The Portfolio Committee on Sport and Recreation is pleased with the briefing it received from South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) on preparation and performance at Commonwealth Games, developments in Athletics South Africa and on progress with regards to the South African Football Association (SAFA).
The Committee is satisfied with the briefing on the progress and preparation of the country’s athletes for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. There was, however, a disappointment expressed by SASCOC and the Committee regarding the performance of Team SA at the Youth Olympic Games held in Nianjing, China in August. South Africa could only manage to get one medal. The Committee is happy with the commitment made by SASCOC of ensuring that the country’s athletes will bring back 10 medals from the Rio Olympics Games.
The Committee is also pleased to hear that the situation at Athletics South Africa (ASA) is stabilising after the election of the new president. The Committee is aware of the financial challenges that ASA inherited from its previous management and hopes that these challenges will be addressed and the federation will be fully prepared for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. SASCOC has been able to hold meetings with the new board of ASA and has been given an assurance that there will be a turnaround in the affairs of South African athletics.
The Committee is particularly pleased to hear of the intervention SASCOC has made in the case of long jumper, Mr Luvo Manyonga. The Committee has been concerned with the case of Luvo Manyonga and is pleased to learn that SASCOC and ASA are taking a keen interest in Luvo Manyonga’s situation.
The Committee welcomes the report from SASCOC’s President, Mr Gideon Sam, on the role SASCOC is playing in assisting SAFA with the training and development of coaches, academy system incorporating the provincial and district academies and preparation and delivery of Team SA where football is part of Team SA. The Committee also welcomed the report that SAFA’s audited financial statements showed a R12 million surplus.
The Committee is concerned about the negative effects of sport facilities that are managed by municipalities being vandalised because of not being utilised for sport. The Committee believes that it is necessary to build a relationship between South African Local Government Association (SALGA), SASCOC and federations to address the issue of sport facilities, particularly in disadvantaged communities, not being utilised.
The Committee is aware that municipalities receive a 15% Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) annually and believes that the 15 % MIG should be re-in fenced into the Department of Sport and Recreation in order for the Department to be responsible for the development and maintenance of sport facilities through the provincial departments of Sport. This will also curb the current problem of sport facilities that are vandalised in some areas because of non-use.
Enquiries:
Faith Kwaza
Tel: 021403 8062
Cell: 072 122 0371
E-mail: fkwaza@parliament.gov.za
