Chairperson, by their nature sport and recreation are about participation. They are also about the inclusion of South Africans in a variety of sporting codes. Sport and recreation are bringing communities together, highlighting the commonalities and, of course, bridging the cultural and ethnic divides.
They also provide a forum in which to learn skills such as discipline, confidence and leadership, and further teach principles such as tolerance, co-operation and respect. Sport also teaches the value of effort, and how to manage victory as well as defeat.
However, Chairperson, the lack of sporting facilities, coupled with corruption, has continued to hinder transformation.
There is a great outcry about local businesses not helping with sponsors, but it is merely because our federations need to get their act together. Hon Minister, the Olympic Games are just around the corner and the state of readiness of our teams cannot be determined only by their preparedness in regard to participation, but also by the way we rally behind them financially.
Hon Minister, the DA is very grateful for the work of the Princess of Monaco, who will host a two-week training camp for the South African swimming team in the build-up to the London Olympics, and has invited the swimming team to train in the principality in June. According to SRSA spokesperson, Godfrey Monei, Princess Charlene will provide facilities for the team, as well as meals and accommodation.
South African female boxers are also in line to be a part of history which will see women's boxing featuring for the first time in the Olympic Games in London in July. The trio are Thobile Khumalo, Anna du Plessis and Claudia Heijns.
Hon Minister, the issue of funding has once more reared its ugly head in South African sport, and this time it is the men's hockey team. The amaStokostoko, as they are casually known, pulled off an incredible win recently, defeating the host in a tense final in front of an ear- splittingly noisy crowd. The DA feels that we started funding our teams very late. In future, we need to start early in preparing for our teams.
Mogologolo a re ditlamelwana tsa pula di baakanngwa go sa le gale mme tlogatloga e tloga go sa le gale, modisa wa dikgomo o tswa natso. Go matshwanedi gore re nne re le malala a laotswe. (Translation of Setswana paragraph follows.)
[We have to make hay while the sun shines because time and tide wait for no man. We should always be ready for action.] Hon Minister, why would the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee, Sascoc, put so much pressure on athletes by promising to bring home 12 medals? This is not the route that needs to be taken to encourage athletes. As our own Blade Runner, Oscar Pistorius, has stated, athletes are already under pressure from themselves and their own expectations.
Regarding the over R80 million in allocations by government and the National Lotteries Board, there was a complaint by Sascoc that underfunding had led to the decline in South Africa's Olympic performances. South Africa's performance in Beijing was dismal, yielding only one medal. On this one we support the Minister's request to corporate South Africa to support and contribute to the Olympic effort.
What happened to the campaign to support local markets? The kit for our teams has come from China! Also, a foreign airline was almost used to transport our teams to London, just before the South African Airways, SAA, came in. Mr Chairman, the DA believes that our getting support from the local market will only be possible if we also support them. It will not help for us to point fingers, when we do not lead by example. None of us must forget that "local is lekker!" [``local is best!''] [Laughter.]
We would like to take our hats off to the men's hockey team, who have joined their female counterparts in successfully qualifying for the London Olympics. Many will not know what a remarkable achievement that is! It is a significant achievement, against all odds, and worth taking note of. [Applause.] In the world of professional sport, where money plays an almost determining role in one's success, it is nothing short of remarkable. Their success defies a history of sustained political interference and financial difficulty, often endured as a direct result of the state's poor administration.
Hon Minister, the DA appreciates some of the developments that are taking place in sport. But please, Minister, at this time, when teams need funding more than anything, was it appropriate for your department to spend R46 million on the South African Awards? This was 60% of the National Lottery Board's contribution of R73,8 million to support South Africa's participation in the London Olympics. So the amount comes against that backdrop. [Interjections.] [Laughter.]
School sport has actually come at the right time. We need to develop the children when they are still young. One of the challenges that we are facing as a nation is building facilities in the rural areas. We also have another challenge, that of instilling a spirit of patriotism in our youth, so that they know and understand that these facilities are meant for them and they need to guard them jealously, as they will help produce champions.
The other challenge that we are facing is that of drugs. I am appealing to everybody to please stand up and help in the fight against the drug lords.
Mogologolo a re: "... le dujwa le sa le metsi", e bile "tau e senang seboka, e siiwa ke none e tlhotsa". [Strike the iron while it is hot and unity is strength.]
Hon Minister, the Africa Cup of Nations, Afcon, will be costing municipalities or metros approximately R20 million just to host the teams, making it highly subsidised.
There is a racist incident that might need to be commented on during your response to this budget debate, Minister. I quote:
A 17-year-old Wagpos Horskool, Brits, pupil claims she was turned away from hockey trials in Rustenburg because she was black.
Rego Modise, a Grade 11 pupil at the North West school, said she persuaded her parents to drive her to Horskool Grenswag, for ``Bokkie Week'' trials after being given approval by her coach.
All seemed well when she was allowed to register after producing her birth certificate and paying a R30 fee. But everything changed when she and two white pupils later met coach Louis Koen, who inquired who had sent them.
Modise said yesterday: I told him I was sent by my coach. He then asked me: 'Didn't they tell you anything else? ' and I said no. Then he told me that ``Bokkie Week'' was for white kids only."
[Interjections.] I continue:
Neither Koen nor Wagpos principal Daan Neethling could be reached for comment yesterday. Modise said she felt "humiliated" because her coach had given her the go-ahead despite there being an apparent brief sent to schools.
The Rev Peter Stans, CEO of Afrikaner Volkseie Sport, the organisers of the ``Bokkie Week'', said Modise had "definitely" not been invited for trials.
"We work exclusively by invitation only," said Stans. He said the week was for "Afrikaner" children only.
But Modise's school has distanced itself from Koen's statement. Modise said: "I'm the only black girl in either our first and second teams. I only joined Wagpos last year, and I love playing hockey, even though I had never played it until I moved there."
Stans admitted no player of a different race had ever attended ``Bokkie Week'', saying: "We're not against anybody, we are [of Afrikaner descent]," he said.
The family yesterday said they were considering their options.
Asked how she thought the South African women's hockey team would do at the London Olympics, Modise said: "I'll be watching the Olympics. I know Australia will win, but I'm holding thumbs for RSA."
A me a kalo. Ke a leboga. [Legofi.] [I'll stop here. Thank you. [Applause.]]