Mr Speaker, before their appointment all educators, school staff other than teachers and any other persons who will be unsupervised while interacting with learners are screened for convictions of any crime including crime related to sexual misconduct, as well as any disciplinary action related to sexual misconduct
The reply to the second part of the question takes cognisance of the provision of section 120(c) of the Children's Act, Act 38 of 2005, which states that -
A finding that a person is unsuitable to work with children may be made by ... any forum established or recognised by law in any disciplinary proceedings concerning the conduct of that person relating to a child.
Speaker, my department is working closely with the South African Council for Educators, Sace, since it is the body responsible for dealing with cases of misconduct of educators.
The South African Council for Educators has developed a register of educators who were found guilty of sexual misconduct which the various provincial education departments use to screen educators who are potential employees. Furthermore, the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development has also developed a register.
The department calls it the Child Protection and Sexual Offences Register and it is used to register sexual offenders, irrespective of whether they are educators or not. Only the names of educators who have been convicted in a court of law appear in this register.
Hon Minister, in 2010 Sace received 96 complaints relating to sexual abuse of learners by educators. Four of these cases have still not been finalised. In 2011 they received 111 complaints relating to sexual abuse and 15 complaints relating to impregnation of learners. There are 37 cases that still have to be finalised. Up to August this year, 36 complaints relating to sexual abuse and six on the impregnation of learners were received by Sace. Only seven of these cases have been dealt with.
Hon Minister, exactly what will you do to ensure that cases reported to Sace are investigated and dealt with immediately? Also, how will you ensure that no learner has to endure the trauma of facing his or her sexual abuser at school, every day, for up to two years?
Thank you very much for your concern, hon member. Speaker, the hon member has to remember that not everyone who has been convicted repeatedly commits crimes.
The new statistics for cases quoted by the hon member could be new cases that are emerging. To say nine have not been resolved and six learners have fallen pregnant does not mean that the nine educators whose cases have not been resolved are responsible for the six learners falling pregnant.
The question is about whether we have a register, and we are saying yes, we have a register. Perhaps there is an indication that we should fast-track those cases. I don't think these unresolved cases relate to the new pregnancies - they are unrelated. It's not necessarily the same people.
Speaker, through you to the hon Minister, according to the Sace reports about eight teachers remain uncharged because the victims have declined to testify for various reasons.
My question is: Has the Ministry thought of any other internal disciplinary measures to be taken against such suspects seeing that the victims are declining to be witnesses? Are there any other measures to encourage those who are declining to testify, because of fear, and to help them to come forward?
Thank you very much, Speaker and Ntante Mpontshane. My view is that Sace, like all other structures of government, has to operate within the law. The law states that there must be evidence. If people refuse to testify Sace cannot unilaterally take decisions. I think the member will appreciate that.
I also think that the bodies that we set up have to be allowed to do their work. If Sace is not resolving cases I can't just run to Sace and say it has to resolve it quickly, unless there is an appeal. It's an autonomous body, although it reports to the department. At least there is an opportunity that if any member of the public feels aggrieved by the lack of movement on the part of Sace they can complain. I must have some complaint; I cannot just go to the files of Sace and say fast-track this one and don't fast-track that one.
Members of the public are free to raise concerns and ask the Minister to act on a case that has been pending. We will do that, Baba Mpontshane. I don't think there is a problem with the department taking action if people feel that cases are proceeding slowly.
The point is that all structures, including ours, have to work within the confines of the law. If the law says you can only deal with this matter in this manner, then that's the only way to deal with it.
Hon Minister, during the period 2010 to 2012, there were 243 sexual abuse complaints for which 38 teachers were struck off the roll and five were suspended.
We are very concerned about the suspensions because there is a huge risk that those teachers may repeat the activities when they are allowed back into the teaching profession. Learners will once again be exposed to that abuse.
Would the Minister consider scrapping suspensions as a sanction and rather look at striking teachers off the role as the only option?
Mr Speaker, that is a very fair concern and I can assure the hon member that I will really look into the matter to make sure that indeed these concerns are justified.
People who have sexually abused children should not be allowed into the system. Together with Sace I will look at whether we can permanently block whoever has been found guilty from coming back into the system. I'll look into this matter and report back to you.
