Speaker, allow me to take this opportunity to welcome the executive members of the sport federations present, the Chairperson and members of the Cultural Commission, the Chairperson and members of the Language Committee, The Chairperson and members of the Heritage Council Western Cape. Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

Speaker, without these people my Department cannot make any headway and the implementation of the People' Contract starts with them.

I stand here today indeed humbled by the great responsibility the people of the Western Cape have placed on our shoulders. I took this position knowing very well that, the people of this province are expecting a lot from my party. I took this position mindful of the fact that, the people of this Province for the past 10 years of our young democracy have been marginalized and discriminated against. The Western Cape was treated like an island in South Africa by the previous Government.

It is through this venture that, at the Cabinet Lekgotla, the Premier and our executive felt that we need to bring unity amongst the people of this Province. We need to make everyone feel at home. In this regard, we need to form partnerships with everybody, and all spheres of Government, and truly make the Western Cape a 'HOME for ALL'.

This responsibility is the contract we entered into with the electorate when we asked them to vote for the ANC. We will, together with them, Create Work, Fight Poverty and Build a Better Life for All. May I take this opportunity to join my cabinet colleagues in once more expressing my heartfelt gratitude to all the masses that have given us the mandate to govern this province for the first time. I therefore want to unashamedly state that our bias is towards these masses.

I also stand here today thankful and appreciative of the fact that our glorious organization, the ANC, gave me the responsibility to play a leading role in ensuring that the People's Contract is indeed honoured. ASINA MONA, ASINANDZONDO SIYAYIDUMISA I-ANC!!!!!

Speaker and Premier, this is my maiden budget speech and therefore, probably the most important in my entire political career. In preparing for this speech I have asked myself many questions, importantly where should I start when delivering an address of this immense importance. And, after thinking deeply I have decided to start from the beginning.

Before the arrival of Jan van Riebeeck, our people, the indigenous people of our country were going about their daily and nomadic lives very peacefully and calmly.

They were self-sufficient, living on farming and hunting as free and happy people. They hunted, played games and gradually developed skills. Consequently, through the competitive spirit that ensued, the best runners, hunters and throwers of spears emerged.

Customary practices were developed and these became the trademark of the different tribes and clans that proudly distinguished one from the other until the arrival of the Dutch people in 1652. Then, life for our people changed forever.

As an example of how things have changed, the indigenous people of this country who lived on hunting for many centuries have since been deprived of the right to hunt through the colonial system and the subsequent apartheid laws. Hunting is now the elite sport, exclusively for the minority.

Legislation in this regard was deliberately engineered to exclude our people and thus deny them the economic benefits that accrue from hunting. In the past, our people were the best in spear throwing today called javelin.

This must and will change. In my view, hunting and other forms of indigenous sport must be revived. Our objectives of creating a Western Cape that is Home For All places on us a responsibility to ensure that our resources are equitably shared by all. My Department will play a critically important role over the next five years trying to undo this anomaly.

Speaker, I wish to acknowledge that this Government will not be the first to be fighting for the restoration of the dignity of our people and their rightful place as equal citizen of our country in Sport, Culture and Heritage. Many have been involved in this fight and so we salute all men and women who have played a part in this noble struggle.

Although this Department is charged with the primary role of dealing with transformation and promotion of Sport, Culture and Heritage, we cannot divorce ourselves from the realities of underdevelopment, poverty and inequality in our society. The Premier and my cabinet colleagues have highlighted this point in their speeches.

Since being appointed, I have spent most of my time trying to acquaint myself with the new environment and have already held a strategic session with officials of my Department, to look at giving practical meaning to the new policy directions as articulated in the President's State of the Nation address, and the Premier's speech. Another important source of policy is IKapa Elihlumayo and we will be doing everything in pursuit of the objectives of this policy.

It is for this reason that development, fighting poverty and inequality underpins this budget speech. We will show today how sport, culture and heritage can play a role in dealing with these realities towards the fulfillment of the people's contract.

