Media statement of the Minister of Sport and Recreation South Africa, Mr Fikile Mbalula, MP, on the occasion of the launch of the transformation perspective document as a prelude to the National Sport and Recreation Indaba: 16th November 2011, Cape Town. South Africa.
16 Nov 2011
Deputy Minister of Sport and Recreation; Mr Gert Oosthuizen
Members of the media
Sport loving South Africans
Ladies and gentlemen
On 21 and 22 November 2011 at the Gallagher Estate, in Midrand - Gauteng, sportsmen and women from various spheres of government, the peoples parliament of South Africa, august bodies comprising of representatives of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the South African Sport and Olympic Committee (SASCOC), International experts in the field of sport and recreation from Cuba, Botswana, United Kingdom, Australia, the South African sports federations, national federations, sports councils and Media will descend on Johannesburg to attend the Sport and Recreation Indaba organised under the auspices of the Ministry of Sport and Recreation South Africa.
The delegates to the National Sport and Recreation Indaba are responding to the Ministry's clarion call for South Africans, in partnership and collaboration with the people of the world, to converge under one roof, to critically examine and deliberate on the road we have traversed as the sporting fraternity in pursuit of a non-racial and non-sexist, democratic, accessible and equitable sporting landscape in South Africa. The national Sport and Recreation Indaba has been preceded by the widest possible consultations within communities, individuals, organised formations and is a culmination of the provincial Izindaba that were held in the nine provinces over the last eleven months. Hence we say it proudly and boldly in stating that South Africa is primed and ready for the forthcoming Sport and Recreation Indaba as this promises, given the kaleidoscope of people attending, a real festival of ideas.
However the defining character and outcome of the forthcoming Indaba should be rigorous and robust debates that will culminate in the total transformation of the South African sport and recreation landscape. South Africans have had an overdose of a plethora of Izindaba within and outside our sector that did not deliver fundamental paradigm shifts and liberating outcomes. No more talks shops. It's time for change and action!