Chairperson, Hon Minister, Deputy Minister, irrespective of race, culture, religion, beliefs or language, sport has the potential to unite our nation. In his state of the nation address President Jacob Zuma said:
It is clear that we need to invest on a large scale in sports development. We will speed up the revival of school sports and ensure that it forms part of our school curricula. In addition we will ensure that the provision of sports facilities in poorer communities receives priority.
South Africa's school sports structures, particularly at schools in poor communities, have collapsed. Schools should be seen as the key to our national project of transformation. School sports structures needs to be made an urgent priority in this department.
During the primary schools athletics championships in March this year, the North West under-11 and under-13 teams were lily-white, which shows that the transformation we pay lip service to still has a long way to go. This is a disgrace for school sport after 15 years of freedom and our government must take responsibility for this.
More emphasis must be placed on transformation, development and the building of facilities in poorer communities and schools. Therefore the budget for schools must be increased. School sport must be under one organisation with the proper administration.
Chairperson, I attended both the final matches of the Fifa Confederations Cup 2009 soccer tournament on Sunday 28 June. My experience was synonymous with the experience of every other South African citizen. Been there, done that, wore the T-shirt. I used the park-and-ride system, I passed the security controls and sat amongst none other than the vuvuzela blowers.
My experience was mind-blowing, Chairperson, and there is no way that South Africa will be offside or miss any goals in organising the 2010 event. I was driving from Rustenburg to Johannesburg to watch the game.
To the sons of the soil of Africa, Irvin Khoza and Danny Jordaan, we salute you. Those who are complaining must go to Wimbledon where you wait seven hours to go in. I would like to ask the Minister, if he is prepared to pull out his cane and sort out school sport in South Africa? Is the Minister prepared to put on his boxing gloves and to sort out the circus in boxing? Is the Minister prepared to put on his soccer boots together with other hon members and show excellent soccer skills during the 2010? [Time expired.] I thank you. [Applause.]