/ 10 June 1997

NSC’s about-face on sports Bill

TUESDAY, 11.00AM:

THE National Sports Council has retracted the statement it made on Sunday criticising the draft Sport and Recreation Bill as unconstitutional. The Council said on Monday the Bill has its support in principle, but the way in which it has been drafted is unacceptable.

NSC president Mluleki George said the council’s executive committee has endorsed the underlying principles of the Bill, and recognises the need to have a statutory body for sport. But he added the Bill needs to be reworked to be acceptable.

The Department of Sports and Recreation said that nothing in the Bill is “non-negotiable”, and sports bodies are welcome to submit their comments. George said the final form of the Bill should be ready for consideration at next month’s council meeting.