Sport and Recreation

Sport, today is seen as a very important tool to bring about unity and reconciliation in our society. We all remember how we felt when the South African rugby team won the World Cup in 1995, and when Bafana Bafana won the African Nations Cup in 1996. These are surely two of the greatest sporting achievements of our free nation. South Africans across the colour-line rallied behind these teams and I surely felt good being a South African on those days.

However when these events were over and we somehow forgot or the events became somewhat removed from our minds as we had to deal with the stark reality of poverty, inequality and underdevelopment, we realized that this was only a feel good moment. Sport therefore has to be used to do much, much more.

Historical Perspective

Mr. Speaker I am on record for my passionate opinions on Sport and hold strong views about the current state of affairs in our townships. I have spoken about the lack of proper facilities and the conditions in which many of our kids are playing sport in.

Mr. Speaker, I was shocked to learn of the blatant discrimination of the poorest of our communities in as far as provisioning and /or upgrading of sport facilities in their areas during our first decade of democracy is concerned. It is a well-known fact that the legacy of apartheid has left behind great disparities between white and black communities. The first decade of democracy was supposed to lay the basis to address this legacy in an equitable manner. Unfortunately, this has not been the case.

The past decade has in fact been used to further deepen the divide between previously disadvantaged communities. In my view it is simply scandalous. I believe I owe it to the people of this province and my organisation, the ANC, to share this shocking legacy of our predecessors.

The only source of comfort is knowing that the ANC is now in control to make sure that sport, culture and heritage are utilized responsibly as a vehicle to unite the people of this province. The following startling statistics compel my Department to reconsider priority areas previously identified.

Mr. Speaker just by using this region as an example, the following realities become apparent:
1. Available budget for the Metropole region over the first 10 years of democracy = R 29 678 980
2. Percentage spent on African communities= 13,47%
3. Percentage spent in Coloured communities= 86,52%

The picture in the SWD and West Coast regions is pathetic to say the least. Budget allocation was 9% and 0% respectively for the African communities during the past ten years against 91% and 100% allocated to the Coloured communities. The Boland/ Overberg region of the DSR must be commended for its performance in the equitable distribution of facilities amongst the previously disadvantaged communities.

In making the above examples, I am not ignoring the conditions in our white communities, but due to the comparative conditions it is apparent that the facilities are not equally provided for. I have therefore in an attempt to show the stark differences used the conditions in our previously disadvantaged communities as an example.

Having said that, I remain optimistic that the crippling damage done by the past regime will serve to inspire us to do more to achieve unity through sport.

We will strengthen our resolve to use sport and recreation and major events as a vehicle for promoting sport tourism in the Western Cape and thereby sustain the Western Cape as the Sports Mecca of South Africa and Africa and also to contribute to the objectives of Ikapa Elihlumayo.

Therefore, a broad perspective of what we can do as a department to create jobs, fight poverty and redress these realities must be based on an approach that takes cognizance of these basics. This means that as a principle, School Sport has to serve as the foundation and nursery for sustainable development of Sport and Recreation in the Province.

The approach as I referred to above of going back to basics, focuses on putting in place the building blocks that will ensure that meaningful development takes place and the mass participation in Sport is achieved.

This will require a comprehensive strategy that will deal with infrastructure provision, skills development and support. In this regard I am glad to report that since the function of School Sport has been transferred to my Department that the School Sport component is now functional.

The component has made steady progress in its first year of existence. In line with going back to basics the following areas of focus have been identified:

• Facility development
• Programme development
• Equipment provision to the most needy
• Talent identification & development
• Leadership development (technical, administration & officiating)
• Integration of schools sport

In collaboration with the Western Cape Department of Education, we intend upgrading at least 4 facilities. The four areas are: Breede River, South Cape, West Coast and the City of Cape Town. An amount of R1,5m has been budgeted to achieve our intended target. In the process we will develop a facilities plan that will facilitate a good spread amongst the various regions to enable meaningful participation.

