Question NW2376 to the Ms. B.J Dlomo to ask the Minister of Sport and Recreation

Reply:

In response to question 1 (a) in relation to violence in stadia:

The former Minister of Sport and Recreation established the FNB Stadium Committee of Inquiry to investigate the facts and reasons that led to the death of two soccer fans and injury to others at the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg. The FNB Committee of Inquiry was subsequently withdrawn as a result of legal technicalities, hence the current Minister of Sport and Recreation decided to approach the President of the Republic to request his Excellency to consider appointing a fully ledged Commission of Inquiry to investigate the tendency to perpetuate violence in stadia in the Republic by soccer fans inclusive of any other violence in sport (e.g. the violence at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria and more recently at the Moses Mabida in Durban, etc.). The President of the Republic has recently referred the request of the Department to establish a Commission of Inquiry to the Department of Justice and Correctional Services. SubsequenUy a meeting was held between the Ministries of Justice and Sport and Recreation to clarify issues and to seek solutions in the above regard.

In In response to question 1(b) in relation to addressing the problems in the sports confederation:

The SASCOC Committee of Inquiry has already finalised its extensive report (more than 140 pages) with regard to the Sports Confederation and has recently submitted its findings, recommendations and observations inclusive of its Executive Summary to the Minister for her perusal and consideration via the normal Departmental channels. The Minister has already perused the report and concurred wholeheartedly the proposed the recommendations as proposed by the SASCOC Committee of Inquiry.

Subsequently the Minister has submitted the report and its Summary to -

• SASCOC;

• the International Olympic Committee ("IOC");

• the International Paralympic Committee ("IPC");

• Mr. TUBBY REDDY
 

for their respective written responses. All their responses are currently being assimilated so as to put the Minister in a favourable position to apply her mind fully insofar as decisions and actions to be considered on the way forward before releasing the said report.

In response to question 2 in relation to what date does she intend to brief the Portfolio Committee on Sport and Recreation regarding the progress:

In relation to stadia violence, the Minister will brief the Portfolio Committee on Sport and Recreation on the progress with regard to the request to the President of Republic for appointing a formal Commission of Inquiry as and when the issues to be clarified and resolved between the Ministries of Justice and Sport and Recreation as referred to earlier have been finalized.

Moreover, the Minister intends to update the Portfolio Committee on Sport and Recreation regarding the progress in relation to SASCOC Committee of Inquiry in December after applying her mind to the responses that she has now received from SASCOC, the IOC, the IPC and Mr. TUBBY REDDY in relation to the findings, recommendations and observations as proposed by the Committee.

MS. T. XASA, MP

MINISTER OF SPORT AND RECREATION