_______________
(Second Reading Debate)
The
SPEAKER: We then proceed to
Motions. Motion 1 reads as follows:
That the Second Reading
Debate on the Appropriation Bill be continued.
The business before the
House today is the debate on Vote 12:
Sport, Arts, Culture, Science and Technology.
The hon Member, Mr Mfebe.
Vote
12: Sport, Arts, Culture, Science and
Technology: R31 425 000
Mr
M W MFEBE (MEC): Hon Speaker, hon Premier and hon Members,
when I was a little boy, my father once told me that once upon a time there was
a man by the name of John. His employer
gave John a new pair of shoes. Instead
of John saying thank you for the pair of shoes, he demanded with a stern look
on his face: "Where are the
socks?"
Well, hon Members, I am
not going to be like John. As this
Legislature is my employer, I wish to thank you in advance for the gift of R31,
425 million allocated to my Department.
As I ponder over what
could have been on John's mind by demanding socks instead of saying thank you
for the shoes, I find that he perhaps knew, as well as we all know, that tough
men's shoes without socks are uncomfortable and simply a cause of painful
blisters. Having said thank you for this
budget allocation, I want you, however, to bear with me during this
presentation if I mention some of the discomforts and blisters we may suffer as
a result of an inadequate budget. We
know for sure the effect of tough men's shoes without socks just as John did.
The key theme of my budget speech is transformation, as this is in tandem with the ANC’s
National Democratic Revolution (NDR), whose objective is to transform our
country into a democratic, non-racial, non-sexist, united and prosperous
society. The basic mission of the NDR is
to create a people-centred society and provide a better life for all. The provision of a better life for all is, in
my opinion, the only main reason why we are in government and why there should
be government in the first place.
I will also reflect on the extent to which we
have addressed the key priorities of the Free State Government, namely, housing
and infrastructural development, economic development, job creation and human
resource development. It is also
important that we use the vision and mission of my Department as a yardstick
against which we can measure the provision of services.
This is an area where
transformation in all spheres of government is needed first and foremost,
because in the post-apartheid
As you have already
observed, our mission and vision succinctly encapsulates the Batho Pele concept of putting people
first and all our employees are committed to this.
Taking a close look at
the demographics of the Department - although we have not been able to make any
new appointments due to lack of funds, or in John's words, lack of socks - I am
happy to report that at present the Department’s staff demographics are as
follows:
·
White,
56,59%;
·
Black,
43,41%; of which
·
women
are 61,1%; and
·
men are 38,9%.
The composition of the
management level positions is as follows:
·
White,
64,7%;
·
Black,
35,3%; of which
·
women
are 52,9%; and
·
men are 47,1%.
·
Of
the 43,41% blacks, only 0,01% are coloureds.
We still remain committed
to ensuring that if vacancies are filled, the following target will be met:
Blacks in the administration should move from the current 43,41%
to 60% by the year 2001.
I am happy to report that
a successful headcount was conducted during April and May 1998, without any
ghost workers or incorrect ID documents found.
Also noteworthy is the fact that a staff of 211 officials instead of the
required 811, representing a vacancy rate of 74% achieved much on which I will
be reporting as we go through the various programmes. This proves that it is not quantity, but
quality that counts in our quest to serve our people as best as we can. It also dispels the notion that big is
better.
I am happy to announce
that on
a) Mass Participation and Development
A total number of 19 384 people participated in
community, youth leadership, school and tertiary activities, involving 361
officials, including teachers. In
addition, transport assistance was provided to a total of 328 provincially
representative participants in 13 sporting codes.
To develop the human resource potential
required for the effective management of sport and recreation in the
The target for 1999 is to qualify 3 000 people
as facilitators of Sport Pioneers in the
c)
The Department seeks to intervene in a
comprehensive and strategic manner, technically and scientifically, in order to
ensure the probability of success in major national and international events by
the
To co-ordinate this articulated development system, the Free State Academy of Sport has been serving the
Province well since its inception on
d) International Performance
The performance of
1. The international break-through by Marumo Harepa, who was signed by the Italian Series A (sic) giants, AC Milan;
2.
