Cultural Affairs and Sport
(a) (i) What were the reasons for his recent travel to Europe and (ii) what were the dates
of his travel, (b)(i) with whom did he meet and (ii) what were the reasons for each
meeting, (c) what contribution did he and his Department make to ensure the safe return
of South African children who were stranded in Portugal and (d) what contribution did
the national government make in this regard?
- (i) What were the reasons for his recent travel to Europe and (ii) what were the dates of his travel?
Response:
The purpose of my official visit to Europe was to engage in a high-level cultural diplomacy and institutional cooperation programme across Madrid and San Sebastián, Spain, 14 to 24 July 2025. The visit formed part of the Western Cape Government’s efforts to position the province as a global hub for events, and cultural exchange, in line with our strategic priorities. This included engagement with global cultural institutions such as the Ministry for Culture, Tourism and Sport of the Madrid Regional Government, Local Organising Committee of the San Sebastián Jazzaldia Festival (one of Europe’s longest-running jazz festival), leading theatres, and international academic networks to advance opportunities for youth and creatives and furtherance of events in the cultural sector in the Western Cape as we believe events create jobs.
(b)(i) With whom did the Minister meet and (ii) what were the reasons for each meeting?
During the visit to Spain from 14 to 24 July 2025, I undertook a series of strategic bilateral engagements with senior officials, cultural institutions, and festival organisers across Madrid and San Sebastián. These meetings were designed to strengthen international partnerships, benchmark global best practice in cultural infrastructure and event innovation and enhance the Western Cape’s positioning in the global cultural and creative economy.
The following engagements were held:
- Luis Martín Izquierdo, Vice-Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport of the Madrid Regional Government, Community of Madrid Government Engagement: Intergovernmental Cultural Policy Dialogue
- Purpose: To understand regional funding models, coordination of cultural infrastructure, and the role of provincial authorities in shaping inclusive cultural ecosystems and funding for the Creative industry as a government.
- Director and Programme Team, Canal Theatres, Madrid
- Engagement: Institutional Briefing and Site Walkthrough
- Purpose: To engage on governance, programming, and public-private partnership models for large-scale performing arts venues.
- Mr. Santiago Herrero, Director-General: Cultural Cooperation, Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Engagement: High-Level Bilateral Cultural Policy Dialogue
- Purpose: To understand Spain’s global cultural cooperation strategy, with a focus on South–South exchange, heritage diplomacy, and cultural economy partnerships with regional governments.
- Mr. Jose-Francisco Herrera, Director: International Relations, City of Madrid
- Engagement: City Cultural Diplomacy Briefing
- Purpose: To assess Madrid’s metropolitan cultural diplomacy model and explore opportunities for city-to-city exchange and cooperation between Madrid and municipalities in the Western Cape.
- Mr. Gonzalo Leiva, Cultural Infrastructure Liaison
- Engagement: Site Visit – Matadero Madrid
- Purpose: To explore innovative models for repurposing industrial spaces into multidisciplinary arts precincts and draw lessons for the Western Cape’s infrastructure-led youth and creative economy agenda.
- Senior Fellows and Programme Leads, Daniel Liang Xu, Norman Foster Institute, Madrid
- Engagement: Knowledge Exchange Roundtable
- Purpose: To explore sustainable spatial design for cultural precincts and align architectural innovation with community regeneration objectives and how these can benefit municipalities in the Western Cape.
- Mr. Miguel Martín, Director: Jazzaldia Festival
- Engagement: Attendance and Observational Study – 60th San Sebastián Jazzaldia Festival
- Purpose: To observe international festival planning and production; identify sustainable funding models, youth engagement strategies, and public-private coordination mechanisms that could inform the Western Cape’s own events and festival frameworks.
- Heineken España, Loreto Somovilla, and the Jazzaldia Local Organising Committee
- Engagement: Partnership Dialogue and Venue Walkthrough
- Purpose: To assess opportunities for private sector alignment with government events, with a focus on tourism, youth music platforms, and live event innovation.
These engagements sought to unlock real, future-facing opportunities for our provincial creatives and students while benchmarking global best practice in creative governance, arts investment models, and international event strategy.
(c) What contribution did he and his Department make to ensure the safe return of South African children who were stranded in Portugal?
Response:
While the official mission was focused on Spain, I was alerted, while abroad, to the urgent humanitarian situation involving 28 South African minors and youth coaches from the Western Cape, who had become stranded in Lisbon, Portugal, after participating in a privately arranged football tour in Spain.
Backgroun: On Monday, 21 July 2025, I engaged in a series of urgent telephonic discussions regarding the BT Football Academy crisis. These included:
- Several calls with Mr Brandon Timmy, Chairperson of BT Football Academy
- An afternoon call with Naz from NazTravel, and
- Ongoing engagements throughout the day with Mr Avukile, acting on behalf of the Tracey Lange Cares Initiative.
These conversations made it unequivocally clear that no return flight arrangements had been made for the stranded tour group. This was further verified by Mr. Brandon Timmy through both telephonic and written communications (WhatsApp). These exchanges informed my subsequent decisions and actions.
Prior to departing for Lisbon, I sought formal guidance from the Head of Department and Chief Director Dr Lyndon Bouah. Following these consultations, I facilitated direct contact between Dr Bouah and Mr Avukile, who was coordinating fundraising and logistical efforts from South Africa. Their engagement was vital in ascertaining the extent of assistance required to ensure the safe return of the 28 stranded youth and coaches.
I departed San Sebastián at 13h40 and arrived in Lisbon at 15h40 on the same day, Monday 21 July 2025. Prior to my arrival, I had also established a WhatsApp coordination group including Dr Bouah and Mr Avukile to streamline communication across all support partners.
By the time I arrived in Madrid earlier that day, I had been informed, via Mr Avukile and with support from my Head of Ministry, Mr Michael Pardenwachter, that approximately 50% of the required fundraising target had been reached.
Approximately one hour after my arrival in Lisbon, and following a ground engagement with the affected youth at a local park, I was joined by the coaching staff, Mr Carl le Roux, Chargé d’Affaires at the South African Embassy in Portugal, and several South African expatriates residing in Lisbon, who had mobilised to provide moral and logistical support.
It was during this meeting that I received confirmation via telephone that the full fundraising target had allegedly been met to secure the return flights, thus removing the need for government funding contributions.
These events and decisions were made under intense time pressure and in real-time coordination with civil society, provincial officials, diplomatic representatives, and diaspora support networks.
Crucially, by the time I landed in Lisbon, I was alerted that the crowdfunding campaign had reached close to its full target, and within an hour of arrival, the remaining funds were confirmed. This ensured that all logistical needs could be met and that return travel was secured without delay by the Tracey Lange Cares initiative.
The Western Cape Government’s contribution, through the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport and my Office, included:
- Coordinating directly with the South African Embassy in Lisbon to assess needs, verify facts, and ensure immediate diplomatic support.
- Convening on-the-ground briefings with the three coaches, community volunteers, and stranded youth to evaluate wellbeing, logistics, and risks.
- Communicating transparently with parents via a WhatsApp coordination group.
(d) What contribution did the national government make in this regard?
Response:
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), through the South African Embassy in Lisbon, played an instrumental diplomatic role by, as confirmed in formal correspondence from Mr Carl le Roux, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. of the South African Embassy in Lisbon, dated 22 July 2025. ( see attached)
