BY
HON PN MSIMANGO MPL
Honourable Speaker,
Namhlanje kuleNdlu sizokhuluma ngezemidlalo ekubeni isifundazwe saKwaZulu-Natali sihleli emanzini ngokudlula emhlabeni kukaMnu Bheka Phakathi obengumdlali webhola odumile odlule engozini yemoto. Iqembu leNkatha lithanda ukudlulisa amazwi enduduzo emndeni wakwaPhakathi kanye nabononke abathintekile ngokudlula kwakhe.
I would now like to encroach on a terrain which for us in the IFP is indeed a burning issue, namely that of women in sport. We are still reeling in shock following the new IAAF rules for female athletes who have high testosterone levels firmly such as Caster Semenya. Iqembu leNkatha likubona lokhu kungunyathela amalungelo abagijimi besifazane abesimo esifana nesikaCaster. Izinhlangano ezifana ne-IAAF kumele zikuqonde ukuthi uCaster Semenya akazidalanga kodwa wadalwa uMdali njengabobonke abantu. Kungani pho ejeziswa ngokwesimo azalwe naso? Sinxusa izwelo lonke ukuthi lisemeke lomgijimi kulesimo abheke naso futhi sithi lemithetho ebekwe i-IAAF ayihoxiswe ngoba inokucwasa ngokwezimo abantu abadalwe nazo.
Sports and Recreation are fundamental for healthy and balanced lifestyles. It is unfortunate that a meagre budget is allocated to this department. This Department can play a pivotal role in improving social cohesion, nation building and quality life for all. Through sporting and recreational activities communities can be integrated and live in harmony, and we will not be faced with such ugly and shameful incidents as the recent xenophobic attacks that we witnessed recently.
Children who are raised in a culture of sports participation are children that grow up in a balanced and healthy manner. From early on in life they learn to appreciate the fact that what you put in is what you get out. Later in life this lesson translates into a work ethic which engenders success and is a significant factor in nation building.
Sports development at schools is another issue. We are not doing enough! We must aggressively tackle this area. Every child deserves the pleasure of kicking a ball, swinging a racquet or sprinting a 100m on an athletics field. More must be done to take sports to the children; they deserve nothing less. In this vein we urge that the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between this Department and the Department of Education be implemented forthwith.
Transformation in sports is very important. This process should start at the grassroots level and this is another reason why there must be increased investment in grassroots sports as well as sports at school and club level. This is where the sports stars of tomorrow learn and are groomed.
Umnyango wezemidlalo awukenzi okwanele ukuqinisekisa ukuthi yonke imikhakha yezemidlalo iyabhekelelwa ngendlela efanele. Ngisho lokhu ngoba imidlalo efana negalofu, ikhilikithi, ibhola lombhoxo, ivoleyball kanye neminye ayikho ezikoleni ezisemakhaya kanye nasezindaweni zasemakhaya nje jikelele. Ukuze sibone ukuthi umnyango uzikhathalele ezemidlalo sifuna ukuwubona wakha izinkundla zalemidlalo engiyibale ngenhla ezindaweni zasemakhaya. Sifuna ukubona abantu bephuma bethi bayobuka umdlalo webhola lombhoxo eMkhanyakude, eMzimkhulu, eMsinga kanye nezinye izindawo. Uma lokhu kungakenzeki lomnyango awukakwenzi okufanele.
South Africa is plagued by many social problems, especially amongst our youth who need an outlet for their energy and creative spirits. It should be obvious that sports can play an important role in this regard and keep our youth occupied and away from crime and other illegal activities but this is clearly not happening. The facilities and opportunities to engage in sporting activities are very limited in our rural areas and townships. The Department should pay more attention to this area and allocate additional funding for the construction of various sporting facilities and the employment of skilled coaches who will be able to teach these youngsters different codes of sports.
In line with the need for a sports plan, we also have a need for a facilities plan. We have said on numerous occasions that we need facilities in the right places to be able to transform our sport.
Municipalities play an important role when it comes to sport and physical activity in KwaZulu-Natal. They ensure that sport and physical activity are accessible to all citizens, present and safe in the neighbourhood, together with the promotion of a healthy lifestyle, are important focus points. Also, are organizations on sport and physical activity valuable partners to achieve objectives in other policy areas such as education, health, urban development and city marketing.
The wide importance of sport and physical activity will require continued and special attention of our municipalities. Whether it is for recreational or competitive sports, to organized or unorganized activities, to sport as a goal or to sport and physical activity as an instrument.
We want to know what the Department does about the development of sports at grass root level and also about the sports facilities in the rural areas. Sports people in rural areas do not have facilities and have to walk long distances if they want to play and the sports fields are in bad conditions.
Iqembu leNkatha lifuna ukukuxwayisa Mhlonishwa Ngqongqoshe ukuthi njengoba umnyango wakho umandla kakhulu ngendaba yemijaho ungagcini usubizwa ngo”Mrs Race”. Ngikusho ngoba iwona mkhakha lona umnyango wakho ogxile kakhulu kuwona. Nakuba singaphikisani nokuthi kuthuthukiswe imijaho kodwa nezinye izinhlelo zezemidlalo umnyango awugxile kuzona.
The future of our sport has to be built on the foundations of the dreams we seek to achieve. It is about moulding a future for sport and our sports people based on amongst others: Building our nation and reinforcing social cohesion. Social cohesion must be part of our everyday sporting activities and lifestyles; access to sport and recreation for all our people to achieve their potential; highly skilled, qualified coaches who are regarded as professionals and indispensable to the development of athletes throughout the sports spectrum supported by scientific, medical and technological expertise; physical educators and recreation specialists joining hands with sport leaders to ensure a seamless development system for our athletes and ethical conduct built on our national values of respect for others, tolerance of diversity, equity and generosity throughout sport and recreation.
Zonke izinhlanga azibumbane ekwenzeni ukuthi ezemdlalo zidale ukuthula emphakathini.
I thank you.
