Question NW391 to the Minister of Sport and Recreation
24 April 2017 - NW391
Bergman, Mr D to ask the Minister of Sport and Recreation
Whether (a) Karate South Africa is recognised as the main federation for the specified sporting code by the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee and (b) any arbitration has taken place in compliance with court order 7/2016; if so, what (i) are the relevant details in each case and (ii) were the outcomes of any arbitration?
Reply:
a) Karate South Africa (KSA), as it is currently constituted, is a member of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC). However, such membership is currently under discussion due to the representations that have been made to SASCOC and to KSA to the effect that the latter does not represent the majority of the participants currently registered in Karate. Also, it is said that the current structure differentiates between contact and non-contact Karate. In terms of the National Sport and Recreation Act, 2007 (as amended) and the policy set out by the Department of Sport and Recreation and further embodied in the Constitution of the SASCOC, all members irrespective of race, colour or creed are entitled to participate in any particular sport. In this specific instance as previously stated, representation has been received by SASCOC to the effect that the majority of participants within KSA are unable to participate in the Sport, due to the current policies of KSA.
b) In terms of SASCOC’s Constitution, should any member of a sporting code, or any particular sports federation have a dispute within its structure, then the same shall be referred to SASCOC for arbitration. This procedure is currently being exercised by the various parties to the current dispute.
(i) and (ii) The relevant details shall be provided in due course.