed to ensure a better
utilization of resources.
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EVALUATION AND DRAFTING
SUB-COMMITTEE
At the meeting of the Steering
Committee of 1 August 2011
representatives from the following
institutions
were
serve
the
on
appointed
Evaluation
Drafting Sub-Committee:
Sport and Recreation South
Africa;
The Ministry;
Provincial Government;
SALGA; and SASCOC.
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to
and
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The
main
purpose
Evaluation
and
Committee
is
of
Drafting
to
the
Sub-
critically
interrogate and evaluate all the
remarks, proposed amendments,
inputs
and
recommendations
received with a view of compiling a
final draft National Sport and
Recreation Plan.
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FOCUS AREAS
I don’t want to deliberate on the
National Sport and Recreation
Plan too much as I know that you
spent a lot of time yesterday in
discussing the Plan. Save to say
that, as far as I am concerned,
various
critical
issues
are
addressed in the Plan that will
have a serious impact on the
future of our sport sector. Issues
such as:
 The importance of school sport.
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 Grassroots sports programmes
such as modified sport with the
focus on fun and enjoyment, for
example
the
“Bakers
Mini
Cricket” and “Bulletjies Rugby”.
 The
new
concept
of
Youth
camps.
 A new focus on recreation.
 Strengthening
the
delivery
system through Sport Councils.
 Geater
cooperation
between
SRSA, the Police, Defense Force
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and
Correctional
Services
to
enhance sport.
 Mechanisms that will improve our
international sport successes.
 Establishing South Africa as a
world leader in global initiatives
of the United Nations regarding
sport
for
peace
and
development.
 The
thorny
issue
of
professionalism in sport.
 The
importance
of
international sports calendar.
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 The exiting concept of a Sports
House.
 And a funding model for South
African sport.
PLANNING, MONITORING &
BUDGETING CYCLES
Although the National Sport and
Recreation Plan will be monitored
and evaluated annually, the
targets and deliverables will align
with the Medium Term
Expenditure Framework to
encourage financial sustainability
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and with Government’s Medium
Term Strategic Framework to
support Government priorities.
In conjunction with National
Treasury, SRSA will ensure that
the implementation of the NSRP
will adhere to the regulated
budgetary and planning cycles.
SRSA will develop an action plan
outlining the alignment process in
a chronologically and ordered
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manner across four financial
years, namely 2010/11 to 2013/14.
LEGAL FRAMEWORK
Ladies and gentlemen, although
different
stakeholders
are
allocated responsibilities in the
NSRP, the Minister will remain the
custodian of sport and recreation
in South Africa. The Minister has
the legislative powers to oversee
the
development
management
of
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sport
and
and
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recreation in the country. The
Minister is therefore the principal
authority
of
Government
with
regards to all sport and recreation
matters. This, however, does not
negate his right to enter into
Service Level Agreements with
delivery agents identified in the
NSRP.
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COLLABORATIVE
AGREEMENTS
Following the finalization of the
National Sport and Recreation
Plan it is envisaged that the
Minister will sign Collaborative
Agreements with identified
stakeholders to support the
delivery of the NSRP. The
Collaborative Agreement will be
signed with the supreme delivery
partners, for example the Minister
is signing with the Provincial
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Governments and SASCOC. The
supreme delivery partner will then
need to take responsibility for
cascading the responsibility
further, for example Provincial
Government signs agreements
with local government and
SASCOC with its National
Federations. In this way we will
ensure that all role-players are
working towards the same goals
and objectives.
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I am also very aware of the
importance to ensure that requisite
resources must be made available
to support the implementation of
the Collaborative Agreements.
ROLES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES
The NSRP must include a clear
role demarcation which eliminates
“turf battles”.
In finalizing the NSRP there is
broad consensus that there should
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be only two macro drivers of sport
and recreation in the country,
namely Government - all three
tiers - and one NGO - SASCOC.
Following the approval of the
NSRP the National Sport and
Recreation Amendment Act of
2007, as well as the constitution of
SASCOC, will need to be
amended to ensure that the
delivery of sport and recreation is
supported by relevant legislation.
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It is envisaged that the mandate of
SASCOC will need to be
expanded to include more than
high performance sport.
