You are wasting my time, hon member. [Laughter.] Allow me to say, unequivocally, that the Ministry will be relentless in this financial year in ensuring that sport serves as a catalyst for change in our country. I shall challenge any sports federation that undermines efforts in this regard uncompromisingly. You will recall that at one stage sport was one of the leading protagonists for change in the country. We have unfortunately lost that advantage, and we would like to commit ourselves here today to turning that trend around.
During the course of the year 2000 several major sports federations set targets for achieving representativity in their respective teams. Maybe we should examine their performances shortly. New targets will have to be set to ensure that we proceed progressively and rapidly towards our goal of total representativity in line with the demographics of the country. We should be totally committed to this objective.
Hon Minister, on Freedom Day I was in my constituency. With the assistance of the president of South Western Districts, SWD, Mr Hennie Baartman, and Mr Hoskins, I dished out purchased rugby jerseys to farm clubs.
Subsequent to that, on Sunday I was in Elsies River where some gangsters had been taken out of gangsterism and had formed a club for themselves. With the assistance of Mr Graeme Adam, who is sitting here, we managed to give them a set of jerseys.
So, there are people who are concerned and who are coming to the party. This is unlike the DA, which just looks after the interests of the whites. You are talking about a coach. That coach was instructed by the school governing bodies, SGBs, to operate in that fashion. Don't come and cry foul here. Speak to your party because those people are voting for the DA. I must tell you, charity begins at home.
Chairperson, the issue of female sport must be looked at very seriously. Its funding is inadequate. Look at what Banyana Banyana have done! They have qualified. However, some teams which are adequately looked after are not performing like that. We must stop getting to the airports to welcome teams that have failed, because we are making heroes out of them! Let them be welcomed by the workers at the airport!
Minister, there is a problem in regard to refugees. A club in Paarl has been suspended. For them to play, they must first pay R180 000. Where will they get that money? I went to Newlands to try to see if we could find an amicable solution. They just refused. I can't understand that.
The problem lies with the administrators. When they are elected to serve, they forget about their mandate. One of the recently elected administrators in a federation said, "I'm happy that I've been elected because I'll be in a position to go to any world cup game." Is that a mandate? The mandate is to transform sport! Another thing is that if you are used to Marie biscuits and you then get Choice Assorted, you completely forget what your mandate is! We need to look at these things. If these administrators don't look after the interests of our kids, we will not get anywhere.
This coach who has just been ''freed'' - I don't want to say more - used to coach the Under 21 rugby team. He won the World Cup with the Under 21s ... [Time expired.]