Question NW3847 to the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture
02 November 2022 - NW3847
Denner, Ms H to ask the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture
(1) whether membership fees for the SA Sport Association for the Intellectually Impaired (SASA-II) to the International Sports Federation for Persons with Intellectual Disability (VIRTUS) are paid up to date, if not, (a) why not, (b) what is being done to ensure that the membership fees are paid and (c) by what date will payment be made in full. (2) whether he has been informed that if SASA-II’s membership fees to the international organisation, VIRTUS, are not paid in full South African athletes who are members of SASA-II will not be able to take part in the 2024 Paralympic Games; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details. (3) whether he will make a statement on the matter?
Reply:
1. The application for Annual Grant funding submitted by the South African Sport Association for the Intellectually Impaired (SASA-II) includes a request for funding to cover outstanding affiliation fees owed to the VIRTUS (World Intellectual Impairment Sport) which is R15,000 and Sport Union Down Syndrome, which is R22,175. An indication is that these fees are for the period 2018 to date. SASA-II is affiliated with both VIRTUS and Sport Union Down Syndrome. Based on this it can therefore be deduced that affiliation fees to these International Organizations are not paid to date by SASA-II.
(a). The indication from SASA-II is that the organization is suspended by both International Organizations, therefore, making it impossible for them to renew their membership.
(b). SASA-II is engaging the relevant international bodies to address their suspension in order to be able to pay the affiliation fees. The Department would make available to SASA-II the affiliation fees amounting to R37,175. This is dependent on SASA-II meeting all compliance requirements.
(c). The date by which payment will be made cannot be determined because it is dependent on the lifting of SASA-II suspension status by international organizations.