Government proposes changes to Sports, Arts, and Social Development Fund
By Rama Mohammed |
The government has proposed amendments to the Sports, Arts, and Social Development Fund to narrow its focus exclusively to sports and arts initiatives. If approved, the changes will remove social programs from the fund’s scope, prioritizing infrastructure development, equipment provision, and direct support for athletes and artists.
The government has proposed changes to the Sports, Arts, and Social Development (SASD) Fund to focus only on sports and arts initiatives.
In a statement, the National Treasury announced the plan to amend the fund’s mandate.
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The SASD Fund, created in 2018 under the Public Finance Management Regulations, currently supports sports, arts, and social programs, including universal health care. The proposed changes will remove social development programs and focus only on developing and promoting sports and arts.
“The amendments will limit the Fund’s mandate to supporting sports and arts. It will also clarify how the Fund is managed,” the National Treasury said.
If Parliament approves the proposal, the Fund will prioritize building sports and arts facilities, supporting athletes, artists, and related organizations and providing equipment for sports and arts.
The National Treasury added that the changes aim to make the Fund more effective in helping these sectors.
A task force, including officials from the Sports Department, Culture Department, SASD Fund administrators, and the Treasury, developed the draft amendments.
Public participation has been opened, and the Treasury has asked stakeholders to share their views on the proposed changes before the draft is taken to Parliament.
“The public can submit their comments on the draft amendments through the format provided on our website,” the Treasury said.
Since its launch, the SASD Fund has been praised for supporting sports and arts but criticized for spreading its resources too thin by covering too many areas.
The government hopes that narrowing the Fund’s focus will help athletes, artists, and cultural groups access better funding. Local sports teams and cultural institutions, which often lack enough financial support, are expected to benefit the most.
Improved sports and arts infrastructure, such as stadiums and art galleries, is also expected under the new plan.
Once public feedback is reviewed, the draft amendments will be presented to Parliament for debate and approval. If passed, this move will signal the government’s commitment to making sports and arts central to national development.
The public has until the set deadline to give feedback, after which lawmakers will decide the future of the SASD Fund.
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