Hon Speaker, last year alone more than 400 cases were reported to Sace, but only 300 of those cases were dealt with. One of the reasons, of course, is the fact that the department does not make any contribution to Sace. It is only teachers who contribute, and they contribute R10 per month.
Can the hon Minister please explain what the department is going to do to ensure that Sace's arm is strengthened so that it will be able to deal with all the problems it faces?
Mr Speaker, I'm not aware that Sace is not able to do the work that it's supposed to do as efficiently as possible because of a shortage of funds. What I do know, and so will Mr Madisha, is that Sace gets all its funds from teachers.
This year Sace even requested me to approve the increase in teachers' contributions for other purposes. They have never raised the concern that they are unable to do their work because of a lack of money. They actually requested me to increase the subscriptions so that they could buy a building, which they have done.
If they want to raise funds to enable them do their work efficiently, they know that they are able to do so. It should not be a big deal because it's their money.
Particulars regarding funding of Africa Cup of Nations 2013 466. Mr G P D MacKenzie (Cope) asked the Minister of Sport and Recreation:
(1) What amounts are the host cities spending to fund the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013, excluding the amount that has been allocated by the Government;
(2) whether the funds will be used to (a) market and (b) publicise the event; if not, what is the position in this regard, in each case; if so, what are the relevant details in each case? NO4085E
Speaker, in relation to the question on what amounts the host cities will be spending to fund the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013, my response is as follows: Durban, R28,198 million; Rustenburg, R25 million; Nelson Mandela Bay, R27,688 million; Johannesburg, R18,500 million; and Mbombela R33,840, million; and yes, the funds will be used to market and publicise the event. This will be done according to the marketing and communications plan.
Hon Minister, now that I have these numbers, I just want to have clarity. Although the cities are paying that amount of money, is it coming out of their own budget, or is it indeed also being sponsored by the Treasury? Recently, the Local Organising Committee, LOC, delegation told our committee that the Treasury was giving the LOC some R205 million towards the hosting of the event. What we are trying to do is to get to the bottom-line figure as to what the cities themselves are paying for, without benefit, plus what they are receiving from government. This is so that we get a total package.
I have every reason to believe that Bafana Bafana will go beyond the group stages. However, our concern is that in the unlikely event that they don't, and there is an attendance shortfall, it could result in a loss. We would be concerned about that, especially as the total budget of our department is some R860 million, and this looks as if it could come close to R40 million. We just want the assurance that we will not exceed this figure.
Mr Speaker, as far as the amount is concerned, both the Treasury and local government will come to the party to address the shortfall, with the exception of Nelson Mandela Bay where, as you know, there are challenges. So it would be the provincial government and the National Treasury that would be assisting.
With regard to the second question, I think that we will ensure, through marketing, that the events are well attended throughout and we will be able to address whatever shortfall that is there.
Mr Minister, some time ago when we hosted the World Cup, the International Federation of Association Football, Fifa, made promises to this country, which they honoured long after the fact. The Africa Cup of Nations, the Afcon, has also promised us R52 million - US$6 million. How sure are we that we are going to get our money from the Afcon?
I am asking this question because Mr Mbebe from the LOC reported to us that we have not as yet received the money. My question to you, Mr Minister, is: When can we expect the money and will we get the money?
Whatever Fifa had promised, was delivered after the World Cup. Also, we have released our close-up report on the Fifa World Cup, because there have been generalisations about how we benefited from the World Cup, and so on. That close-up report will be in circulation since Cabinet has now approved it.
As for the R52 million, we will have to get the report from the LOC to see exactly when we will get it. We are expecting it since we have an agreement with the Confederation of African Football.
Just to highlight a point, let me say that the Afcon, unlike the Fifa World Cup, is hosted and supported 100% by African governments. So, we have had to negotiate with them to get some of the money from the broadcasting rights, for example. This will be the first time that we will be getting this amount from the CAF, in support of the work of the LOC, which is a positive result of our engagement with them.
Hon Speaker, I just want to ask the hon Minister a follow- up question on two issues. You have just mentioned that you will be able to top up whatever shortfall there may be.
