Sport and Recreation Minister Ngconde Balfour’s plan to uplift South African sport has received a cautious thumbs-up from the official opposition.
Balfour’s plan entails, among other things, bringing the 142 sport federations under his department’s umbrella, and establishing a national sports academy to prepare top athletes for international competition.
Details of the plan are yet to be released, but it already has cabinet’s approval and that of the major sporting bodies. Balfour’s spokesperson Graham Abrahams has reportedly said the plan will not interfere with the independence of sports federations in any way.
Democratic Alliance sport and recreation spokesperson Donald Lee said on Wednesday Balfour had to give the assurance that his plan ”is not just a means of formalising South African sport as his personal fiefdom”.
Lee called on the minister to brief the National Assembly’s sport and recreation committee on the plan when Parliament reconvened.
”There is certainly room for better coordination and cohesion among South Africa’s 142 sporting federations.
”However, it is highly questionable whether they should fall ‘under the umbrella’ of Balfour’s ministry,” he said.
Balfour’s term of office had been characterised by ”unnecessary interference” in the running of a number of sporting codes.
The ministry’s role in sport should be limited to an enabling and developmental one. The autonomy of sporting federations should be protected. Lee welcomed the proposal for a national sports academy, but added that the DA would still like to see Balfour focus more on the provision of facilities for entry-level sport, particularly in poor communities.
”If we are to compete with the rest of the world on an equal footing, we need to provide more people with the opportunity to play sport at decent facilities and with adequate coaching.
”Look after grass-roots development, and the elite levels will take care of themselves,” Lee said. – Sapa