MEC Mavimbela delivers maiden budget speech

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MEC for Arts, Culture, Sport and Recreation, Hlengiwe Mavimbela has delivered her maiden budget speech for the Department of Sport and Recreation at the KZN Legislature in Pietermaritzburg today, 26/07/2019.

The total budget of R478 958 million will focus on the delivery of sport and recreation programmes throughout the province. These include support for sport federations to fast track transformation of sport, construction of sport infrastructure as well as implementation of different sport and recreation programmes.

Delivering her speech, MEC Mavimbela said the Department is committed to achieve transformation in sport through partnerships with sports federations and entities.

“Sport and recreation entities will benefit from R40 744 million funds that will be made available as per agreed-upon indicators and targets for development programmes through talent optimization, high performance and excellence and, for promoting active lifestyles through meaningful recreation programmes. This support is also extended to provincial sporting organizations to develop action plans to get more people with disability involved across all levels of their sport.”

She added that women’s sport is receiving special attention, with different sport codes being supported through various programmes, including

“The department is hard at work to ensure that women’s sport is well established, receives sufficient financial backing, and gets free and fair media coverage. Netball in the province will benefit from a support of over R5 million through a transfer of funds and goods & services support....Presently the department is convening a workshop with SAFA in the province with the objective of uplifting the development of football, with special emphasis on women’s football.”
She added that the Department currently supporting Durban Ladies Football Club through the Elite Athlete Development Programme based at Moses Mabhida Stadium, as part of preparation for their participation in the envisaged National Women’s Football League.

The team is also part of the Department’s Club Pilot Programme where they are taught to hone their administrative and management skills through accredited mentors and facilitators.
MEC Mavimbela said the department will focus its resources on building decent sporting infrastructure with necessary basic amenities, so that we can speed up access for our people.

“In 2019/20 we will construct four basic sports fields, 22 combination courts in schools, 33 children’s play gyms and three District Fitness Centres. Four municipalities will receive maintenance equipment to upkeep sport facilities. The department will invest R53.4 million in 2019/20 for the development of sport and recreation infrastructure.”

“Over the 2019/20 MTEF budget, the department will spend over R70 million to complete Phase 1 and 2 of District Fitness Centres in Harry Gwala (Umzimkhulu), uThukela (Alfred Duma) and King Cetshwayo (Umhlatuze).  Each of these Fitness Centres incorporate a stand-alone District Academy and will be a “One-Stop-Shop” for all sport enthusiasts,” she said. The support will also be extended to eight other Sport Academies and High Performance Institutes with R13.386 million, which will benefit at least 640 athletes.

MEC Mavimbela added that the revival of school sport remain critical as the foundation for sport development and promotion of active lifestyle.

“To support longer-term sport planning initiatives, we need to consciously invest in school sport to increase the pipeline of our sporting codes. It is for this reason that 35% (R36 million) of our Mass Participation and Sport Development Conditional Grant is ring-fenced for school sport initiatives including leagues and support in the form of playing equipment and attire as well as competitions. The department commits an additional R9.4 million from its equitable share for the support of school sport.  With over 6 000 schools in the province our allocation falls considerably short in addressing the disparities that exist within the school sport system.”

The department will invest R2.2 million into the Township and Rural Development Programme which has yielded players like Andile Mokgakane, Thamsanqa Khumalo, LifaNtanzi in the SA Under 19 squad

Other allocations:

  • Rural Sports Development Programme - R4, 2 million
  • A budget of R3 million is allocated to deliver the Golden Games programme this year.
  • The Indigenous Games programme carries a budget of R8 million with funding for the clubs support and schools festivals being allocated through the Mass Participation Conditional Grant.
  • The department plans to spend R3 million on the National Youth Camp which is funded through the conditional grant.
  • The department’s Club Development Programme, with a budget of R26.3 million, will serve as a catalyst for the development of football and other codes of sport. We will invest in the development of football through facilitating Under 15 Leagues for both girls and boys in the 70 SAFA Local Football Associations throughout the Province.

Vision

A healthy, winning, and socially cohesive province through sport and recreation.

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