I am also of the opinion that it will
be in the interest of all relevant
parties that the leadership of
SRSA meets with the Executive of
SASCOC and with the Provinces
before the National Indaba to
reach consensus on contentious
issues.
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MIG FUNDING
The National Sport and Recreation
Plan promotes mass participation
in sport at local level through the
establishment of sporting hubs in
municipalities
which
is
fundamental for creating social
cohesion and producing a healthy
and productive nation. There are,
however, challenges with regards
to
the
maintenance
of
these
infrastructure hubs as there is
currently
inadequate
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funding
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allocated for maintenance costs by
municipalities.
Significant steps have been made
to
address
municipal
the
sport
shortage
of
infrastructure
through the ring-fencing of 15% of
the Municipal Infrastructure Grant
towards building sport facilities in
rural areas. However, the funding
mechanism does not take into
consideration the significant funds
needed for the maintenance costs
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of these. The utilisation of the MIG
for municipalities and schools to
share
facilities
poses
therefore
maintenance
also
related
challenges which could result in
unrealistic
costs
for
local
government.
The
sector
should,
therefore
consider a long term funding
mechanism of sport infrastructure
development to take the form of a
conditional grant to the provinces
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rather than the current MIG ringfencing of 15%.
NATIONAL SPORT INDABA
The NSRP will be finalised at a
National Indaba scheduled for
November 2011. This Indaba will
be
the
Provincial
culmination
iZindaba
of
nine
and
workshops at regional and district
levels.
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The main objectives of the Indaba
are to:
 Action
the
emanating
policy
from
directives
the
revised
White Paper – from the “what” to
the “how”.
 Integrate the six priority areas
identified in the SRSA 2011
Road Map into the NSRP.
 Consider feedback received from
the Provinces; SASCOC; NFs
and other inputs received.
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 Fast-track
a
transformation
charter and delivery mechanisms
for all sectors and role-players
involved in sport and recreation.
 Facilitate collective buy-in from
all stakeholders to the NSRP.
 Streamline
implementation
towards common objectives.
The
envisaged
theme
of
the
National Indaba is from “From
policy to practice” and the tagline:
“More than just playing”.
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AREAS FOR FURTHER
DISCUSSION IN INDABA
COMMISSIONS
Working through the inputs thus
far it appears if there are still
important issues that may need
further deliberations at the
National Indaba. These issues
include:
 The geo-political constitutional
boundaries (national, provincial,
local) vs sport federation
boundaries.
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 The issue of amateur versus
professional sport and young
people who are contracted at
academies.
 The concept of a Sports House
that can become an important
factor in supporting our National
and even International
Federations.
 Line of reporting for provincial
federations to National
Federation and/or Provincial
Sport Councils)
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FUTURE ACTIONS
Following the approval of the
National Sport and Recreation
Plan important follow-up actions
will be required such as:
 Updating the Case for Sport.
 Production of coffee table book
with the history of the
development of the National
Sport and Recreation Plan with
agreements and photos.
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 Update the National Strategic
Frameworks of the National and
Provincial Departments of Sport.
 Alignment of the strategic
documentation of all role-players
with the National Sport and
Recreation Plan.
 The development of a generic
Charter for South African Sport
and Recreation.
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CONCLUSION
Upon approval of the National
Sport and Recreation Plan South
Africa will have for the first time:
 A single NSRP with specific
activities.
 A well designed and operational
development continuum
supported by skilled human
resources.
 A clear demarcation of roles and
responsibilities.
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 Transformation addressed in a
holistic way.
 A unified funding mechanism.
 All role-players working towards
the same objectives.
Without a coordinated, integrated
and aligned national sport system
within which all component parts
are focused towards a common
set of goals and objectives, the
potential value of sport to the
South African society cannot be
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fully realised.
All sectors must
buy-in and commit to the strategic
direction that will emerge from the
National Indaba.
The Department has embarked on
genuine and constructive debates
in its quest to transform South
African sport for the better. I have
no doubt that we can count on the
100%
cooperation
commitment
of
SASCOC
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and
and
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every NF to complete this race
successfully.
I thank you.
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