FAILURE to field 60% black players by the country’s top sports teams like the Proteas, Springboks and Bafana Bafana will lead to them being banned from representing South Africa in international events.
This is according to resolutions taken by the Department of Sport following a meeting between Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula and the sports MECs at the weekend.
The meeting discussed a report of a pilot study on the status of transformation in the country – released last week – which focused on the country’s top sports – rugby, cricket, netball, athletics and football.
Mbalula on Saturday said the group decided to increase the 50-50 quota system to a 60% representation after “lack of willingness in implementing transformation, especially the enforcement of quotas”.
Failure to implement the new quotas system, Mbalula said, would result in a withdrawal in any form of funding and support to federations and sport bodies.
“ withdraw the national colours to any federation who are hell-bent on the current set-up and status quo,” said Mbalula in a statement.
He said his department would also block sponsorship for any sports association that was hostile to transformation, while bidding for and hosting sports events would become illegal without government approval.
Mbalula said the group decided that the 60% requirements would be implemented immediately.
“The Minmec recommended that it must happen right away. We are going to engage and inform rugby and all the other sporting codes that this is something that has got to happen,” said Mbalula.
MECs will now need to tell provincial teams and associations about the decision while the national department will start a roadshow to all nine provinces.
“ development plans from the South African Rugby Union (Saru), South African Football Association (Safa), Cricket South Africa (CSA), Athletics South Africa (ASA) and Netball South Africa as a matter of urgency and with immediate effect,” said Mbalula.
All the resolutions, said Mbalula, had to be implemented before the new government administration takes office after the May 7 elections.
Asked if he was not worried of resistance from sponsors, Mbalula said he has not seen “anybody” raise their hands saying it was not doable.
“Transformation is not going to be easy, so we have got to talk to them. I have instructed my people that we must equally engage the private sector because they are the biggest investors in terms of sports transformation and sports in general,” he said.
Saru spokesman Andy Colquhoun, who could not reach Saru CEO Jurie Roux, asked: “Is the Minister asking us to implement a quota of 13 black players in Super Rugby teams from next Saturday and the Boks from June for instance. There is a lot that needs to be understood…”
CSA spokesman, Altaaf Kazi said CSA were still awaiting their one-on-one with the sports minister since the results of the pilot study on transformation in sport.
“We are not in a position to comment on the statement as the minister might want to explain what he meant when he finally meets us.”
Sascoc president Gideon Sam agreed that many federations were failing in terms of development.
“We are seeing it for the Anoca Games in Botswana later this year. Some federations cannot submit teams,” he said, singling out shooting and archery.
“Shooting say the problem is that they’ve been banned from schools ,” said Sam, pointing out that transformation targets would be easier if workable development structures were in place.
Mbalula hands down ultimatum on quotas
This is according to resolutions taken by the Department of Sport following a meeting between Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula and the sports MECs at the weekend.
The meeting discussed a report of a pilot study on the status of transformation in the country – released last week – which focused on the country’s top sports – rugby, cricket, netball, athletics and football.
Mbalula on Saturday said the group decided to increase the 50-50 quota system to a 60% representation after “lack of willingness in implementing transformation, especially the enforcement of quotas”.
Failure to implement the new quotas system, Mbalula said, would result in a withdrawal in any form of funding and support to federations and sport bodies.
“ withdraw the national colours to any federation who are hell-bent on the current set-up and status quo,” said Mbalula in a statement.
He said his department would also block sponsorship for any sports association that was hostile to transformation, while bidding for and hosting sports events would become illegal without government approval.
Mbalula said the group decided that the 60% requirements would be implemented immediately.
“The Minmec recommended that it must happen right away. We are going to engage and inform rugby and all the other sporting codes that this is something that has got to happen,” said Mbalula.
MECs will now need to tell provincial teams and associations about the decision while the national department will start a roadshow to all nine provinces.
“ development plans from the South African Rugby Union (Saru), South African Football Association (Safa), Cricket South Africa (CSA), Athletics South Africa (ASA) and Netball South Africa as a matter of urgency and with immediate effect,” said Mbalula.
All the resolutions, said Mbalula, had to be implemented before the new government administration takes office after the May 7 elections.
Asked if he was not worried of resistance from sponsors, Mbalula said he has not seen “anybody” raise their hands saying it was not doable.
“Transformation is not going to be easy, so we have got to talk to them. I have instructed my people that we must equally engage the private sector because they are the biggest investors in terms of sports transformation and sports in general,” he said.
Saru spokesman Andy Colquhoun, who could not reach Saru CEO Jurie Roux, asked: “Is the Minister asking us to implement a quota of 13 black players in Super Rugby teams from next Saturday and the Boks from June for instance. There is a lot that needs to be understood…”
CSA spokesman, Altaaf Kazi said CSA were still awaiting their one-on-one with the sports minister since the results of the pilot study on transformation in sport.
“We are not in a position to comment on the statement as the minister might want to explain what he meant when he finally meets us.”
Sascoc president Gideon Sam agreed that many federations were failing in terms of development.
“We are seeing it for the Anoca Games in Botswana later this year. Some federations cannot submit teams,” he said, singling out shooting and archery.
“Shooting say the problem is that they’ve been banned from schools ,” said Sam, pointing out that transformation targets would be easier if workable development structures were in place.
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