Now we know that during the Fifa World Cup 2010 there were lots of issues, including the allegations of corruption and money that was unaccounted for - R4 million in the Free State. This was with regard to the purchasing of tickets. Are there any measures in place, this time around, to prevent the recurrence of such a problem?
What is the Minister going to say about this? In the Free State alone a sum of R4 million was unaccounted for in regard to the international Fifa tickets. What I want to know regarding the close-up report that you have alluded to, is whether you are perhaps also referring to this unfinished business in relation to corruption resulting in this money that is unaccounted for in the Free State?
I am unable to account for the Free State. However, I know that in Limpopo there was an amount of R400 million that somebody had signed for without proper authorisation in terms of the World Cup. [Interjections.] Steps were taken to address that particular matter. However, I am not aware of what transpired in the Free State.
In relation to this Afcon, the government and the LOC will not allow unknown people who have no authority to sign for anything. Everything is done in terms of the guarantees and within the specifications of the total budget agreed upon. So there is no way that we could have slip-ups. Should there be any slip-ups in that regard, we will then be in a position to take appropriate action.
Mr Minister, the Afcon is a few weeks away and in South Africa there is general silence.
Kucwebile nje, asazi nokuthi lo mncintiswano uzobakhona. [It is so quiet that we are not even sure if this competition will take place.]
Now the question is: What is going to be done to put in place urgent marketing and visibility campaigns to ensure that South Africans are told about the Afcon and know that it is going to be held here?
As part of that marketing message, is the Minister in a position to assure the House that on the issue of the Diaspora, our brothers and sisters from Africa are going to be safe, if we consider the recent behaviour of some South Africans who attacked the Zambian team?
We do not want to have a repeat incident of such roguish behaviour. The issue of visibility, as well as ensuring that visitors to our country are going to be safe and protected, must be looked into.
Yes, you are going to see the visibility and marketing of the Afcon like you have never seen it before. [Interjections.] It is not going to be just razzmatazz. It's going to be a humdinger! [Laughter.] So brace yourselves for that, we are approaching really exciting moments in relation to this.
As to the question of the two small boys who stoned the bus, I think it was just an act of naughtiness. With regard to security, we are not leaving anything to chance with regard to the Afcon. As part of our social responsibility work, together with the CAF, we are looking at the issue of HIV/Aids, and at the same time also at working on the xenophobia issue and such matters in order to educate our communities.
Even after the Afcon has started, this will be the main theme of social responsibility that will be communicated to the public by players and everyone else who is involved in the Afcon.
So, I am confident that our people understand this and are very excited about it, and we will just have to give them information so that they can buy more tickets and support the game. I concur with you that up to now not much has actually been done, but in terms of our plans in the coming weeks, this is going to intensify.
Measures to promote various elements of health awareness
426. Mr M M Dikgacwi (ANC) asked the Minister of Sport and Recreation:
What measures has he put in place to promote and realise (a) active lifestyles, (b) balanced diets, (c) controlling alcohol abuse and (d) health awareness? NO4035E
Hon Speaker, this is with regard to the question as to what measures have been put in place to promote and realise an active lifestyle, a balanced diet, the control of alcohol abuse and lastly health awareness.
On the first question, let me say the Strategic Plan 2012-2016 of Sport and Recreation South Africa, SRSA, recognises the role sport and recreation plays in promoting social and economic values and enhancing healthy and fulfilling lives. The National Sport and Recreation Plan also focuses on increasing the levels of participation in sport and recreation, thereby promoting an active lifestyle, balanced diet, the control of alcohol abuse and health awareness.
As an important measure to realise this plan Sport and Recreation South Africa has identified school sport as the key focus area and since the launch of the School Sport Programme, more than 58 000 learners have participated in school sport programmes and 10 000 schools have registered to participate in the national school leagues in the 2012-13 financial year.
For the first time this year, from 9 to 14 December 2012, we will host the National School Sports Championship at Mamelodi in Tshwane, which will be attended by not less than 7 000 athletes.
On the second question, SRSA is driving various projects that can contribute to a more active and healthy nation, of which the following are examples: The first youth camps were hosted successfully in 2012 and equipped thousands of young people with important life skills.
