MEC delivers budget speech to enhance service delivery
The MEC for Arts, Culture, Sport and Recreation, Hlengiwe Mavimbela, presented a R475.629 million budget to drive sport development and transformation.
The budget speech was delivered at the Provincial Legislature in Pietermaritzburg on Friday, 21/05/21.
MEC Mavimbela said the Department will continue working closely with sport and recreation federations and entities to find ways to resuscitate the sector in the aftermath of Covid-19 devastation. She said sport will be crucial in resuscitating the public mood, social cohesion, rebuilding confidence in the nation building project and driving economic recovery.
“The Department received an allocation of R475.6 million for 2021-2022 and will use this budget to promote sport and recreation through the provision of various programmes to promote an active and healthy lifestyle and talent optimisation, with an emphasis on delivering programmes at a ward level through a Ward-based Intervention Programme (WIP). The Department will commit R39,2 million through transfer payments to non-profit institutions towards accelerating transformation and development programmes and to resuscitate the sport and recreation sector,” she said.
Among programmes highlighted by MEC Mavimbela include the kickstarting of the Legends programme, whereby legends in different sport codes will be utilize for talent identification, coaching and mentorship for upcoming players – with a budget of R4m. She said legends will be deployed to assist clubs at ward level as part of the Club Development Programme and at schools.
“Talented players from the local leagues will be selected and they will play in a District Tournament which will culminate in Regional Tournaments (3 Districts will make-up one Regional Structure). Academies, professional and semi-professional clubs and schools will be invited to the Tournaments to view and recruit talent. The KZN Sport Confederation shall be a critical partner in delivering the club development and legends programme. Overall, the Club Development Programme will carry a budget of R18,8 million from the Mass Participation Conditional Grant in 2021/22 and will target 1100 clubs for support,” she said.
The following is the summary of the budget for 2021-22 financial year
- Support to sport entities: R39,2 million will be transferred to support sport federations and other non-profit entities to accelerate transformation and development programmes
- The new Funding Policy has been introduced and implemented to provide guidelines on application for both financial and non-financial support, solicited and unsolicited requests and, bidding for major events.
- Infrastructure: R57,9 million is set aside for the construction of sport infrastructure and maintenance
- We will construct 11 combination courts in schools, 11 children’s play gyms and 4 District Fitness Centres in Harry Gwala (Umzimkhulu), uThukela (Alfred Duma), King Cetshwayo (Umhlatuze) and Amajuba (Newcastle) Districts.
- New schools and human settlements must make provision for basic sport facilities and open spaces for recreation.
- The construction of KwaMsane District Academy has been completed and boasts state of the art training, consulting and rehabilitation facilities. The facility built at a cost of R23,7 million in partnership with the Mtubatuba Local Municipality.
- Active and healthy lifestyles: R44,7 million is committed towards the promotion of recreation to address lifestyle diseases, promote social cohesion and drive online campaigns to encourage people to engage in exercise and physical activity.
- Club Development Programme will carry a budget of R18,8 million and will target 1100 clubs for support.
- Through the Club Development Programme, talented players from the local leagues will be selected and they will play in a District Tournament which will culminate in Regional Tournaments (3 Districts will make-up one Regional Structure).
- R8,5 million is budgeted to support nine (9) Sport Academies and 11 Sport Focus Schools across the Province.
- R5 million investment towards hosting of the KZN Premier’s Cup tournament.
- R4,0 million set aside to support the sport development programme using sport legends as coaches and mentors.
- There are nine professional boxing tournaments planned for 2021/22.
- Amateur boxing to benefit from R1,6m transfer payment
- R1,2 million is allocated to deliver the Golden Games programme for senior citizens
- A total of R2,2 million to support structures promoting sport for people with a disability.
- R3,0 million set-aside for National Youth Camp to encourage to encourage youth critical thinking and creative ways of dealing with social issues beyond just the sports field.
- Indigenous Games programme carries a budget of R8m
- Economic growth through sport: R10,0 million for procurement of sport consumables including sport apparel from co-operatives and SMME’s to contribute to Radical Economic Transformation.
- E-sport: The Department has budgeted R3,0m to introduce E-Sports in the Province.
- Traditional horse racing: In 2021-22 we look forward to a gradual return of traditional horse racing under strict Covid-19 protocols, including the hosting of the Dundee July.
- Sports Tourism: Hosting of Provincial events such as the Dundee July, KZN Premier's Cup, Comrades Marathon, Dusi Canoe Marathon, Provincial Indigenous Games, Festival, promotion of PSL local derbies, SALGA-KZNDSR GAMES, School Sport National Championships, Indigenous Games and e-Sport will also contribute to the economy.
- The 2021 KZN Sport Awards are planned for September 2021 and will be held on a virtual platform should regulations not allow for a normal Awards Ceremony. Qualification for the Awards will be extended to accommodate cancellation of last year’s event.