Effecacy of sport management processes and structures in Khayelitsha

Abstract

The research seeks to investigate processes and structures presently in Khayelitsha so as to ascertain whether they are operating, in such a manner that sporting people and government can rely on them to strike the balance needed, to reach a scenario where all the citizens of the country are afforded equal opportunities in sport. The White Paper (Revised: 2007) mentions the establishment of the Strategic, Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate to ensure focus remains on track with the latest development in sporting fraternity and that this is aligned with government priorities. However better resources are still handed out to advantaged communities. South African society has achieved somewhat miraculously, a stable democracy since the elections of 1994, but this new democracy has to realize that liberation comes with an added burden of responsibility. Hence communities and especially previously disadvantaged communities, need to even work harder to ensure social and an acceptable degree of economic transformation. The culture of entitlement needs to be discouraged in black townships. The Constitution, Provincial and Local policies allow for efficient sport management as sport is critical for development to take place. Sport is the most important vehicle to deepen democracy and bring about genuine transformation in society, forging unity of purpose at grassroots level so as to achieve same purpose and direction. Khayelitsha (as most of the black townships) has been hit by a wave of crime, drug abuse, alcohol abuse and gangsterism caused by the inactivity of youth. Sport can act as a catalyst to minimise tensions and maximise peace and harmony. This research focused on the efficacy of sport management processes and structures in Khayelitsha. It examined issues of provisioning, accessibility and maintenance of sport facilities in order to guarantee mass participation and infinite activism in sport.