The purpose of the Advisory Committee would be to advise the ministry, recreation and sporting federations, amongst others.
The establishment of the Committee follows the outcomes and recommendations from the National Sport and Recreation Indaba last year which was approved by the Cabinet and the Sport Portfolio Committee.
Asked what were the terms of the reference for the Committee, Mbalula said amongst others, would be to identify key stakeholders to drive and promote sport and recreation strategy; advise on weaknesses and current recreation landscapes; retrace the road traversed since SA resolved to designate recreation as one of the government programmes and to provide technical and professional advise to the Ministry.
The Committee comprises of leading figures within sport, business, corporate and public sector and government.
“This would help us in reshaping the recreation and sport in our country. The Committee’s task would be to help in identifying problems we as the Department would have not be aware of, engaging with sport federations and making informed decisions,” says Mbalula.
“These capable women and men are tasked by our government to assist the Department in the process of putting in place an overarching recreation discourse and strategy within our society and also position recreation at the centre of the developmental agenda of the state.”
Chairperson: Dr Goslin Anneliese, deputy Robert Marawa, Cynthia Chaka, Mxolisi Lindie, Michael Mthembu, William Chuene, Prof Marion Keim Lees, Maribo Mamabolo, Sabelo Gwala and Ntombise Mene.
The term of the Committee is three-years.
Meanwhile, the Beyonce saga still rages on even though the Departmental Spokesperson Paena Galane assured the country that no public funds would be affected.
The vivacious star has been scheduled to perform in SA for the annual National Sport Awards to be held later October in Sun-City this year.
This follows unconfirmed reports that the department has allocated an estimated R17m for her appearance.
According to Galane, the department has invited companies to bid and come up with recommendations on how to improve the image of the awards and solicit the likes of Beyonce, amongst others.
“We did not go on record to state that the department will provide the money for her appearance. That is untrue,” he said.
In weeks to come we will announce the winning company to host the awards, and then the Beyonce issue will be addressed accordingly, says Galane.
