1. HON. Members, participation in school athletic activities is an important means for students to engage eaningfully with their education, increase academic performance and attendance and provide life skills taught through sports-based youth development. The decrease in funding of school sports programs, increased fees and the increased costs of equipment and transportation have disadvantaged many students.
2. Generally it is communities and individuals with the most needs that have been hit the hardest.  Many young people are vulnerable to the risk of obesity, depression, maintaining a healthy weight, preventing chronic diseases, substance abuse, crime or gang activities, truancy, and dropping out of school, in the absence of healthy experiences outside of the  classroom environment.
3. The importance of sports and games in school encompasses more than just the benefit of physical activity.  It empowers and motivates youth, promotes higher  self-esteem and mental alertness and makes school sports and games necessary for school students.
4. HON. MEC, we need to clarify the role of private sports facilities regarding its controlling authorities, the issue of licencing and the regulation of these facilities.
5. It is the MF’s view that these private facilities should be controlled by Sports and Recreation and not Social Development.
6. The MF supports the Department’s plans to construct 68 sports and recreation facilities during this financial year, and the partnership with the Prime Human Performance Institute to promote transformation in sport.
7. HON. Members, the MF supports this budget of R463,5 million.

Thank You.

Shameen Thakur- Rajbansi

Minority Front  MPL KZN Legislature