R5.2 million for Gauteng Sport Awards: Where else could funds be spent?

The Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation (SACR) is being accused of prioritising glitz over athletic prestige.

Opposition in the provincial legislature flagged the cost of the recent Gauteng Sport Awards (GSA), suggesting the funds could have been spent elsewhere.

R5 million spent on awards

The department, through the Gauteng Sport Confederation, spent R5.2 million on the awards – with 21% of that spent directly on the athletes.

Hosted at the University of Johannesburg in November, the GSA acknowledged the province’s finest via 19 awards categories.

Prize money of R15 000 was given to each of the 40 finalists, as well as another R25 000 to each of the 19 category winners.

The total budget for the awards ceremony was R5 million and an additional R225 000 was spent on the announcement ceremony at Emirates Airline Park the month before the awards night.

MEC for SACR Matome Chiloane confirmed in a recent written response to a question posed by the DA that all R5 million budgeted had been exhausted.

As well as the R1.1 million that went to the prize money, the MEC wrote that the remainder went to catering, stage decorations, sound entertainment and programme hosts.

“The rest was wasted on extravagant wining and dining by politicians and celebrities. This is not honouring excellence, but looting,” stated DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for SACR, Kingsol Chabalala.

Cost of sports infrastructure

While the cost of hosting an event can vary wildly based on requirements, the cost of sports infrastructure is less fluid.

A soccer field in Alexandra was refurbished by a sports retailer at a cost of R1.6 million, while a club cricket pitch can cost in the region of R20 000 to relay.

Winner of the Federation of the Year prize at the GSA was Gauteng North Athletics. A national turf installer has given details on the cost relevant to that sport.

Head of Sales at Synsport, Dylan Wagner, told The Citizen that a tartan athletics track can cost in the region of R1 million per lane, pushing an eight-lane competition track close to R10 million.

Gauteng’s community tennis courts are in a dire state, with Wagner saying a court resurfacing was in the range of R900 000 per court.  

“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,” stated Chabalala.

Gauteng sports budget

The DA said it would be pursuing a breakdown of how the provincial government would be spending its sizeable budget.

MEC for Finance Lebogang Maile announced in March that R3.1 billion had been allocated to the SACR department over the next three years.

“These resources are aimed at integrating sports and the arts into community development plans with a view to promoting arts and culture into educational settings,” stated Maile.

The MEC said more events were on the way, such as boxing tournaments and marathons through a three-year investment of R126 million.

Additionally, R24 million has been set aside for holiday programmes promoted by Premier Panyaza Lesufi and six indigenous games tournaments.

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