An amount of R5.468m has been made available to facilitate the delivery of sport programmes in schools, thus increasing the number of learners involved in schools sport. Schools on the Cape Flats are excited about the idea to have local leagues and this would add value to the regional and provincial USSASA teams.

A strategy to effect meaningful integration between the Cape flats schools and the former "white schools" will be implemented, whilst establishing local pride. In conjunction with the Western Cape Department of Education (WCED) dedicated schools sport days will be identified where the schools sport talent can be showcased ensuring greater parental and community participation. Emphasis will be placed on restoring the strong traditions of school life that seem to elude our new generation. This could be that major area of intervention that government can make to give effect to the moral regeneration that we so desperately seek.

To ensure early talent identification and intervention, the "Super Start" programme has been designed in recognition of play and movement experience for children between the ages of three and six years of age. This programme promotes early participation on physical activity and encourages social interaction whilst enhancing self-image. Pre-school and grade R learners will therefore be exposed to games and sport that enhance their balance, coordination and rhythm. Fun days will be organized in the different regions with the aim of encouraging parental involvement.

The component will also promote the "Playsport" programme in primary schools. This programme is designed to facilitate the development of basic motor skills of throwing, striking, kicking, locomotion, ball control and other essential basic elements of the various sport types. Teachers and parents will also be trained to assist with the implementation of the programme.

Workshops and seminars will be conducted to present these programmes to the schools. Teachers and parents will be encouraged to attend. Volunteers will also be trained to build sustainability around the implementation of the various programmes. In consultation with the regional structures of the United Schools Sports Association of South Africa (USSASA) we intend to host a school sport summit. The outcome of the summit must give government clear indication of the strategies that must be pursued to ensure maximum impact of all programmes.

Transfer payments made to USSASA will further ensure that the Province's participation at national competitions continue to bring success and pride to the people of this vast province. Equipment will be purchased and distributed to at least 30 schools to facilitate intra and inter-school competition. The beneficiaries will be spread amongst the SSS identified schools as well as rural and farm schools. I want to make a personal call on USSASA to work extra hard with us to achieve transformation and implement the back to basics approach.

The department is mindful of the fact that our attention must be equitable as it relates to the urban, rural and farm areas. With the resources available to this component we are confident that we will be able to provide a platform for future sport stars, officials and leaders.

As we strive to make the Western Cape a "Home for All", we will promote indigenous games in the various schools. It is through these games that we educate our learners on the rich cultural heritage of our nation. We remember the times when "morabaraba, karem, diketo", and a host of other indigenous games occupied our daily lives. Learners have shown keen interest in these games during the various holiday programmes. We will therefore purchase indigenous games equipment and host indigenous games festivals to promote our heritage.

The gap between the advantaged and disadvantaged is huge. The lack of human, physical and capital resources place our learners in the undesirable position of spectators rather than full participants. It is noticeable that during the National Athletic Championship, all the participants in the "technical" areas of athletics happened to be "white". The "black" learners excelled in the non-technical arenas such as the sprints, middle and long distance running, but were noticeably absent at events such as the hammer-throw; pole vaulting; high-jump etc. This is evident in codes such as rugby and soccer which are played by previously disadvantaged youth and codes such as hockey, swimming and cricket which are played by white youth. This issue must be arrested so that all our learners have an equal opportunity to represent the province in any sport. In this regard, the department will engage the school sport code representatives together with the provincial sport federations to ensure that the necessary expertise reaches the educators. Coaching clinics are being facilitated to build the necessary social capital to narrow the gap. We recently piloted some coaching clinics in the three Western Cape regions.

The Department in conjunction with the Western Cape Department of Education identified seven sites, one in each of the seven (7) Education Management District Centres, to provide sport fields that will enable surrounding schools access to playing facilities. This collaboration between the two departments will be fine tuned through a formal memorandum of understanding that will spell out agreed areas of responsibilities to foster cooperative governance.

