Presentation on the case of Sport to Parliament Public Hearing by John Ncinane President of Amathole Sport council 

Mr. Chairperson, honourable members of parliament I have absolute pleasure in taking this opportunity to put across my summarised views on the current state of affairs of Sport in this country.

Situation of Sport since Unity

The Unity of Sport in all Sport codes was initiated and led by the National Sport Council. The aim was to improve, transform and democratise Sport in the country. When former South African Rugby Board and former South African Rugby Union merged on the 19th March 1992 in Kimberly and followed by their respective Unions were advocating the same goals that were directed by the National Sport Council

After everything was collected and brought together for good cause. The National Sport Council was disbanded and sport codes took that opportunity to do as it pleases them and rugby was no exception

1. Former SARU provinces were swallowed by SARB Provinces.

2. Most black clubs were forced to merge with the black clubs (not integration with white clubs) to form one single club.

3. The system of League competition remained as it was with SARB provinces

4. There was no fresh appointment of CEO and General Manager

5. Ninty (90%) of the leadership of unified Provinces did not change to reflect the demographics of this Country because white clubs were the majority and therefore dominated every election.

Coaches and team manager remain the same as above.

6. This negative impact was flown up to National teams and National rugby structures.

7. Although there is National school rugby Structure but there are still exclusive competitions for white model C dominated school which is killing backyards of rugby

This is the situation of rugby currently and it is difficult for the black people in rural areas and black townships to get maximum delivery which they deserve a lot.

Funding

1. Sponsorship that is received by Rugby at the moment can adequately assist to bring about changes in previously disadvantage areas, but the problem is that rugby people do not want to change their mind set and accept that even rural people are voters and tax payers and therefore they are in need of rugby in the same way with urban areas.

2. SA RUGBY 's budget is R350+_ million per annum but only R50 million is allocated to amateur arms in Provinces, the remaining amount is allocated to professional arm which is grossly unfair. I am not sure if Provinces that are not involved in Super 14 are getting anything from the revenue that is being generated from Super14 competition e.g. Eastern Province, S.W.D and Border.

3. Out of Madoc TV rights amount, rural unions are only getting 14% which in peanuts or Pieces of fish and chips.

DEVELOPMENT

1. The unity agreement which was signed in Kimberly on the 19 March 1992 embarked on aggressive enhancement of rugby development but that did not materialise in maximum context. It was worse between 2001-2005 when development was totally put aside by SARFU and the monies budgeted for development were rechanneled to other different commitment of SARU

2. It was also agreed that for purposes of Development the representation of SARB's SARU must be 50-50 from administration up to team management but that also disappeared.

3. It was also agreed that after 5 years of Unity in 1997 there must be re - evaluation of Unity but that was ignored, people carried on enjoying rugby (business as usual) .

4. It was agreed that after 1995 World Cup Springbok emblem must be done away with but that was given a blind eye.

5. The whole development dept is under Resourced e.g. all fourteen Provinces are give a grant of R8.6 m plus R3.6 million to pay development officers which is drop in the ocean.

Way forward and Recommendation

1. The Department of Sport must assist and pressurise Rugby to be televised in the National television, as long as rugby is televised in the paid channel it keeps on attracting and be delivered only to the 2% of SA population. Whether paid channel turns rugby into financial sustainable footing, but Rugby is not about making money but is to 1felivered to the poorest of the poor.

2. Sport of this country needs a radical revamping by way of having viable amateur controlling Sport body with teeth to bite because SASCOC has failed the people of this country by not using their recourses to dig talent in all four corners of this country, instead Mr. Moss Mashishi and his SASCOC executive are dragging our organisation to .petty political bickering and make themselves police investigators against some of senior and reputable sport administrators as they are busy destroying an Athletics chief Mr. Leonard Chuene which they will definitely not succeed.

3. I call on the Minister of Sport in this Country to appoint a monitoring Committee with authority and teeth to bite to ensure that the change in transformation and development of sport in this Country is strictly followed.

4. The budget of SARU must have deliberate focus and biasness to rural based Unions.

5. There must be a serious review of Unity in order to put everything back on track.

6. Sponsors of SARU must be summoned to Parliament and be informed that their money is being used to promote white rugby and discriminating and destroying black rugby.

7. Companies like:

•	Sasol

•	Vodacom

•	Absa

•	SAA

•	SA Breweries

•	Canterbury (Clothing company)

Are greatly supported by our Government and are appreciated for sponsoring SARU but they must make SARU to account as to which side their money going to, in order to avoid boycotts and disinvestments in the future by angry people of this country.

8. There must always be a link between Department of sport and Education to encourage incentives of teachers that are involved in school sport as Department of Education has introduced heavy academic curriculums that are driving the attention of teachers away from sport. There must also be away of attracting women teachers to sport as male teachers are moving away from teaching profession in order to bring back Human Capital resources.

9. The Springbok emblem must go as soon as possible and the Sport family in the country must start the process of Implementing Pulukwana Conference resolution of having one emblem.

Why rugby alone is using Springbok emblem? Even after 1995 World Cup which was the deadline imposed by the then NSC. Rugby leadership must be brought to book about using this Springbok emblem as rugby is not their own personal property, but a National asset.

They are misusing this very poor and innocent animal for them to generate money and use that money to throw raw eggs to the face of every black person on the street. I call on S.P.C.A to intervene and protect this innocent animal for not being given chance to rest by always limping and jumping over this green blazer.

10. Fast tracking of new super 14 franchise for South East Cape which involves, SWD, EP and Border as these three Provinces are 98% rural.

11. In order to implement all these recommendations the Dept of Sport needs to call rugby Conference which must be jointly financed by both Dept of sport and SARU to put flash on the bones of these resolutions and bring light and strategic vision to rugby administrators of this country as they lost visionary mind. Mr. Chairman and honourable members I hope and trust that my shot input will be used to unequivocally bring back the dignity of all sport men and women in this country.

In those few words if at all they are few.

May God Bless you,

Thank you,

John Ncinane

President of Amathole Sport Council