The Indigenous Games Programme, which was implemented in all provinces, culminates in the National Indigenous Games Festival and provides recreational activities for young children and families.
In the last financial year, financial support was provided to 50 national federations; two NGOs, LoveLife and the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee, Sascoc; and two public entities to ensure their sustainable delivery of activity programmes that support the strategy of the department. The aim of this service was to oversee the development, promotion and management of sport and recreation in South Africa.
Furthermore, sport equipment was provided to 41 clubs, 77 coaches were trained in basic sports science and medicine, 18 gymnasium instructors were trained as fitness instructors and 1 461 sub-elite athletes received scientific and medical support.
The Community Mass Participation Programme delivers sport promotion programmes by focusing on increasing the number of participants in sport and recreation, with an emphasis on the disadvantaged and marginalised groups.
In 2011-12, the department involved 28 000 participants who took part in sport projects such as the indigenous games, Golden Games, outreach projects and Magnificent Fridays.
Sport and indigenous games equipment was provided to various communities. Toolkits for Sport for Development were made available and training on the toolkit was conducted for more than 100 co-ordinators and volunteers in all nine provinces.
The department is in the process of developing a governance model for recreation and the implementation of recreation programmes to strengthen the delivery of recreation. The Recreation Advisory Committee has been appointed to guide the development of this sector.
In addition, the current mass participation programmes have been expanded to include the promotion and implementation of community recreation programmes.
Lastly, SRSA has implemented measures that will address the matters of an active lifestyle, balanced diet and health awareness in general. As far as controlling alcohol abuse is concerned, the department continues to be part of the Central Drug Authority that deals with all forms of substance abuse, including that of alcohol. This process is led by the Department of Social Development through the support of the SA Youth Development Academy, Sayda.
The initiatives and awareness programmes are integrated with all sport programmes, promoting an active lifestyle as well as high-performance sport.
From a safety and security perspective, as far as the use of alcohol at stadiums and other venues in the Republic are concerned, the Safety at Sports and Recreational Events Act, Act 2 of 2010, currently provides measures to be put in place to effect the provisions of the Act.
Deputy Speaker, the Minister has given a real humdinger of a response. [Laughter.] Could the Minister tell me what measures are in place to make school sport compulsory for schools; and what is done for schools that want to participate in the programme but do not have sports equipment or coaches?
Also, could the Minister help us to understand if there are attempts to canvas the buy-in of other stakeholders such as unions?
Yes, firstly, with regard to the stakeholders, we have an agreement with the SA Democratic Teachers Union, Sadtu, all the other unions and the Department of Basic Education.
We have a framework agreement that we are implementing together to oversee the School Sport Programme implementation at the grassroots level. As I have said, if we make sport compulsory at all schools it means schools must enrol in our School Sport Programme.
To date, we have 10 000 schools that have participated in our school sport leagues throughout the country. We have about 27 000 schools, and we believe that next year we will be able to ensure that all the schools will participate in this programme. It is this programme that has culminated in the National School Sports Championship, which we like to refer to as the School Sports Olympics.
It will take place in Tshwane this year. We believe that schools sport is the bedrock of development. In this particular instance, with the Department of Basic Education, we will be able to ensure that all schools participate in this programme in the coming year.
Hon Deputy Speaker and Minister, it is a fact that mass participation ... [Interjections.]
Is that hon Wenger?
I think the system is not functioning properly, Deputy Speaker; it is supposed to be me.
That explanation is important, please.
Right, thank you very much.
Minister, it is a fact that mass participation could be the solution to promoting active lifestyles and health awareness. However, it is a common cause that the programme is destined to fail.
Furthermore, as noted in the Auditor-General's report in the annual report of the department, 77% of the indicators for the Mass Participation Programme, the largest single budget line-item at approximately R500 million, was not accurate when compared to source information, and this is of great concern for a programme of this scale.
How is the Minister going to ensure that the Mass Participation Programme is a sustainable, successful, lasting solution for this country in terms of promoting active lifestyles and health awareness?
Deputy Speaker, I thought I had answered that question in detail about the work that we are doing in relation to mass participation in terms of our programme.