The United School Sport Association's affiliate in the Western Cape is recognized as the umbrella body for school sport in the Province. Through our interaction over the past year, areas of concern have been raised. In the main, key areas relate to the economic discrimination that is prevalent when selecting teams. That is, players that cannot afford the required funding for their participation in national events have to forsake their positions in the Western Cape teams. Through the grants in aid, we have noticed a slight decline in this practice. To ensure that this problem is arrested, the department will be making R2m available to assist all representative teams.

The organisation is still seen as a "coloured" organization, and the all-male coloured executive of the organization gives weight to this sentiment. This has to be changed. The Department will host a School Sport Summit later this year. The intention would be to call on all stakeholders to contribute towards the adoption of resolutions that will ensure the effective alignment between government objectives and the objectives of the school sport movement. Consideration will also be given to a cohesive approach by government departments and spheres to create an enabling environment.

"A child in sport is a child out of court"

The cooperation with the Department of Community Safety yielded great success through the now established "Sport Stepping-Stones (SSS)" programme. The SSS sports assistants combined well during the Bambanani campaign and provided sport programmes for the youth over the holidays.

I am happy with the progress of the SSS programme as it has grown to the extent where we are now servicing 125 schools in the 7 areas. The programme directly impacted positively on the majority of learners. The number of sports assistants have now increased from 117 to 187. It is my intention to roll out this programme to rural and all crime affected areas.

An amount of R2,785m was budgeted for the implementation of the "Sport Stepping Stone" scheme (SSS) programme. These young sport coaches continue to render invaluable services in their schools. All the sport assistants have undergone coaching courses in various codes of sport.

They conduct school holiday programmes in conjunction with Community Safety in an attempt to keep learners away from the social evils that normally surround them.

The back to basics approach also speaks to the re-establishment of "Community Sports" structures and clubs that are capacitated to manage and develop sport and sport facilities. However, a framework in this regard will be developed.

The Transformation Indaba held in November 2003 laid the basis for the Department to engage with provincial federations of sport and recreation to effect meaningful transformation.

The Draft Western Cape Transformation Charter stands out as a milestone that ensures the sustainable development of sport and recreation within the province. The said Charter serves to consolidate the sport and recreation democratic gains attained within the broader RSA context.

A Sport and Recreation Transformation Monitoring Committee was also elected by relevant stakeholders that attended this annual indaba. The role of this body is to ensure that federations comply and actively pursue a transformation agenda as entailed in the Draft Transformation Charter.

The Transformation indaba that will be held in November 2004, in George will adopt a Transformation Charter that will serve the basis for Provincial legislation to facilitate transformation in Sport and Recreation. I am pleased to announce that the head of the Transformation and Dispute Resolution Unit will be appointed within the next two months. R2million has been put aside for the operation of this unit.

The Department will continue to fund Sport federations with the amount of "R1.7million" that has been allocated for sport development. To further give impetus to our comprehensive strategy, the Department will ensure equitable facility provision by ensuring the implementation of 28 projects in 10 local authorities from the combined funding of the Building for Sport and Recreation Programme (BSRP) and the Departmental budget, totaling R11 738million to be allocated to the following regions.

• Metropole region: 3 projects at a cost of R1.1m
• Boland/Overberg region: 3 projects at a cost of R2.2m
• SWD region: 16 projects at a cost of R6.9M
• West Coast region: 6 projects at R1.5m

In keeping with the objectives of job creation, a labour intensive approach to maximize employment opportunities will be adopted. Our targeted beneficiaries include women, educationally qualified but unemployed youth and the disabled.

Speaker, as I mentioned before and whilst I am speaking about job creation, I want to inform you that the "Siyadlala Mass Participation Projects" that will be implemented in the five areas identified, will create 38 permanent jobs. This project is aimed at encouraging mass participation in Sport and Recreation activities at regular intervals. In this regard. the National Department of Sport and Recreation has allocated a conditional grant of R1m per annum. I am of the opinion that a nation at play will greatly contribute to a healthy nation.

