Question NW2553 to the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture

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13 December 2021 - NW2553

Profile picture: Malomane, Ms VP

Malomane, Ms VP to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture

Noting that numerous sporting bodies have been experiencing transformation and governance challenges which have a negative impact on the different sporting codes and that his department has been intervening in various sporting bodies, what has been the outcomes in building and strengthening sporting bodies such as (a) the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee and (b) other sporting bodies?

Reply:

Government, in terms of the National Sport and Recreation Act intervenes in the governance matters of sport when sports organisations themselves have had an opportunity to deal with whatever governance problems they encounter.

(a). With regard to SASCOC itself, the Department appointed a Task Team to help ensure that the recommendations of the Zulman Committee of Enquiry on governance are being implemented. Indeed, a final meeting is being planned on the matter between SASCOC and the Department.

Our agreement with SASCOC is that they first deal with challenges within National Federations on their own, before escalating them to the Department should they fail to resolves the issues. The Department is limited in its capacity and authority to deal with the matter directly.

(b). Several incidents relating to governance like in Basketball South Africa, have indeed brought to the attention of the Minister. The Minister has advised SASCOC to deal with the issues. A steering committee between SASCOC, DSAC and Basketball South Africa was set up that finalised a roadmap towards the successful Annual General meeting that ushered in new Provincial Affiliates and a new National Executive Committee.

In some cases, like in Cricket SA Minister has had to deal with them from his office and to that end, a new Board is in place based on the Nicholson Committee of Enquiry recommendations, and the organisation is now on an upward trajectory.

With regard to Transformation, a Transformation Commission, known as the Eminent Persons Group (EPG), is already in place, which developed the requisite templates to track progress in transformation and ensures that these are completed annually with recommendations being sent to the Minister for possible action.

National Federations that do not meet their own self-set transformation targets are liable to a range of penalties that are applied at the discretion of the Minister.

In terms of MOAs between DSAC (former SRSA), SASCOC and the 19 audited national federations in relation to the transformation of their respective sport, SASCOC has to assist DSAC in the proper implementation and execution of the project by the national federation. They have to further assist DSAC to coordinate and give effect to the satisfactory and proper implementation and execution of the EPG Audit Report and the undertakings by the national federation as and when required by DSAC in writing.

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