Cultural Affairs and Sport

Response: Part 1

Dear Honourable Members,

Thank you for the interpellation and for the opportunity to address the house on a matter of critical importance. The recent incident in Knysna is a stark reminder of the challenges we face as a nation, and it underscores the urgency of our collective efforts to build a truly cohesive and non-racial society.

In response to the first question regarding the measures our Department is implementing to combat racism among the youth, I can report that our strategy is multi-faceted and proactive throughout the various components of the Department. It is anchored in our vision of creating an inclusive and equitable environment through sport, recreation, arts, culture, and heritage.

Our approach is preventative and developmental, using sport and recreation as vehicles to promote respect, inclusion, and non-racialism. All departmental sport development programmes are designed to bring young people together across racial, cultural, and socio-economic divides, creating safe and structured environments that actively discourage discrimination and exclusion.

Specific measures include:

1. The Department’s broader mandate is anchored in the Provincial Strategic Plan identifies Cohesive Communities and Youth Agency as critical levers for reducing societal polarization by strengthening social cohesion and non-racialism on Mandela Day, we — young people from the Year Beyond programme — planted trees with the Premier in Caledon, practically acknowledging and celebrating diversity

2. National and Provincial Mass Participation Events (such as Big Walk, Move for Health Day, and Indigenous Games), which are deliberately inclusive, mixing urban and rural communities and exposing youth to the richness of South Africa’s sporting and cultural diversity.

3. Shared Facilities Programme, which provides multi-code, accessible infrastructure in priority communities such as Lavender Hill, Beaufort West, and George. These shared spaces are intentionally designed as common ground where people from diverse backgrounds participate together. As part of the Youth Agency, we – young people from diverse backgrounds – came together to participate in the National Winter School Championship, where we won gold. This is a powerful example of how we unite people through shared goals and teamwork

4. Indigenous Games and Heritage-linked Sport Events, which promote cultural pride and mutual respect by celebrating traditions of different communities in a non-racial, inclusive manner. [Oudtshoor Example]

5. Pathways and Platforms for Inclusion: All sport and recreation programmes are aligned to the Department’s three outcome pillars, Participation, Platforms, and Pathways. These outcomes explicitly aim to foster inclusive opportunities, enhance social bonds, and expand access to safe spaces where youth interact across historical divides.

6. Collaborative Governance through the Managed Network Model, which brings together schools, federations, NGOs, municipalities, and community organisations to co-deliver programmes. This model strengthens trust, accountability, and shared values across society.

7. Club Development and Community Sport Programmes, which support local clubs, leagues, and festivals that integrate youth across communities, building peer networks based on fair play, respect, and teamwork rather than racial identity. This along with Federation Support and Athlete Development, where transformation targets are built into agreements with federations, ensuring that teams and opportunities reflect the diversity of the province

8. The Mass Participation, Opportunity and Access, Development and Growth (MOD) Programme, which provides daily after-school sport and recreation activities to learners in 315 centres across the province, creating inclusive environments where diversity is celebrated and racism is actively confronted.

DCAS sport development programmes — from MOD Centres and school leagues to club development and national events — aim to bridge divides, instil values of fairness and respect, and promote non-racialism. These initiatives help combat racism, strengthen social cohesion, and build a more inclusive Western Cape.

The YearBeyond Planet Youth Programme targets at-risk behaviours among Grade 8 and 9 learners, including in George. Through surveys and mentorship, it promotes positive peer networks and resilience, offering youth meaningful alternatives to harmful behaviours.

Museums provide safe spaces for youth to explore South Africa’s history and engage in dialogue about racism. Institutions like the District Six Museum use exhibitions and educational programmes to address apartheid’s legacy and encourage empathy, critical thinking, and active participation in building a just, inclusive future.

Libraries in the Western Cape foster social cohesion by offering inclusive spaces and diverse collections that reflect multiple cultures and languages. Programmes like reading clubs and cultural workshops promote understanding and shared identity among youth across racial lines.

The arts programme brings together youth from diverse and rural backgrounds to collaborate on creative projects. By showcasing their work through festivals and exhibitions, the programme celebrates cultural diversity and builds a shared sense of community. Strong partnerships with public, private, and civil society sectors enhance its impact on anti-racism and social cohesion.

Response Part 2:

In addressing the second question on how the Department is strengthening programmes that promote social cohesion and non-racialism, our focus is on leveraging partnerships and existing frameworks to maximise our impact.

We recognise that social cohesion is the glue that binds a society together, and our work in this area is guided by our commitment to fostering a sense of belonging and participation for all citizens. We are strengthening our social cohesion initiatives by:

• Investing in Youth at Risk:

As a Department, we have prioritised investment in youth by focusing on learners at risk and engaging them in after-school programmes to reduce their risk profile. This forms part of the broader Provincial Youth Development Strategy which aims to empower young people to be responsible, independent, and productive citizens.

• Utilising Arts and Culture:

Through various workshops and community conversations, such as those held in Khayelitsha, we use arts and culture as a platform for dialogue. These engagements bring people together to discuss shared challenges and find common ground. Attendees at these events have agreed that arts and culture programmes provide a sense of belonging and can strengthen community cohesion.

These measures, Honourable Speaker, are not merely a reaction to an isolated incident but are part of our ongoing, long-term commitment to building a Western Cape where prejudice has no place and where every young person feels a sense of inclusion, safety, and belonging.

I thank you.