Elias Hanisi from Clarens who
became the World’s Sheep Shearing Champion for 1998 at the 1998 World
Championships held in
3. Victor Mpitsang from Mangaung who has broken into the National Team for Cricket;
4. Not forgetting the remarkable achievement of Hansie Cronje in captaining the South African cricket team and the performance of Alan Donald in South Africa's comprehensive victory over the touring West Indies; and
5. Amanda Coetzer, the highest ranked South African tennis player, who continues to make us proud.
e) Sport and Recreation Facilities
This is a key policy area due to the fact that
without sport facilities, no transformation or development of sport will ever
take place in the Province. This project
created a total of 3 060 short-term jobs at a cost of R34 million from national
and provincial funds. Also important in
the policy of facilities is the question of access to facilities.
It is not always the case of a shortage of
facilities, but rather that access is a problem. Our policy addresses this question
clearly. All public facilities will be
accessible to all on an equitable basis.
I am concerned by the looting of public sport amenities at TLC level in
the pre-election period. This was done, inter-alia, by giving sport and
recreation facilities to friends, former councillors and council officials at,
in some cases, give-away prices against public interest. Let me warn all those today who were involved
in the pre-election looting of public sport and recreation assets, that these
will be recovered from them before the end of this year. I have already informed Justice Willem Heath
in this regard and he has already given his total cooperation. I have also already written to all TLCs for
information regarding the status of the public assets in private hands. I will then hand over the information to the
Heath Investigation Unit with a view to putting these facilities back in public
hands.
I would also like to warn the current TLCs not
to fall into the same trap of allowing sharks and wolves to unfairly benefit
from public assets against public interest.
In the event of this happening, I will not hesitate to, in the interest
of sport and recreation in this Province, deal accordingly with the TLCs
involved.
Since 1994 we have provided 53%
of
The
·
A
lane width of 1,25 m, which makes it only the second of its kind in the world
after the Seychelles track and the second largest D-Section of its kind in
Southern Africa after Maseru, Lesotho.
This unique size has been used to accommodate two netball, two
volleyball and basketball courts to make up for the scarcity of these
facilities in Qwaqwa, being at an altitude of 1700 m above sea level.
It is projected that this track is destined to
become the ultimate Olympics preparations centre, not only for the RSA
Athletics National Team, but also for the whole of Southern Africa and
eventually
The Department has already started marketing
this facility by placing a two-page advertisement in the NOCSA Olympic Year
Book Publication for 1999.
These facilities in Qwaqwa and Botshabelo are
going to benefit a combined total of 755 000 school-going children in their
respective regional areas.
An indoor centre was opened at the tune of R3,9
million and we are also negotiating with Transnet to take over the
Schoemanspark Golf Club.
i) Phakisa Major Sport Events and Development
Corporation
We have come up with an innovative way of using
sport as a catalyst for economic development and job creation. I need to thank hon Members of this
Legislature for passing the Phakisa Legislation, giving a new lease of life to
the Goldfields in particular and the Province and the country in general. This clearly demonstrates that man cannot
discover new oceans until he has courage to lose sight of the shore. We can pat ourselves on the back and say we
are all pioneers!
The construction of the Phakisa Freeway by
Phakisa Major Sports and Development Corporation for the staging of the F.I.M.
Motorcycle Grand Prix on
The re-birth of the South African Masters Golf
Championships was also staged in collaboration with the Free State Tourism
Marketing Board. We have, for the first
time, established the South African Premier's Cup, in which the hon Premier
participated. The hon MEC, Mr Kotsoane,
performed so well that international professional golfer, Mark McNulty, offered
to give him coaching lessons on an ongoing basis. [Laughter]
I think that is development, transformation and delivery.
I am happy to make this major announcement
today on the development side that Phakisa is set to change the face of
motor-racing in
Already a motorcar design engineer from
Mr S M A MALEBO (MEC):
Wonderful, keep it up!
Mr
M W MFEBE (MEC): On Arts and Culture: The
impact of the arts on economic development and job creation can best be seen in
the results achieved by the State of
Part of the emphasis on raising the profile of
arts and culture, especially indigenous culture, is the MACUFE project, which
was successfully staged by PACOFS late last year. I am happy to announce that yesterday, the
Executive Council approved my request for the early preparations for MACUFE
1999, which will again be staged by PACOFS.
To this end my Department will be capacitating PACOFS with R1
million. MACUFE 1999 will commence on
We are busy restructuring Mmabana Cultural
Centre to ensure the financial viability of this institution.
The Free State Academy of Music (Musicon) has
also been transferred to us and we will be restructuring this institution to
ensure maximum benefits.
The construction of arts
and culture Centres in Welkom, Zamdela, and later in Qwaqwa, will provide our
people with facilities for arts and culture.
