Mapula Sibanda
South Africa’s nine regions have been in place for more than six months, but old provincial sports structures — as many as 22 in rugby, for example — play on.
Some officials respectably cite the “hampering of development” or “confusing” provincial name changes for this laxity, but the more frank attribute it to power struggles in the sector.
“If you look at restructuring or unity talks, those who are involved in power sharing struggles feel threatened and start to resist,” Bennett Bailey, director of administration for Athletics South Africa, said.
Athletics has no plans to restructure its 17 provinces, which include Bophuthatswana, and make them the only sport which has managed to incorporate the former homeland under its wing.
“If we have nine regions, the scope of our focus area for development will be too wide and smaller areas will be totally neglected. Those are political boundaries, and until we receive directives from the provinces we will continue to administer athletics via old channels,” Bailey said.
Steven Roos, assistant general manager of the South African Rugby Football Union, concurred: “Our unions were formed to develop rugby in specific areas. If we make them too big, it is going to cause problems with the development of the game.”
Roos is doubtful about changes taking place in the union, which administers 22 provinces.
Administration manager of the United Cricket Board Ian Smith quoted a different reason for keeping their eleven provinces: “We do not know what the government will do next about name changing in the provinces. And we are waiting to see what the other bodies will do.”
Marketing spokesman for Tennis South Africa Andre van Heerden said the issues of reconstitution and demarcation have not been addressed as their fraternity is concentrating on other priorities at the moment.
Representatives from the South African Boxing Commission and the South African Amateur Swimming Association said they were waiting for their next general meetings to discuss the issue.
But spokesman for the sport and recreation ministry Andrew Dipela argues that the issue can be simplified. “A macro organisation can be established to represent each of the nine regions, and co-ordinate all the existing structures.”
He said the ministry respects the autonomy of the sports organisations, as they do not have a particular policy to dictate to them. Until they do, the knowing old structures will survive.