Hon Chairperson, with regard to the physical wellbeing and safety of persons and property at events, in whichever form the event might be - we have heard it can be sports, rugby or anything -there are important needs that require serious attention.
Various serious incidents, as mentioned by the Minister, Mr Komphela and other speakers, were identified and led to the drafting of this Bill. This Bill is aimed at providing interventions which will improve the safety and control of mass attendance at future events. The erection of scores of large stadiums necessitates the need for an even- handed approach and the guarantee of safety where there is a possibility of risks. It is acknowledged that most stadiums and sporting bodies have existing measures in place to secure the safety of spectators during sporting matches and events.
This Bill, therefore, is the outcome of various participatory and representative public hearing processes. These processes concluded that the Bill will lay the foundation for a broad and all-inclusive approach to safety and security at all our events.
Important aspects that are being addressed in the Bill to meet the above demands are, inter alia, to ensure the accountability and the responsibility for safety and security at events. This implies that the controlling body or the stadium owner must establish an event safety and security planning committee for each event.
The national commissioner plays a vital role. The safety and security committee must ensure that a safety plan is in place. A proper ticketing system has to be in place and that implies that no commercial buying and selling of tickets should be allowed.
Daar mag geen kaartjieverkope op die dag van die wedstryd by die hekke wees nie. [There may be no selling of tickets at the gates on the day of the event.]
The event organiser must submit an annual schedule of events to the national commissioner, at least six months before the season or event. This will enable the commissioner to categorise the safety and security risks of each event.
Safety certificates must be issued for different venues. This certificate will outline the risk associated with the event at that stadium.
High-risk events have a two-year phasing-in period. That means that if the Bill is passed within a month, the high-risk event or the person who owns a high-risk stadium will have two years to comply with the law. A medium-risk event has a three-year phasing-in period; and a low-risk event has a five- year phasing-in period.
Hierdie sertifikate moet binne die tydperke verkry word met die klem ook op ons plattelandse gebiede waar die gebeure hoofsaaklik van 'n lae risiko aard is. Dit wil s, die infasering van lae risiko gebeure is vyf jaar, maar ons moenie vergeet van daardie stadiums of plekke nie. Dis my bekommernis en dis hoekom ek dit beklemtoon dat daar na daardie aspekte gekyk moet word. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[These certificates will have to be acquired within this period, with the emphasis on our rural areas as well, where the events are mostly of a low- risk nature. That is, the phasing in of low-risk events is five years, but we should not overlook those stadiums or places. This is my concern and this is the reason why I want to emphasise that these aspects have to be attended to.]
Public liability insurance for each event should be in place.
Dit moet weereens beklemtoon word dat hierdie rel ook van toepassing sal wees by laerisikowedstryde en-gebeure. Ek kan baie goed onthou dat ek in 1984 'n wedstryd by Groenpunt gespeel het en dit was oorlog. Dit was nog die ou rugby. Dit was oorlog en as daardie veld 'n lae risiko is, dan het ons probleme.
Ons het ook 'n wedstryd gehad by die Adcock-stadion en die dieselfde het daar gebeur. My waarskuwing is dus net: omdat laerisikogebeure 'n vyf jaar intree fase het, moet daar nie vergeet word dat daardie sertifikate ook verkry moet word nie. (Translation of Afrikaans paragraphs follows.)
[It needs to be emphasised once again that this regulation will also be applicable to low-risk matches and events. I can recall very clearly a match that I played at Green Point in 1984, and it was war. It was still the old rugby format. It was war and, if that ground was considered low- risk, then we've got problems.
We also had a match at Adcock Stadium and the same thing happened there. I would just like to sound this warning: because low-risk events have a phasing-in period of five years, the obtaining of those certificates should also not be overlooked.]
The Portfolio Committee on Sport and Recreation is confident that the country will benefit from this Bill and that it will contribute to the improvement of the safety and security at all our events. The DA believes that this Bill will have a profound effect and recommends that this Bill be approved. Thank you. [Applause.]