The Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation (SACR) has drawn heavy criticism for allegedly favouring glamour over genuine sporting development. This comes after it was revealed that the Gauteng Sport Awards (GSA), held in November at the University of Johannesburg, cost taxpayers R5.2 million.
Just 21% Spent on Athletes
Of the R5.2 million budget, only R1.1 million (21%) was reportedly directed towards athletes. Each of the 40 finalists received R15,000 in prize money, with a further R25,000 awarded to the 19 winners across various categories. An additional R225,000 was spent on the awards announcement ceremony held at Emirates Airline Park a month prior to the main event.
In a written reply to a question in the provincial legislature, SACR MEC Matome Chiloane confirmed that the full R5 million allocated for the ceremony had been used. The remainder of the budget, according to his response, covered catering, venue decorations, entertainment, and programme hosts.
Opposition Slams Extravagance
This has not sat well with critics. DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for SACR, Kingsol Chabalala, slammed the department’s priorities, saying the money was used for “extravagant wining and dining by politicians and celebrities,” rather than for honouring athletic excellence. He went as far as to describe the event as “looting in disguise.”
Infrastructure Needs Ignored
The backlash centres around the opportunity cost of the R5 million spent. Comparisons have been drawn between the lavish ceremony and the dire state of local sports infrastructure. For instance, a refurbished soccer field in Alexandra recently cost just R1.6 million, while resurfacing a single community tennis court comes in at about R900,000.
An eight-lane athletics track can cost nearly R10 million, and a club cricket pitch could be re-laid for around R20,000. Critics argue that the money used for the GSA could have gone a long way toward uplifting struggling facilities in townships and under-resourced communities.
Call for Transparent Budgeting
The DA has vowed to push for a detailed breakdown of SACR’s future expenditure plans, particularly in light of the R3.1 billion allocated to the department over the next three years. MEC for Finance Lebogang Maile confirmed this allocation during a budget speech in March, indicating that the funds would support integrating sports and the arts into community development and education.
Among the planned initiatives are boxing tournaments, marathons, and indigenous games tournaments, with R126 million allocated for events and R24 million earmarked for youth holiday programmes.
Gauteng Sport Awards: Ceremony or Community?
While recognising sporting talent is vital, many in the province are questioning whether the current balance between celebration and development is right. The debate around the Gauteng Sport Awards highlights growing concern that substantial funds meant to empower communities and athletes are instead being redirected to once-off ceremonial events. Moving forward, residents will be watching closely to see whether future spending truly benefits grassroots sport in the country.
Related article: Gauteng Sports Awards recap