This project will compliment the "Sport Health" component in giving effect to the attainment of its mandate to promote physically active and healthy lifestyles amongst all communities, and to use sport and recreation as a tool to combat HIV/Aids. To this effect, HIV/Aids Sport Ambassadors and sport bill-board projects will be implemented by the end of next month in conjunction with the Department of Transport and Public Works, as a mechanism of promoting voluntary counseling and testing (VCT).

In pursuit of the Department's strategy to promote sustainable "Sport tourism" to the Western Cape, we will be assisting Provincial federations to host and stage major sporting events. In this regard R530 000.00 has been budgeted for.

I am glad to announce that the investigation to establish a "Sport School" was concluded recently, and my officials are in the process of fine-tuning the implementation strategy. This will be the first specialized Sport school of its kind in the Western Cape.

The 2004 SA GAMES held in Buffalo City and hosted by the Eastern Cape Province; participating under the theme: "FROM GRASS - ROOTS TO GLORY", the boys and girls of the Western Cape again emerged as Silver Medalists behind the defending champions - Gauteng.

Mr Speaker, yet again budgetary constraints proved to be the undoing factor. The fact that in both events, team Western Cape ventured into these tournaments without a single training was a technical short-coming that could have completely swayed the outcome in the Western Cape's favour.

"Cultural Affairs"

Speaker, Cultural Affairs still faces many challenges, which emanate from the legislative process that gave birth to the Western Cape Cultural Commission. Due to the current funding criteria and guidelines, there is a huge gap between the grassroots community organisations and professional arts bodies.

To that extent, the Cultural Commission, obviously mindful of the shortcomings of this existing funding policy, is currently developing a new funding policy that will ensure inclusivity. Importantly, the new funding system which will be finalized and implemented within the next three months, will ensure that training is given to cultural and arts groups so that they can better manage and administer their budgets. Under the auspices of the Cultural Commission, Cultural Councils were established and gave communities belonging to the same cultural and language grouping an opportunity to preserve, protect and affirm their cultures.

It is quite encouraging to see marginalised cultural groupings such as the various Khoisan groups being established as Cultural Councils. But, I wish to caution that these Cultural Councils should not be used to perpetuate an apartheid system. These should serve as an opportunity for people from various cultures to learn more about each other and work towards a united Western Cape which embraces different cultures in the true spirit of a 'Home for All'. Various festivals that have been held within the borders of this province should not be kept exclusive but should reflect the diversity of the Western Cape, and also contribute to the economic empowerment of all its people. I will hereunder give a detailed strategic plan of the new direction the department will take over the next few years to address the shortcomings that I have mentioned.

This strategic plan will generate sustainable job opportunities. However we will probe the economic benefits further and give a comprehensive report in terms of the spin-offs of this strategy to this House in "three months."

This strategy encompasses the following:

• Calendar of events: We will have a calendar of events at an average of one per month, ensuring sustainability, economic activity and international and local tourism.
• Infrastructure: Necessary infrastructure development will be undertaken in the province to ensure the arts are accessible to all communities.
• Education and training: All areas needing the necessary training will be developed to ensure the sustainability of this project.
• Resources and information: Investment in information technology is crucial in order to be on the cutting edge of the latest methods of gathering, accessing and distributing information,
• International cultural exchange: To build mutually beneficial relationships with the international community of arts and culture.
• Recognition and rewarding of excellence: To encourage the production and maintenance of excellence in all aspects of the arts.
• Marketing and branding: A comprehensive marketing strategy needs to be developed and implemented to underpin and sell the Western Cape as the cultural jewel of the country
• Funding: A mechanism to channel funding could be established to raise large scale funding and distribute this to events, infrastructure, education and training etc. This should meet the envisaged funding criteria.
• Excellent world- class institutions and companies: To invest in, and develop the world-class competitiveness of a range of cultural institutions and companies. In this regard let me add my voice to the many who have congratulated the organizers of the recently completed play 'Phantom of the Opera' that has been performed at the Artscape Theater. I wish them all the best with their upcoming performances in Pretoria and Shanghai.
• Partnerships: We will have to embark on strategic partnerships and joint ventures with private sector, and the arts and cultural agencies to take this plan forward.

