School sport gets lion’s share of grant funding

While the Department of Basic Education and the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) held the 2025 National School Sports Championship earlier this month, questions have been raised about the progress of strengthening school sport.

This is especially a concern in under-resourced schools.

In a written parliamentary reply posed by MP Nkhensani Bilankulu, Sport Minister Gayton McKenzie confirmed that school sport remains a national priority.

“The Mass Participation Conditional Grant, it receives more allocation than any other programme, which is 40% of the total Conditional Grant allocation,” he said.

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R250 million allocated

For the 2024/25 financial year, school sports received an allocation of R252 million.

A slightly lower R250 million has been set aside for 2025/26.

The funding is channelled through the Mass Participation Conditional Grant to support initiatives agreed upon in the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with DBE.

“The grant is meant to ensure that the Department implements its commitment in the MoA to promote sport in schools by establishing school sport leagues, sport equipment and attire, training teachers, staging the District, Provincial and National School Sport Championships and creating employment for school sport coordinators,” said McKenzie.

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More than 16 000 places supported

According to the ministry, a total of 16 490 schools, hubs and clubs in quintile one to three communities have received support under this programme.

However, the number of supported schools appears to have decreased over time:

• 2021/22: 4 732
• 2022/23: 4 165
• 2023/24: 4 421
• 2024/25: 3 172

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Inclusivity prioritised

The minister said the department has introduced “regular participation guidelines” across various sporting codes to stimulate engagement at the grassroots level.

“These guidelines are meant to ensure that the provinces, sport federations and school sport structures work together. [They aim] to develop programmes that will stimulate participation regularly in schools,” McKenzie explained.

These include the development of school sport leagues, gymnastics displays, athletics meetings, as well as school swimming galas.

He further noted that the department’s programmes are inclusive, with a strong focus on designated groups.

“In all our programmes, there is the inclusion of all sectors of our community. This includes all designated groups of people living with a disability, women and young people,” McKenzie added.

In conclusion, he said that the department has the highest participation in the programme from such sections in the society.

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