Sports Minister Ngconde Balfour and a host of sporting federations on Thursday identified a set of at least ten problems during a three-hour meeting at Boksbug, east of Johannesburg.
While denying that he cracked the whip with the federations the minister made it clear that the status quo in sport could not continue, and that radical changes were necessary.
Calling the meeting a ”koppestamp” (head-butting) — a practice common in rugby — the minister said he would be meeting the National Olympic Committee of South Africa (Nocsa), the SA Sports Commission, Disabled Sports South Africa, and the 12 sporting federations on February 27 for a follow-up meeting.
Balfour announced that he and the sports bodies present at the meeting would meet continuously to develop a strategic sports plan for the country.
This plan would answer ”the major questions of where to and how for sport, with clear deliverables and time-frames that are measurable,” the minister said.
The plan would include overcoming problems to do with weak sports administration and a lack of sports development plans. It would also put in place guidelines related to commercialism, national interest, rekindling the spirit of winning, establishing a shared vision and accountable management in sport, and a code of conduct underpinned by ”discipline and mutual respect”.
Dan Moyo of the SA Sports Commission, and Vanele Sindane, CEO of Athletics South Africa, were excited about plans to pool sponsorship resources.
”It would mean that sports codes which show high status for winning medals in international competitions would be allocated financial assistance from a financial pool according to their potential”, said Moyo.
”This scheme will make us far more confident and secure in our campaign leading up to the Olympics and world championships”, Sindane added.
Other bodies present at the meeting were: the United Cricket Board of SA, Netball SA, the SA Football Association, the SA Rugby Football Union, Swimming SA, Athletics SA, Cycling SA, Basketball SA, SA boxing, SA Hockey, and Tennis SA. Representatives of the Sports and Recreation Department also attended. – Sapa