I think we will be in a position to spend all the money allocated for mass participation, because we have just adopted the National Sport Plan for South Africa. In the past, we did not have a plan and we were running all over the place, but now we have a very focused and clear plan that we are implementing and that will be properly costed over the years.
This plan is going to ensure that every cent is accounted for and every programme in relation to mass participation is implemented. This also includes the integration in our programme, the strategic feature of which is community sport. This was something that was not quite popular in the past. As we go forward, this is going to be part and parcel of our programmes of mass participation to strengthen the hubs, etc, and to ensure that the Mass Participation Programme becomes a success.
Deputy Speaker, I want to thank the Minister for his detailed response. As you know, the country has many social ills. I just want to highlight a few of them and some of the reasons contributing towards the state of a currently very unfit and unhealthy nation.
Minister, we have shebeens that are situated in the middle of townships which makes it easy for youngsters to access drinks and partake in drugs, and that also goes for the towns. We have sportsmen taking performance- enhancing supplements - which is an industry that is unregulated - and this is something we have spoken about which is extremely dangerous for our health.
We have various reports of our people being obese and unfit. I would like to quote from a recent survey by GlaxoSmithKline:
Last year 61% of all respondents were found to be morbidly obese.
In another study by the University of the Western Cape, it was found that 25% of learners surveyed were obese and 80% do not participate in sport. When we have underspending on mass participation, it clearly will impact negatively on service delivery. Then finally, doping in schools ...
Hon member, your time was up a long time ago.
May I pose a question, Deputy Speaker?
Yes, you were supposed to have done that.
Right, I am getting to the question. I would like to know whether it wouldn't be better, Minister, for your department to interact with the Department of Health and the Department of Social Development to create a public relations campaign to highlight the social ills of drinking ... [Interjections.]
I was being nice to you, but your question is too long. Shorten it, please.
I am asking whether it wouldn't be better to have a campaign like that to highlight the problems so we can achieve the desired results.
In terms of answering the question, I agree that we need to work together with the Department of Health and the Department of Social Development.
As I said in my presentation earlier on, we are working together with Social Development, for instance, in terms of the Golden Games for older people. That is where the name "Vakhegula Vakhegula" comes from. It is those games in Limpopo where the elderly were running, playing soccer, and participating in all the other activities. The programme has proven to be quite successful.
We are working with the Department of Health in the fight against HIV and Aids. I suppose there are a whole lot of other programmes that we can incorporate into sport, social development and health that could also address healthy lifestyles.
Hon Deputy Speaker and hon Minister, we welcome the School Sport Programme. The school-based physical activity interventions show consistent improvements in knowledge, attitudes and behaviour, and when tested, physical and clinical outcomes. Benefits include improved mental health and behaviour.
With regard to the National Sport Plan that you referred to, Minister, I want to know whether it includes ensuring that all schools, which are participating, have sports equipment and fitness instructors, or are the schools left to arrange this themselves?
Hon member, it is not left up to them because we are supporting all the schools that participate in the School Leagues Programme with sports equipment and with the Legends Programme. This programme supports young people in the different schools with training, amongst other things. Part of the problem, in relation to transformation in South Africa, is uneven development because those kids who have gone to the former Model C schools or private schools are the ones who have had an advantage in terms of suitable instructors and other advantages, because their education and support, for that matter, is actually provided for by the support they get from their parents.
Therefore, with the School Sport Programme, we are intervening and ensuring that all those schools which are participating in the School Sport Programme will actually become beneficiaries of this training with regard to rugby, cricket, etc.
Hon members, the level of noise is too high. [Interjections.] Hon members, as I have just said, hon Marais, the level of noise is too high. Please lower your voices, especially when there is a speaker on the floor.
Minister's plans regarding concerns of residents of De Aar
443. Mrs C N Z Zikalala (IFP) asked the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs:
1) What prevented her from addressing community members of De Aar in the Northern Cape at the imbizo organised by the National Council of Provinces to which she was invited to hear the concerns of the residents; (2) how does she intend to remedy the matters raised by the residents;
(3) whether she has any plans in place to visit the people of De Aar to listen to their concerns; if not, why not; if so, what (a) plans and (b) are the further relevant details?