Conversations with leaders
Sport and Recreation Deputy Minister Gert Oosthuizen on investing in sport for a brighter future
There is more to sport than just entertainment value. According to Deputy Minister of Sport and Recreation Gert Oosthuizen, sport also has the potential to improve the lives of those who are active.
“Sport not only plays an important part for health reasons, but also has an impact on economic growth, social cohesion and nation-building,” he said.
Because the sector is so important, the Department of Sport and Recreation has embarked on a number of processes including:
• Investing in future sports stars.
• Ensuring resources are available at grassroots level.
• Professionalising various sporting codes. • Ensuring transformation in sport.
National Development Plan goals
Sport encourages people to lead healthier lifestyles which forms one of the goals of the National Development Plan (NDP).
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently released what the Deputy Minister called “alarming statistics” regarding the growing inactivity of people worldwide.
In addition, research by Discovery and the Sport Science Institute of South Africa in 2014 titled ‘Healthy Active Kids South Africa’ found that two in every three adult women and one in every three men are either overweight or obese. It also found that nearly half of all adults are not active enough.
“This is a wake-up call for many South Africans. We need to be more physically active as part of our culture and daily interactions, which also contributes to social cohesion and understanding,” said the Minister.
National Sport and Recreation Plan
Deputy Minister Oosthuizen is clear that one of his main roles is to support the ministry as well as implement the National Sport and Recreation Plan.
In 2011, the entire sport sector in South Africa convened a National Sport and Recreation Indaba which led to the crafting of the National Sport and Recreation Plan which is the country’s blueprint for sport development.
“It is the sport sector’s support of the NDP, with its own vision for 2030. It covers the expected outcomes and ideal future for a South African sport system by 2030.
“When this plan is performing at its best, the country can expect better performing and healthy South Africans,” he added.
Focus on school sport
Deputy Minister Oosthuizen said school sport is a key priority programme of the department.
“Without a coordinated, integrated and aligned sport system within which all components are focused towards a common set of goals and objectives, the potential value of sport to South African society cannot be fully realised,” he stressed.
The department has a budget of R1 billion and 50 percent of it goes to the provinces directly enabling them to roll out programmes locally.That means provinces receive half a billion rand, and this is further broken down to focus on schools.
“About 20 percent [or R200 million] goes towards school sport which is an indication of how important the school sport programme is,” he added.
In addition, the department funds the National School Sports Championship in partnership with the Department of Basic Education. That’s where government schools from across the country compete at a provincial level in soccer, rugby, netball and basketball, among others.
When it was introduced in 2012 the championship took place once a year but it has since gained momentum and increased in frequency with three championships a year focusing on summer, autumn and winter sports.
The 2016/2017 National School Sports Championship attracted more than 7 000 participants, including learners, teachers and sports administrators.
These large gatherings also support the goals of the NDP by encouraging healthy lifestyles and reinforcing government’s message of support for
children starting from an early age.
“During these championships we also look for talented sportsmen and women that we can develop further. Currently more than 60 pupils received a ministerial sports bursary of R100 000 each per year,” he said. “These are stars that we are developing sports-wise and academically since they are placed in sports-focused schools in various provinces throughout the country,” he said.
National Sports Facilities Plan
To further encourage young people to participate in sport the department is rolling out the National Sports Facilities Plan.
“This is aimed at addressing the lack of facilities in certain areas of our country. We have R300 million from the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) that will be used to build sports facilities,” he said.
This sports-related grant is in addition to the normal MIG that is received by municipalities.
“It started in the 2015/16 financial year and continued in 2016/17 as the second cycle of the special grant ring-fenced for the development of basic sport and recreation infrastructure in local communities that are most in need.”
“We also have another programme in partnership with the Sports Trust where we roll out multi-purpose facilities in communities and schools. More than 60 such facilities have been built in schools and communities in all nine provinces.These facilities are shared for use by neighbouring schools as well as communitybased sport clubs,” he explained.
Professionalising sporting codes
The Deputy Minister said there is a need to professionalise sporting codes, thereby contributing to the economy.
“We have what is known as Sports Code of the Year earmarked for additional targeted funding and their structured national leagues.”
This means the particular code federation receives financial support for the duration of that year.
This helps the chosen federations professionalise operations and improve their governance while also offering financial incentives to players in various leagues. In 2015 the chosen sporting code was boxing, in 2016 it was hockey and in 2017 it was volleyball.
“Softball will be the recipient of this extra support in 2018/19.The basketball, hockey and volleyball leagues will continue to be supported during 2018/19 with the aim of making them self-sustainable in the near future,” explained the Deputy Minister.
In addition, during 2016/17 more than 4 000 promising athletes were supported through provincial and district sport academies.
Transformation in sport
According to the Deputy Minister, for true transformation to occur in sport government needs to provide resources to communities so that they can access diverse sporting codes.
“Transformation is extremely important and we realise that we need to support this process with resources,” he said.
In 2011 the department had a National Sport and Recreation Indaba which saw the development of the National Sports and Recreation
Plan. It includes the Transformation Charter which is a process of holistically changing the delivery of sport through the actions of organisations in the sport sector.
The idea is also to ensure increased sport and recreation opportunities for all South Africans, including women, persons with disabilities, youth, children and the elderly.
The department started with thebig five sporting codes – rugby, athletics, netball, soccer and cricket.
“We asked the South African Rugby Union to tell us how they intended to reach their transformation targets. We looked at their plans and we accepted it and started monitoring it.”
“Rugby did so well in their transformation plans that we even lifted the ban on bidding for international events because they did their part,” he explained.
Currently the department has 16 federations that are being monitored as part of the transformation agenda. Every year it adds two or more federations.
“We see the difference that transformation is making to the lives of people.The federations also raised concerns that the government needs to put facilities [in place] and create opportunities for South Africans,” he noted.
“Transformation is not a single thing; it is a holistic approach. Transformation speaks to on and off the field of play. It speaks to coaches, managers, referees and many more,” pointed out the Deputy Minister.
Looking to the future
Losing the bid to host the Rugby World Cup in 2023 in South Africa “really dampened” Deputy Minister Oosthuizen’s spirit but not his or the country’s support for the Springboks.
“This is the time for all South Africans to rally behind the Springboks. I am disappointed about the outcome but the way forward is that we must go to France in 2023 with a transformed squad and bring back the trophy,” he added.
And just like the never-say-die attitude of the country’s sporting teams, the Deputy Minister said it would be important to bid for the tournament again, especially for the benefits it will bring in terms of sport tourism and its contribution to the economy.