Note to editors: Please find attached an English soundbite by Kingsol Chabalala MPL.
The Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture, and Recreation (SACR) has allocated a mere R790 000 to honour top-performing athletes despite having a budget of R5.2 million for the Gauteng Sports Awards (GSA).
From this budget, over R4.4 million was spent on build-up events and the award ceremony despite crumbling sporting facilities.
This shocking information was revealed in a written replies by Gauteng MEC for SACR, Matome Chiloane, to DA questions in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (GPL).
See full replies here and here.
A mere 16% of the GSA budget went to empowering athletes, while the rest was wasted on extravagant wining and dining by politicians and celebrities. This is not honouring excellence but looting.
Premier Panyaza Lesufi praises his government for supporting young athletes with quality training facilities but fails to hold the GDSACR accountable for wasteful spending.
The DA has tabled follow-up questions to MEC Chiloane to ascertain how the GSA budget was spent and will push for him to account for neglecting athletes before the Portfolio Committee for SACR.
A DA-led Gauteng provincial government would prioritise the interests of athletes by investing in sporting infrastructure development rather than wasting millions on single-day parties.