The Cultural Commission currently administers seven cultural facilities of the department. There is a great need to have these facilities audited and transformed to reflect the cultural diversity of our Province. These facilities should also be used in a greater drive to enhance youth development.

In keeping with making the Western Cape a "Home for All", the Department will continue to be provide support and assistance with the organization of numerous "commemorative and other events". These events will continue to reflect the diversity of our Province and be a platform for expression.

"Heritage resources management"

This is one area that is critical to our future as a province and its people in the sense that it has a link with our past, present and future as a people. It is in this area that our individual and collective identities are constructed now, and will be reconstructed in the future. The Department together with Heritage Western Cape, are responsible for the protection of our cultural heritage treasures in the form of:

• Historical buildings,
• Open historical and cultural sites,
• Public monuments and memorial,
• Burial sites,
• Archaeological sites,
• Rock art,
• Public memory in general.

All these are part of our historical landscape which defines who we are. It is this landscape that will tell our children's children who their forefathers were. As much as human kind has a tendency to judge itself on the basis of its economic progress, the reality that we have to learn to accept is that "THE FUTURE OF A NATION DOES NOT NECESSARILY DEPEND ON MONEY ALONE, IT DEPENDS ON THE CONFIDENCE THE NATION HAS IN ITS OWN IDENTITY. THE IDENTITY OF A NATION IS CENTERED AROUND ITS CULTURE AND HERITAGE"

Having given this background, I would like to mention the fact that more than sixty percent of the country's officially protected cultural heritage is found in the Western Cape alone. The unfortunate part is that approximately seventy percent of this protected heritage is biased in favour of Eurocentric history. We have very few sites that relate to the history of the Khoi, the San, Xhosa Chiefdoms and Kingdoms, the Coloured, Indian and Malay and the rest of our people. It is against this background that my Ministry's key objective is to see to the transformation of the heritage and cultural landscape by declaring and protecting sites that are not of colonial origin. This does not mean that we are discarding our shared colonial heritage. We are simply affirming the diverse nature of our heritage by uplifting the previously marginalized to be on the same level with the rest. Our argument is that there was life before colonization and that part of our history needs to be traced and retrieved as a matter of urgency.

The following are the processes we will embark on:

• Re-assessment of former National Monuments (as required by Law).
• Reinterpretation of existing monuments as a form of redress of past imbalances on the one hand, and identification of our shared colonial heritage.
• Development of the necessary policies and procedures to drive this processes.
• Appointment of governance structures made of professionals and members of civil society (Councils and Committees).
• Arrest the destruction of historic buildings and other site of cultural significance through intervention and proactive measures.
• Finalize the appointment of qualified staff members to handle actual service delivery.

The budget allocation for this year is R4m and sixty percent of it, has gone into capacitation of structures for implementation. This includes staff, Council and its committees. The reason for this, is that there was a backlog of development permit applications that we had to eliminate. The backlog has so far been eliminated.

Somlomo, ndinovuyo ukukwazisa lendlu umthetho ozakugunyazisa ukuthewtha kwe-lwimi zontathu zeli phondo ukuba usendleleni.

Kwaye ndiyathemba ukuthi kwezinyanga zimbini zilandelayo uyobe sele ugqityiwe.

Somlomo ukusengelwa phantsi kwezinye iilwimi kweli phondo ingakumbi kwelimi isiXhosa kudaleke imiphumela emibi kuluntu lwakuthi. Ukusetyenziswa lwasemzini kubantu abangaluvayo lwenza abantu bangabinamdla wokuthatha inxaxheba kwinkqubo zika rhulumente, lonto itsho umntu angaziboni eyinxenye yeNthsona Kapa yomntu wonke. Ukuba sinyanisekile ukukwakha iKhaya lomntu wonke kufuneka sinyanzelise ukusetyenziswa kwelwimi zontathu kweli phondo.

