Cape town: Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has tabled a R6.3 billion budget this morning that he believes will help unlock local talent in both the sports, and arts and culture sectors. McKenzie emphasized the importance of change and providing access and opportunities for talent development, stating that the budget will focus on investing in sports, arts, culture, and heritage preservation for the 2025/26 financial year.

According to South African Government News Agency, the budget under Programme 2, Recreation Development and Sport Promotion, the Minister announced an allocation of R1.281 billion. An additional R98.5 million will be directed towards federation support, which includes providing shared office spaces for federations and funding for equipment, attire, training, and employment opportunities in various sports.

Under Programme 4, Heritage Promotion and Preservation, R2.787 billion has been set aside, with R1.6 billion dedicated to library infrastructure. The Minister also highlighted ongoing efforts to repatriate the remains of South African freedom fighters and ancestors, with negotiations underway with Scottish authorities to return Khoi and San ancestors’ remains by September 2025. The reburial process for 58 ancestral remains from the Northern Cape is nearing completion, guided by the Northern Cape Reburial Task Team.

The ministry is launching a campaign titled “Reimagining South African Heritage for a New Era” to modernize museums and increase visitor engagement. A significant project under this initiative is the revamp of Robben Island.

For Programme 3, Arts and Culture Promotion and Development, R1.725 billion is allocated to enhance skills and transform the cultural and creative industries. The department plans to recruit and place 300 young people to improve their employment prospects in creative fields.

Interim boards for 17 sector clusters within the cultural and creative industry have been established to organize sectors, promote collaboration, and address issues such as copyright protection and fair labor practices. The boards will receive a total budget of R34 million to support their operations. McKenzie acknowledged the ongoing challenges faced by creatives, emphasizing the need for positive change in their lives.