I am also pleased to announce that we have
completed the coat-of-arms that will be the corporate image of the Free State
Government. The hon Premier will unveil
the coat-of-arms after today’s sitting.
Library and information
services address the
With information for lifelong-learning and
skills development, people are prepared for the job market, whilst information
on entrepreneurship and business management supports SMME development.
New libraries were opened
in Mahlatswetsa, Fauriesmith, Tikwane, Itumeleng, Tsiame and Borwa. These libraries have each been stocked with
between 8 000 – 12 000 books, periodicals and newspapers. They also have access to the total library
collection of the library service, consisting of approximately 2 million
items. In 1998/99, 135 848 books, videos
and CDs were added to the collection.
The 133 libraries
subscribe to 3 000 periodicals and newspapers, delivered daily to these
institutions.
The number of libraries
in previously disadvantaged communities has grown from 34 in 1993 to 54 in
1998. Library membership has increased with 2,1% to 330 000 of which 50,56% are
black people. Libraries were visited by
3 430 437 people and 381 535 information inquiries were answered.
Libraries were actively
involved in the promotion of literacy and reading and 148 literacy classes,
which involved 1 676 adult learners, were presented in libraries, while 4 857
books were issued to literacy groups.
One library, the Mmamahabane Public Library obtained a sponsorship from
Basil Read to appoint a part-time literacy instructor at the library. A “toy library” was introduced and also the famous annual Mokete, which featured Dr Ellen Khuzwayo, was successfully staged.
The Directorate plans to implement a structured government information service at 10 community libraries in the Province during the coming financial year.
An information desk for
the AIDS Awareness Campaign, gender equality, human rights and citizenship
education and African Renaissance will be provided at the Government
Information Desks.
The Directorate is busy
drafting a business plan to provide libraries with electronic access to
information, which will ensure free and equitable access to all looking for information. An online public access service will be
introduced at the Botshabelo Community Library already during July this year
and sponsorships will be sought to fund this programme.
We are happy to know that some of the projects
that will be featured, include an Umkontho
we Sizwe founder members display. It
will also include the development of ironing and the iron display at the
Science and Technology Show as well as six displays of the
We also hosted a tender awareness award-giving
ceremony attended by 120 representatives for small business from all over the
Province. The transformation of the
We hope to be able to unveil the Bust of King
Moshoeshoe during the 99/2000 financial year.
For this event we plan to invite His Majesty, King Letsie II, of
One of the projects
planned for 1999 is a bust-size sculpture of Chief Moroka that will be
displayed at this museum. A number of
dignitaries visited the regional museums in the past year.
Looking at the National
Museum Division, we see that during this year, the
Inquiries on literary
matters resulted in up to 2000 photocopies – almost a kilometer of paper
supplied monthly to learners, students, teachers, academics and reading circles
nation-wide as well as abroad.
Planning for 1999/2000
includes the commemoration of the Arthur Full (sic)
The Communal Information
Technology Centre (C.I.T.C.) is a unique trendsetting institution aimed at
exploiting the technological revolution for the benefit of developing
communities. The Centre is funded by the
Department of Sport, Arts, Culture, Science and Technology and the British
Government with the assistance of the following companies: Dell Computers,
Anglogold, Microsoft and ICL.
Over 70% of all graduates
have been placed in meaningful jobs and 105 people have been trained as part of
the paid courses run by the Centre to ensure that the Centre is able to sustain
itself financially. There were 14
Teachers from
I must also stress that
from a cleaner and a tea server, everybody employed at the C.I.T.C is IT
literate. We also undertook an
indigenous technology audit last year, which was led by the University of the
North in Qwaqwa, and we awarded MACUFE '98 Awards to communities.
In conclusion, I firmly
believe that: Man cannot discover new oceans until he has courage to lose sight
of the shore. Our vision of using sport
as a catalyst for economic development and job creation, clearly belongs to the
new strategic tools of ensuring a better life for all in the new millennium.
We know we have to use
our allocated resources judiciously and are proud of the fact that the
Department, through its various programmes, has created more than 6 140
short-term jobs since 1994. We have
addressed the key priorities of the Free State Government and have followed our
vision of striving to establish the
If you have vision, see us! If you have
understanding, hear us! If you have a
will, follow us as we lay a firm basis for transformation to achieve the
mission of the National Democratic Revolution (NDR) - of a better life for
all. [Applause]