Sports Minister bans bidding on rugby, cricket events

SPORTING institutions like SA Rugby, Cricket South Africa, Netball South Africa and Athletics SA are now no longer allowed to bid for international tournaments as a result of the bodies not meeting transformation targets.

This follows a suspension by Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula on the organisations on Monday.

‘I have resolved to revoke the privilege of Athletics South Africa (ASA), Cricket South Africa (CSA), Netball South Africa (NSA) and South African Rugby (SARU) to host and bid for major and mega international tournaments in the Republic of South Africa as a consequence of the aforementioned federations, not meeting their own set transformation targets with immediate effect,’ Mbalula said.

‘I will review this decision when considering the results of the 2016/2017 Transformation Barometer.’

The announcement came during the release of the Eminent Person Group report on Transformation in Sport.

While the South African Football Association (SAFA) met its targets, Mbalula gave SAFA a tongue lashing for its apparent slow pace at introducing soccer at private schools.

‘In respect of the South African Football Association, I am delighted that SAFA has met its transformation targets. I will, however, issue a Ministerial directive to SAFA as a consequence of their poor drive to penetrate and roll out football in former Model C schools and private schools,’ said Mbalula.

The minister said the suspension was ‘the right thing to do’ when considering the grave injustices in the past.

He said it was also strategically necessary as 84% of SA’s under-18-year-old population was African while 16% were white, coloured and Indian.

‘It is not my intention to disrupt the momentum gained from the implementation of the Transformation Barometer and the global competitive edge of some federations and sports bodies. However, I am mindful of the urgent task for federations to move with speed in the direction of providing quality of opportunities and access to the youth of our country,’ he said.

Mbalula is very active on Twitter, and as such, Tweeps responded:

https://twitter.com/MbalulaFikile/status/724532643048656896

It seems that a large number of the SA public and government define #transformation as choosing a team based on colour rather than merit…

— Francois Taljard (@coistaljard) April 25, 2016

https://twitter.com/asandamagaqa/status/724564814446641152

https://twitter.com/Ntshepie_Thinta/status/724587233043337216

Bafana bafana needs #transformation mybe they will start winning more matches

— 💖Thandah Majola 💖 (@thandalwando) April 25, 2016

https://twitter.com/joshuaslingers/status/724584187987156992

https://twitter.com/ndre007/status/724583255798894592

#Transformation is nothing but a euphemism for racism.We shld be moving twd Integration or is it still okay to discriminate based on colour?

— . (@madly_michelle) April 25, 2016