ADDRESS BY MEC MNS MANANA DURING THE DEPARTMENTAL STRATEGIC
PLANNNING SESSION
18 JANUARY 2011: SABIE SUN
Head of Department
Departmental Managers
Ladies and Gentlemen
Today we gather here immediately after the presentation of the
January 8 Statement in Polokwane, Limpopo Province. This is an
annual event in the calendar of the ANC, wherein the President of
the ANC presents the Statement. This Statement gives marching orders
to all branches of the ANC and as a ruling party of our government
it also serve as a fountain of knowledge for government departments
and agencies to draw from and familiarize themselves with the goals
and objectives of the ruling party for that particular year.
The Statement emphasized that this is the year for consolidating
people’s power for the national democratic society as we move
towards the 100 years of selfless people’s struggle. The emphasis of
the Statement in a nutshell was on job creation as we seek to
eradicate poverty. Political freedom is meaningless when we do not
have economic freedom.
Without going deep into the Statement, let me just give you the
highlight of issues presented by the President.
·
Creating decent work through using a number of measures such as New
Growth Path. Driving massive infrastructure projects such as
housing, etc. unlock the country’s mining potential
·
Health through the implementation of the 10 Point Plan on health
·
Education: that we
should continue to engage communities, school governing bodies as we
seek to ensure that education results are constantly improved
·
The ANC government will continue to invest in making our people to
be secure and feel safe
·
The restoration of the land to the people has always been an
integral part of the struggle for freedom
·
The promotion of unity and social cohesion continues to be a key
goal of the ANC and its government. We seek to unite all South
African around a common vision of a non- racial society, built on
the value of equality and respect for a common humanity. As part of
the legacy of the World Cup, we have to start integrating sport and
physical education in the school curriculum. The provision of sport
and recreational facilities in poor and rural communities must also
receive priority.
We are thus expected to give
the above meaning through the conceptualization of plans and
practical programmes.
A closer look in the manner in which activities are packaged in the
department reflect an under stating of cultural programmes and
activities. This has resulted in the cultural mandate being under
budgeted for. This situation cannot be allowed to continue. This
strategic planning session must be utilized to relocate cultural
affairs to where it belongs. It is the lifeblood of this department
and this must be reflected in its budget and programmes.
For any organization to function effectively and efficiently there
is a need to put the necessary structures and systems. The revival
of the Mpumalanga Arts and Culture Council and the well functioning
of the Provincial Geographical Names Committee as well as the
Provincial Heritage Resource Agency cannot be delayed. There is a
need to divert and concentrate some cultural programmes to be within
the ambit of the Mpumalanga Arts and Culture Council. This structure
can be well suited to handle programmes such as the Thjagalani
Kusephuka Tidzindzi Arts and Culture Festival, Traditional Music and
Dance Festival, etc.
The Mobile Craft Clinic for the training of artists must be
optimized. Upcoming artists should be developed to be able to stand
on their own. It has been noted however that this project cannot
reach the success levels we desire if we do not collaborate with
other agencies and sectors. You are therefore called upon to ensure
that you lobby other interest groups and agencies to work with us as
we seek to identify, develop and promote our artists.
The national Days of celebration coordinated by the department must
not be an end on themselves. The actual day of the events should be
a culmination of activities coordinated as build up activities. Last
year I had the opportunity of meeting the Indian Consular-General
and we agreed during our meeting to partner and collaborate on a
variety of heritage and library activities.
The need to address the moral decay in our communities is
ever-increasing. As a consequence of this we need to coordinate a
platform for all faith groups in the province.
The cultural forums established in all our municipalities must be
utilized as expected. These are the structures that must link us
with the communities and other stakeholders in the industry. It is
very important that they are given the recognition they deserve.
We should continue with the transformation of the provincial
heritage landscape and also preserve and conserve our heritage.
The culture of reading through the utilization of our libraries
should be escalated. As we continue to build new and renovate
existing libraries we should find ways of encouraging our
communities to utilize them and also inculcate a sense of belonging.
The FUNDZA for FUN can be the correct answer to this.
Last week we attended the Sport and Recreation Strategic Planning
session convened by the Minister of Sport and Recreation. This was a
useful engagement and we need to ensure that we find a way of
infusing the resolutions taken there into our plans, some of them
are as follows:
·
Establishment of Federations in all the 18 Municipalities of the
Province during the 2011-2014 MTEF period. This means that we should
target at least 6 per financial year
·
Once the Transformation Charter, Policy and implementation plan is
concluded by Sport and Recreation South Africa, it should be
implemented in the Province
·
A Provincial Blue-Print for the escalation of school sport programme
in the province (involving of schools in school sport, on-going
league programmes, talent identification and development programmes,
school sport
excellence) need to be developed
·
The performance of our sportsmen and women need to be recognized.
From the 2011/2012 financial year onwards we shall always coordinate
and host the Provincial Annual Sport Awards
·
The maintenance and improvement of the sport facilities is financed
through the MIG Fund. Our role would be to quantify (audit) the
number of facilities we have in the province, per municipality, the
work to be done and costing. We will do this so that when we engage
with the our counterparts, we have a basis for discussion
·
Ensure that Sport Councils in all our municipalities continue to
play the role they were established for
·
The Sport Academy remain an integral player in the development of
sport in the province and as a result their activities should find
meaning in the departmental plans
·
There is a great need to revive and implement programmes on
recreation, we should do this for the benefit of all in the province
·
Our continued participation in the SA Games must be preceded by
thorough preparation so that our participation does not only add on
numbers but to make the desired impact. This means that our athletes
should be well prepared for the SA Games
·
In line with the principles of the New Growth Path we need to find
ways of creating jobs. We must escalate our programmes with the
relevant SETA to ensure that we coordinate training programmes,
learnership and set aside a budget to be able to turn this into
permanent jobs not excluding the ones in the Mass Participation
programmes.
·
We should also be clear with the Provincial Sport Codes because we
cannot be specialists of all sport codes. Let us select those we can
excel on and make sure that we make a mark in the country and
continent
Programme Director we are gathered here to take stock of ourselves,
identify the weakness and strength and be able to decide on a new
direction. The above-mentioned serve as basis for the marching
orders and I hope the management will develop plans to implement
these milestones
Thank You.