Every child in South Africa should participate in sports and arts – Department of Basic Education

Elijah Mhlanga of the Department of Basic Education joins Africa Melane.

Listen below.

The government has announced a new collaboration between two departments to unlock talent and boost sports and arts transformation.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Department of Basic Education and the Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture.

The partnership aims to progressively transform access to both sports and cultural programmes in schools.

It follows the success of teenage Olympic silver medallist Bayanda Walaza who was given a hero's welcome when he returned to school from the Paris Olympics last month

Mlhanga says the collaboration is designed to ensure that every child, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to thrive in sport and the arts.

"It's really about activities that build a young person into a complete human being with interests in various things that are supported so they can be the best they can be."

- Elijah Mhlanga, Department of Basic Education

Mlhanga says the plan is a collaboration between the DBE and Gayton McKenzie's Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, which he says has a broad mandate.

"They are also responsible for ensuring children have access to facilities that will help them to discover their talent and be supported."

- Elijah Mhlanga, Department of Basic Education

Mhlanga says schools will need to collaborate too.

"Our 24,800 schools, they have sports grounds basic facilities than can help them to engage in these activities. If a school doesn't, the one next door should."

- Elijah Mhlanga, Department of Basic Education

"The collaboration happening at ministerial level, has to happen at community level."

- Elijah Mhlanga, Department of Basic Education

ALSO READ: WATCH: SA's teen Olympic silver medallist returns to joyous welcome at school

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.