Kukho abantu abaninzi abasengelwe phantsi amalungelo abo kuba kunyanzeleke basebenzise ulwimi lwasemzini babe bengalwazi. Bambi batshonile kwizisele zentolongo kuba kungekho mntu onokuguqula ncakasa ingxelo zabo ezinkundleni zamatyala. Maxawambi nathi singabaphathiswa sindwendwela iindawo sithethe ulwimi lwasemzini kwindawo ezingafanelekanga beshiya abantu bengavanga nowathwethwa.

Kuyanyanzeleka kengoko ukuba bonke abaphathiswa baqinisekise ukuba zikho iitoloki eziyakuguqula iintetha zabo kwindawo abathetha kuzo. If we are serious about making all people feel at Home, we should be prepared to pay for this. Kunyanzelekile kuzo zonke izakhiwo zika wonke-wonke siqinisekise ukuba kukho umntu othetha ezilwimi zontathu.

The Western Cape Language Committee further held a series of workshops on the Nama language in the Western Cape and involved all the Khoisan organisations. These workshops were aimed at creating awareness of the Nama language and culture This gave them an opportunity to rediscover a part of their linguistic and cultural heritage which ahd has been lost. It also allowed the Western Cape Language Committee to fulfill its legal mandate of actively developing the previously marginalised indigenous languages.

The Western Cape Language Committee holds isiXhosa Awareness and Multilingualism Awareness Campaigns annually During the last Multilingualism Awareness Week, political leaders and senior management of Government committed themselves to serving the people of the Western Cape in the language of their choice. Multilingualism Awareness Week this year is planned to coincide with Heritage Day.

In a further attempt to promote multilingualism in the Western Cape, the Western Cape Language Committee awards three bursaries for post graduate language-related studies annually to deserving students who are residents of the Western Cape and aim to pursue studies in one of the three official languages of the Western Cape, or the previously marginalised indigenous languages.

The Western Cape Government has not forgotten the needs of the Deaf. We are working in collaboration with the Deaf Federation Western Cape in this regard. The language policy on its own, is a policy on paper but we need to change the mindset of the people if we want to create this province as a Home for All. The tendency exists where we pay lip service to practising what we preach and often do not communicate in the language of our audience.

The Western Cape Provincial "Library Service" continues to fulfill its main strategic objectives, namely to supply relevant library material to all the inhabitants of the Western Cape through the affiliated libraries, and to make funds available to assist local authorities with the construction of new or upgrading of existing facilities in those areas where the need is most.

Currently 318 public libraries are registered with the Library Service.

The Library Service is one of the components that touches the lives of many of the inhabitants of this province. At the end of December 2003, more than 1.2 million inhabitants of the province (approximately 27% of the total population of the Western Cape Province) were members of a public library. These members borrowed 26 million items of library material.

During the past financial year R4 769 000 was spent on the building of new libraries or the upgrading of existing facilities. Funds were allocated to the municipalities of Overstrand and Langeberg to build new libraries for the communities of Hermanus and Slangrivier respectively. The Library Service also made funds available for the upgrading of existing facilities at Zuurbraak and Barrydale (Swellendam Municipality) and Rawsonville (Breede Valley Municipality)

The Library Service is also responsible for providing professional guidance to library workers and municipal authorities and for the promotion of public libraries.

The Library Service also publishes its own in-house journal, "Cape Librarian" which is widely used as an in-service training tool by affiliated public libraries. During the past financial year the promotion section actively promoted libraries and reading. The highlight was the annual "Library Week Campaign." As part of the 10 Years of Democracy campaign, the theme was Read and Discover Democracy.

