Youth Fund grant 'not used for opening ceremony'
The ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 has noted with distress recent media reports claiming that the Umsobomvu Youth Fund (UYF) funded the opening ceremony of the cricket spectacle to the tune of R3-million
WCOC Press Release
06-Mar-2003
The ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 has noted with distress recent media reports claiming that the Umsobomvu Youth Fund (UYF) funded the opening ceremony of the cricket spectacle to the tune of R3-million.
Earlier this week, the IFP Youth Brigade, and later the PAC and the UDM, were reported to have criticised the UYF for granting the ICC CWC 2003 the money, saying the funds should have been used to benefit the youth of this country.
"It is extremely unfortunate that the media actually ran with the story without familiarising themselves with the true facts," said the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003 Volunteers 2003 programme manager Herman Beetge.
"The fact is that the youth fund pledged R2-million to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003, but this money is envisaged to cover various costs of the Volunteers 2003 programme. At no stage was the money earmarked for the opening ceremony as that event had its own budget and separately organised volunteers," said Beetge.
"We are currently running a huge Volunteers 2003 programme at the stadiums where World Cup matches are being played, and so far we have received nothing but praise from members of the public for the role played by these purple-shirted volunteers. The success of this programme is based among others on contributions like those made by the UYF and we commend for this. It is unfortunate that instead of running a positive story about the volunteers, we are having to deal with false claims about the opening ceremony which was a huge success in its own right."
Beetge said the breakdown for the UYF grant was expected to be used as follows
Training Materials 389,676 Trainer & Co-ordinator workshop 29,089 Costs associated with processing of applications 103,000 Initial contact with trainees 37,597 Trainers' costs 153,154 Pilot projects 271,811 Meals & refreshments during training process (shared 50/50 with ICC CWC 2003) 514,039 Contribution towards transportation of trainees during training programme (shared 50/50 with ICC CWC 2003) 514,039 Total 2,012,405
"As can be seen from these figures, this was a highly involved programme and those who have been attending the matches can attest to the quality of our volunteers. They received high quality training and it is important that we look after them well with decent refreshments, transports and uniform to allow them to perform their duties with dignity and with their morale high.
"Also, the training the Volunteers 2003 received will benefit the youth who make up 90% of all volunteers and in all 35% of our volunteers are unemployed.
"We hope this puts the whole issue into perspective and that misperception created are corrected."