(The following debate was delivered by DA KZN Spokesperson on Sports, Arts and Culture, Tammy Colley, MPL during a KZN Legislature Budget Sitting held today)
• KZN uniquely placed to create jobs through sports and cultural tourism
• DSAC must mirror Treasury’s new e-procurement system to ensure limited funds are properly spent
• DSAC, Education and Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) partnership can lead to better school sports facilities
KZN’s Department of Sports, Arts and Culture (DSAC) has a vital role in achieving social cohesion given our country and our province’s turbulent past – a past that has left scars that cannot and will not be healed overnight. Likewise, KZN’s Government of Provincial Unity (GPU), along with all other political parties, also has critical role to play in building our province by not alienating any community.
The DA firmly believes that the DSAC budget of R1 598 billion must be used to achieve the vision of creating a healthy, creative, winning and socially cohesive province through sports, arts and culture.
KZN’s budget allocations come at a time when our country, and our province, are under dire fiscal constraints. Given this, the DA congratulates KZN Finance MEC, Francois Rodgers, for ensuring that our province’s equitable share from national treasury is increased. While this is good news, KZN’s government departments now need to explore how to generate their own revenue in order to boost their budgets – and KZN’s DSAC is no exception. It is time for this department to start thinking creatively about achieving outcomes. It is not business as usual in KZN, but rather business unusual.
In his State of the Province Address (SOPA) earlier this year, KZN Premier, Thami Ntuli, committed to building a capable ethical state, reducing poverty and driving the provincial economy to create jobs. He also emphasised that every provincial government department needs to play its part to achieve these goals. To achieve the capable and ethical state, outlined by the Premier, MEC, Mntomuhle Khawula, must mirror Treasury’s new e-procurement system within his own department. This will allow strong oversight and will also allow DSAC portfolio committee members to ensure that the department’s limited funds are used for the purpose for which they are intended.
South Africans love sport. They love supporting their teams. Few things bring South Africans together more than sports. Legendary events that take place in KZN, including the Duzi Canoe Marathon, Comrades Marathon, Durban July and The Ballito Pro, amongst others, showcase our province on an international platform. These and other events have produced athletes that KZN and South Africa can be proud of.
Sports tourism is a growing sector that brings revenue into KZN. The Comrades Marathon injects more than R600million into KZN’s economy, while the Durban July sees an injection of R690 million. It is critical that these iconic events maintain their professional standards and that DSAC pursues other events to highlight our province as a sport tourism destination.
The DSAC sports programme has a budget of R402 481million. This programme seeks to see ensure communities from local ward level participate in sports and includes tournaments including SALGA games, the golden games and the disability games amongst others. The DA acknowledges the importance of tournaments such as these. But more must be done. The sad reality is that many KZN learners do not have access to sports fields at school level. Oversight visits during the KZN Legislature school functionality programme, along with those at DSAC portfolio committee level, show the dire need for such facilities.
While the budget is extremely constrained, there are solutions which include finding new ways to solve this problem. Unfortunately, to date, a ‘silo’ mentality has been the modus operandi across all spheres of government, including KZN’s legislature. The time has come for KZN’s DSAC, Department of Education (DoE) and Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) to sit down and find solutions that will better equip our schools with sports facilities. The DPWI is the custodian of state-owned land. Could this not be released to DSAC to develop into sporting facilities for our learners? Solutions must be found to help our children and lay the foundations for a healthy and winning lifestyle.
The DA wants to see a close working relationship between DSAC and the DoE so that KZN’s learners have more access to sports. The current Siyadlala programme is not enough. Without the right foundations, the DSAC vision – to build a healthy, creative, winning and socially cohesive province, through sports, arts, and culture – will not be achieved.
The KZN DSAC budget for Library and Archive Services is R496 321million. Libraries are more than books – they are hubs for community engagement and address inequality by providing internet access to learners, students and job seekers. They are fundamental assets for communities to be able to change their trajectory and work towards a better life. During last years’ budget debate, the DA highlighted the lack of library materials in KZN due to procurement issues. It is unacceptable that the public cannot access new library material due to this and we look forward to MEC Rodgers’ e-procurement system finally addressing this matter. While there are currently no new libraries being constructed in KZN the DA will, through its DSAC portfolio committee position, continue to ensure oversight and make sure that those libraries already under construction are completed.
Cultural Affairs has a budget of R364 157million which should provide for projects as well as interventions within the arts, culture, language, and museum services. KZN’s people have so much to offer within this area. The Creative Cultural Indicator (CCI) contributes almost 3% to the GDP – a figure shared with the DSAC portfolio committee and which underscores just how much this sector contributes to our economy. This means that stalled and delayed projects, such as Pietermaritzburg’s Churchill Theatre, must be completed. This multi-million-rand upgrade has taken years, with an additional R2.5million budgeted in the 25 /26 financial year. The DA will continue to monitor this and other projects that are intended to benefit our arts and cultural sectors.
KZN’s high unemployment rate of 39% is sadly more prolific amongst our youth. Yet, cultural tourism is an avenue that can help to address this and DSAC has a critical role to play. Our province is the home of the Zulu nation and if the DSAC capitalises on this, it can open new markets and increase jobs – particularly for young people. The completion of the Enyokeni Palace Cultural Precinct gives KZN an opportunity to showcase Zulu culture to the rest of South Africa and the world. Diversity is a value that the DA regards of utmost importance and KZN, with its rich cultural diversity and heritage – all of which can be used to address social cohesion and contribute to nation building – must be used as an asset.
KZN’s current 7th Administration – under the GPU – saw the unveiling of the King Shaka statue at Durban’s international airport late last year. Meanwhile, construction of the 1860 Indian Indentured Labourers Monument in Durban has begun with the much-awaited monument due for completion in time to celebrate the 165th anniversary of the arrival of the Indian Indentured Labourers in KZN. These significant cultural assets highlight only a few of KZN’s unique offerings.
The DA recognises DSAC’s significant role in achieving social cohesion and we take our role of oversight seriously. Sports, Arts and Culture is the only department that can bring us all together. As a solid member of the GPU we will continue to promote and champion the role that this department plays in nation building.