Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister, hon members and guests, sports and recreation are fundamental for healthy and balanced lifestyles. A nation that can play as hard as it works is a successful and joyful nation. Therefore, the department must endeavour to maximise access, development and excellence at all levels of sports participation in order to improve social cohesion, nation-building and quality of life for all our people.
Children who are raised in a culture of sports participation are children who grow up in a balanced and healthy manner. From an early stage, they learn to appreciate the fact that what you put in is what you get out and later in life this lesson translates into a work ethic, which engenders success, and is a significant factor in nation-building and kills laziness and a culture of entitlement.
In 2001-02, Sport and Recreation South Africa received a grant from the National Treasury specifically for the construction and upgrading of sport and recreation facilities through the Building for Sport and Recreation programme. This programme was aimed at not only creating employment and assisting with poverty relief efforts in rural areas and poor communities but also providing sporting facilities to poor communities.
During the period 2001-04 the Building for Sport and Recreation programme successfully completed 364 projects in poor areas. In March 2004, the grant was transferred to the municipalities in terms of the municipal infrastructure grant. Municipalities were tasked to continue the work of the Building for Sport and Recreation programme. This has been a dismal failure. From 2004 to date, the municipalities have completed only 45 projects. This is totally unacceptable and the IFP wishes to see the municipal infrastructure grant taken away from the municipalities and returned to the Department of Sport and Recreation, as recommended by the portfolio committee last year, to ensure that funds allocated are directed to building the necessary sporting facilities and not for other, competing purposes.
With regard to sports development at schools, we are not doing enough, Minister. We must aggressively tackle this area. Every child deserves the pleasure of kicking a ball, swinging a racquet or sprinting 100 m on an athletics field. More must be done to take sports to the children, to our children. They deserve nothing less. In this vein, we urge that the memorandum of understanding between the Departments of Sports and Basic Education be implemented forthwith and made workable.
In conclusion, we are 49 days away from the biggest sporting event ever held in South Africa; actually, on the African continent. We are ready. And the IFP salutes the Minister and the department, the Local Organising Committee leadership and the host cities for what promises to be one of the most magnificent sporting events of our lifetime.
We are indeed a blessed generation, having borne witness to such historic events as the dismantling of apartheid, the release of our icon, Nelson Mandela, the birth of a free and democratic South Africa and now being the hosts of the very first Fifa World Cup on African soil.
Dis lekker om Suid-Afrikaans te wees. [Applous.] [It is great to be South African. [Applause.]]
As this is my last debate in this august House, I wish to thank my party for the privilege to serve my country on this important national forum. I also wish to thank you, hon members, portfolio committee colleagues, all members of this House, for your support, patriotic friendship and leadership. I've grown and I've learnt. I thank you. The IFP supports this Budget Vote. [Applause.]