After 10 years of democracy, it is also appropriate to look back on the phenomenal growth of the Western Cape Public Library Service.
(In 1994, 675 551 members were registered at 256 affiliated public libraries and 16 272 718 items of library material were issued to these members. In 2003, 1 195 001 registered library members at 317 affiliated public libraries borrowed 25 983 479 items of library material. These constitute an increase of 77% in membership, 24% in affiliated public libraries and a 60% increase in circulation.)

Speaker, the "Museum Service" renders management support and professional services to 28 affiliated museums in the Western Cape.

Our affiliated museums and traveling exhibitions drew just under a million visitors between April 2003 and March 2004.

The aim of the Museum Service is to add to the body of knowledge about the people of the Western Cape and their environment.

We are committed to -

• transforming museums so that (collectively) they reflect the diversity of origins and history of the people of the Western Cape;
• increasing the number of visitors to museums, especially learners; and
• maintaining high museological and ethical standards in museums.

Mr. Speaker, the achievement of our objectives will ensure the preservation of artefacts, specimens and their associated knowledge, and the promotion of and access to the body of knowledge held in trust for society by affiliated museums.

The Projected subsidies and grants for the 2004/05 financial year to Province Aided Museums (Subsidies) will amount to R1.265.000 and to our Local Museums (Grants-in-aid) will amount to R35.000.

The Draft Western Cape Archives Bill has been submitted to the Cabinet for introduction to the Provincial Legislature. The function will be taken over by my Department as soon as the agreement has been reached with the National Department of Arts and Culture.

The Department has undergone some measure of transformation, however, I am of the opinion that much more needs to be done. It is of particular concern to me, that certain units in my Department remain untransformed and this will be a key challenge for the Department. I however want to make the point that transformation is not just a matter of dealing with representivity. It is also about the transformation of mindsets and attitudes. Of note, is the perception that politicians come and go, and all else remains the same. This has to change as the circus is over. The department needs a committed civil service, to implement the strategic objectives of this Government.

Mr. Speaker, on 15 May 2004, FIFA awarded the hosting of the 2010 Soccer World Cup to our country. This surely brought much joy and happiness to the majority of our people, and rightly so, because we deserved it.

This honour brings with it a massive responsibility, as it is not just about the organisation of the events itself, but it is also about utilising the opportunities that will emanate from hosting this event to bring about socio-economic transformation. Fortunately, the Government of the Western Cape has realised this opportunity and responsibility and has already established a Cabinet Committee to develop plans that will prepare us to successfully discharge our responsibilities. We will be liasing very closely with local authorities to ensure that all institutions of Government are working closely to ensure the success of the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

Speaker, I have just returned from a very fruitful visit to Portugal. The purpose of this visit was to learn from the organizational acumen of the Euro 2004 Organizing Committee. I also held strategic meetings with the Minister of Sport in the Portuguese Government to learn of government's role in these events. We have discovered that as the host for 2010 a great deal of work still needs to be done to capacitate us to successfully host the event. I want to thank in particular, the Consul-General, Maria de Fatima Perestrello of Portugal for all the assistance that she has given to make this visit a success.

Central to our preparation for 2010 will be the development of soccer in the Province and the Soccer Summit, planned for 31 July 2004, will focus on the removal of all administrative problems facing football, and the adoption of a common vision towards 2010.

Our people will be at the centre of all our plans for 2010, as this opportunity will bring immense opportunities to Create Work and Fight Poverty.

Speaker, through the delivery of this speech, I have tried to illustrate how sport, recreation and culture can play a role to ensuring that the People's Contract is honoured. There is a perception that this Department is an events management organisation and a conveyor of funding to institutions and local governments. I will be making sure that this perception is changed and that this department becomes an agent of change to ensure that we contribute towards making the Western Cape a Home for All.

Mandilathathe elithuba ndibulele ungxa wam uPatrick Mckenzie ngethuba elincinci abenalo ukwazile ukodlala elungisa iintanda nengxondorha ezidalwe ngaba phambi kwakhe. Iyacaca indima ebeyizama ukulima ngelithuba abuyele ekhaya.