Question NW4074 to the Minister of Sport Arts and Culture:
12 December 2023 - NW4074
Van Dyk, Ms V to ask the Minister of Sport Arts and Culture:
1(a)(i). What are the reasons that Stephen Mokoka, a premier marathon runner in the Republic, is excluded from receiving the Operation Excellence (OPEX) programme and (ii) which entity excluded him from the OPEX programme and (b) what criteria were used to select athletes for the OPEX programme, (c) did Stephen Mokoka fail and (d) what is the name of the athlete who was chosen instead; (2). what are the reasons that Stephen Mokoka was excluded from the Commonwealth Games in England in 2022. (3). in view of the Operation Excellence Programme being an initiative that was designed by SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) to support athletes with the potential of qualifying and excelling at global sporting events, what are the prospects that Stephen Mokoka can be a medal winner for the Republic in the next Olympics; whether he intends to seek answers from Athletics South Africa and SASCOC on the specified questions; if not, why not; if so, what further steps does he intend to take to investigate the matter; whether he has found that the person is deserving; if not, why not; if so, how will his department support him to enable him to win the medals that the Republic needs?
Reply:
1(a). The Operation Excellence (OPEX) Programme is the responsibility of the National Confederation - South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) as a body controlling all high performance in South Africa. The National Federations as members of SASCOC submit list of athletes they have selected to be included in the OPEX Programme. (i) All the names of athletes on the OPEX programme have been provided by the different National Federations. (ii) Athletics
South Africa (ASA) did not include Stephen Mokoka in the list of athletes for inclusion into the OPEX Programme.
1(b). The National Federations as members of SASCOC submit list of athletes they have selected to be included in the OPEX Programme.
1(c). The National Federations as members of SASCOC submit list of athletes they have selected to be included in the OPEX Programme.
1(d). The National Federations as members of SASCOC submit list of athletes they have selected to be included in the OPEX Programme.
(2). SASCOC does not select athletes. It is the National Federation’s responsibility, to select athletes.
(3). SASCOC is not able to indicate his prospects, his National Federation can advise. However, his men’s road running ranking is 75; men’s marathon ranking is 94 and current overall world ranking places him at no 577.
The Minister has sought answers as indicated to the above questions from the South African Sport Confederation and Olympic Committee as the custodian of Operation Excellence Programme and not with Athletes South Africa. As per the National Sport and Recreation Act 1998 as Amended 2007 Section 13 (5) (b) The Minister may not (i) intervene if the dispute or mismanagement in question has been referred to the Sports Confederation for resolution unless the Sports Confederation fails to resolve such dispute within a reasonable time.
According to section 5 (b)(ii) of National Sport and Recreation Act 1998 as Amended 2007 “The Minister may not interfere in matters relating to the selection of teams, administration of sport and appointment of, or termination of the service of, the executive members of the sport or recreation body.