Budget Vote Debate- Extended Public Committee
National Assembly
MR KP Sithole, MP
Honourable Chairperson,
Transformation in sports has been an issue of on-going contention since our transition to democracy in 1994. Initially it was agreed that a quota system would be implemented which would assist in speeding up this process by providing previously disadvantaged black sportsmen and women with opportunities so as to bridge the divide created under apartheid.
Twenty years on and transformation is still lacking because it is not being addressed from the ground-up but rather from a top-down approach. All we are witnessing today is apartheid in reverse, when what we should be seeing is the implementation of platforms and infrastructure that promote, nurture and develop junior sports levels throughout the country. Sporting academies all over South Africa should be the norm and not the exception.
This will transform sport in South Africa. This will make sport truly representative. If we can identify and nurture sports talent from a young age, sports transformation will naturally occur. But this entails a commitment from the Department to ensure that sports facilities, equipment and coaches are available and accessible throughout the country and especially in our schools, in both rural and urban areas. Sports focus models must also receive greater capacitation
Honourable Chairperson, if the Department of Sports and Recreation and the Department of Basic Education fail to implement a sporting code in our schools, how do we expect to see any real transformation, especially in our rural areas.
Withdrawing funding from major sports bodies will not magically transform sports in South Africa Honourable Minister. It will only hurt sports! Your punitive measures are ill-advised and reminiscent of apartheid style thinking. The IFP urges that you seriously reconsider this position in the interests of South African sport.
South Africa is home to great sports talent. In Johannesburg there is a boxing club called Golden Gloves which has been in operation since 1977. This club has nurtured and developed world class black boxers, yet they cannot get Departmental assistance for equipment that they desperately require. I have written to the Minister in this regard last year already, and to date I have not even had the courtesy of a response. Do you intend to respond to me any time soon Honourable Minister?
Ngicela uNggonggoshe wezemidlalo nokuncebeleka ehle kuleli hhashi aligibele liphezulu kakhulu lizokuwisa. Ezemidlalo zidinga ungqongqoshe ongagqagqamuki kodwa olalelayo. Lelibhanoyi oligibele lizophahlaka ubadinge labantu obabukela phansi.
Ngiyabonga.
The Inkatha Freedom Party supports the budget vote debate.
I thank you.
Honourable KP Sithole, MP
079 311 9995
IFP Media, Parliament
