2006/2007 South Africa Yearbook: 20

20 Sport and recreation Sport in South Africa is a multibillion rand industry • aligning sport and recreation policy with the and contributes more than 2% to the country’s policies of other government departments in the gross domestic product (GDP). Sport and spirit of integrated planning and delivery Recreation South Africa (SRSA) aims to improve the • providing legal advice to all stakeholders in sport quality of life of all South Africans by promoting and recreation from a government perspective participation in sport and recreation in the country, • subsidising clients of the SRSA in accordance and through the participation of sportspeople and with the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 teams in international sporting events. (Act 1 of 1999), its concomitant regulations, as The key objectives of the SRSA are to: well as the SRSA funding policy; monitoring the • increase the level of participation in sport and application of such funds; and advising clients on recreational activities the management of their finances • raise the profile of sport • managing inter- and intragovernmental relations • maximise the probability of success in major • acknowledging the contributions of sportspeople sporting events to South African society • place sport at the forefront of efforts to address • procuring resources from abroad for sport and issues of national importance. recreation, through the appropriate structures in The SRSA is responsible for: National Treasury • co-ordinating and contributing to the drafting of • communicating sport- and recreation-related legislation on sport and recreation matters from a government perspective • interpreting broad government policy, translating • co-ordinating and monitoring the creation and government policy into policies for sport and upgrading of sport and recreation infrastructure. recreation, revising such policy if and when From 2005/06, the Building for Sport and necessary, and monitoring the implementation Recreation Programme became part of the thereof Municipal Infrastructure Grant, which is located in 523 the Department of Provincial and Local Government. Tourism is widely recognised as a major growth The SRSA will continue with its policy, advocating sector internationally and it is estimated that 30% and monitoring roles. In accordance with a contract of all tourism comprises sports tourism. concluded with the SRSA, local authorities will own A survey conducted by Standard Bank indicates the facilities once they have been completed and that tourism outstrips gold earnings as a revenue will be responsible for their maintenance. generator for South Africa. Sport and recreation benefit from the proceeds The SRSA aims to enhance the sustainability of of the National Lottery, subject to the Lotteries Act, the project by: 2000 (Act 10 of 2000). The Distribution Agency for • promoting ‘home-grown’ events such as the Dusi Sport and Recreation was established to create and Canoe Marathon, Pick & Pay Argus Cycle Tour, consolidate thriving, sustainable, mass-based sport Midmar Mile (swimming), Berg and Breede river and recreational structures and programmes, canoe marathons and the Two Oceans Marathon, especially in disadvantaged rural communities. which attract large numbers of international participants and spectators Programmes • working closely with South African Tourism and Sports Tourism Project the Department of Environmental Affairs and SRSA launched the Sport Tourism Project at the Tourism to promote more attractive tourist Durban Tourism Indaba in May 2006. The primary packages for spectators who want to accompany motivation of the project is to exploit the substantial touring sports teams to South Africa benefits that the tourism industry presents for job • assisting agencies, in line with a major events creation in South Africa. strategy and the hosting and bidding regulations, It combines the Veza route-finder tool developed to attract major international sports events to by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research South Africa (CSIR) with sports information, enabling users to • marketing South Africa’s sport and recreation plan attendance of sports events, including facilities, such as golf courses and beaches, mapping the route to the venue, booking accom- abroad modation, and selecting restaurants and other • producing an interactive CD-ROM to provide tourist attractions in the vicinity of the venue or information on sport and recreation events and elsewhere in South Africa. associated information on South Africa. 524 Mass participation It forms part of the SRSA’s commitment to The Syiadlala Mass Participation Programme encouraging the youth, especially those in crime (SMPP) was launched in 2005 to facilitate access nodes, to take part in sport. to sport and recreation by as many South Africans as possible, especially those from historically School sport disadvantaged communities. The SRSA launched In 2005, the SRSA concluded an agreement with the programme with a budget of R20 million. The the Department of Education for the resuscitation department is entering the third year of the and revitalisation of school sports and physical programme with a budget of R79 million. education programmes. In the 2006/07 budget, The SRSA has expanded the programme that more than R85 million was set aside for the SRSA’s it launched in 36 activity hubs involving two school-sport programmes. 200 000 participants around the country in Physical Education as a compulsory school 2004/05, to 131 hubs involving more than subject constitutes the very basis of participation 1,2 million people in 2005/06. In 2006/07, another and often provides reluctant participants with their 133 hubs were expected to be added. The aim, first sports experience that could make them more eventually, is to ensure that no child has to walk positive toward participating. In future, Physical more than five kilometres to access an activity hub Education will feature in the life-orientation anywhere in the country. The establishment of at programme of the School Curriculum. least one hub in every ward in every municipality The SRSA has also introduced programmes that across South Africa is the ideal. That means that have led to more young people competing more there will be eventually more than 3 800 hubs regularly and on more equal grounds. In 2006/07, bustling with active South Africans. 798 schools were expected to participate in The SMPP is expected to enable the sport sector 56 clusters comprising schools close to one to contribute to the Accelerated and Shared Growth another to facilitate regular interaction between Initiative for South Africa (AsgiSA). By mid-2006, the 200 000 learners initially involved. The aim is 353 unemployed young people had been recruited to eventually involve 2 700 schools countrywide in and trained and were being paid a stipend to run the project. the programmes. Research done in the hubs indicates that small stipends contribute to feeding Transformation in sport up to eight families in some instances. The SMPP Sports Transformation Charter had also trained 825 young volunteers in sport and The Sports Transformation Charter guides all recreation administration, 1 293 entry-level coaches, macrobodies, national and provincial federations, 655 referees, and over 450 people in event and clubs on the need to transform sport. management and first aid. The charter is complemented by performance agreements that national federations enter into Young Champions Project with the Minister of Sport and Recreation. The The project is a joint effort of the SRSA, the South main focus of the charter and the performance African Police Service, provincial and local agreement is to: departments responsible for sport and recreation, • increase participation levels in sport and the Office of the Public Prosecutor, the Department recreation of Justice and Constitutional Development, and • make sport and recreation accessible to all national and provincial sports federations. South Africans • ensure that provincial and national teams reflect South African society South Africa hosted the International • ensure that all sport and recreation bodies meet Paralympic Committee’s Swimming World their affirmative-action objectives Championships in Durban in December 2006. The championships, which take place every • promote greater involvement of marginalised four years, were expected to attract 600 groups – such as women, people with swimmers and 265 officials from 60 countries. disabilities, people living in rural communities and the youth – in sport and recreation. 525 Ministerial task team into high-performance sport The awards recognise and honour individuals Sport and recreation In December 2004, the first steps were taken and teams who have excelled both on and off the towards implementing the ministerial task team’s field each year. recommendations into high-performance sport that were approved by Cabinet. The South African Legislation Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee In 2006, several pieces of legislation were referred (Sascoc) opened its doors, and the SRSA took over to the National Assembly and the National Council the functions of the South African Sports of Provinces for consideration. Prominent among Commission (SASC) and its personnel. these was the 2010 Fifa World Cup Special The expanded SRSA has the capacity to provide Measures Bill that seeks to amend all ‘non-money’ mass-based sport and recreation at community Acts that may impede the implementation of level in the most remote

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