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The ANC's support for National Assembly sport and recreation portfolio committee chairperson, Mr. Butana Komphela, makes them complicit in the Caster Semenya debacle. In turn, Mr Komphela's silence suggests that reports about his involvement in the matter are accurate and he now needs to explain himself. The Democratic Alliance has today written to the Speaker of Parliament and the ANC Chief Whip, requesting that Komphela be suspended as chairperson of the portfolio committee on sport and recreation, with regard to all deliberations concerning Caster Semenya, and we are waiting for a response. By choosing not to deny allegations that he (Komphela) was consulted by ASA Head, Leonard Chuene, and by choosing to instead consult his lawyer in a matter that could have been easily solved with a simple ‘No, Mr. Chuene did not call me regarding Caster Semenya', Komphela has essentially painted himself into a guilty corner. If proper oversight is to be carried out on this matter, Komphela can play no part in the process. Further, the DA will also submit a parliamentary question to the Minister of Sport asking if he too was consulted ahead of Mr. Chuene's decision. We are only just beginning to understand the full extent of the ANC's involvement in this matter. The ruling party's leadership has much to answer for. I have communicated these points to the Speaker and the ANC Chief Whip, who, if they wish to uphold the carefully deliberated democratic values South Africa is so praised for, they will not allow Mr. Komphela to continue in his position with regards to this matter. A copy of the letter follows below. MEDIA ENQUIRIES: Donald Lee MP - 083 605 9484
Jo Lennox - 082 780 0242 27 October 2009 DA Member of Parliament Shadow Minister of Sport and Recreation P.O Box 15 Cape Town 8000 Tel: (021) 403 3390 Fax: (021) 403 2394 E-mail: louisak@da.org.za Att: Dr Mathole Serofo Motshekga ANC Chief Whip
Tel: 021 403 3860 Fax: 021 461 0462 Email: ltekane@parliament.gov.za Att: Hon M V Sisulu Speaker: National Assembly
Fax: 021 461 9462 Suspend Mr. B M Komphela, Chairperson - National Portfolio Committee on Sport and Recreation Dr Motshekga, Hon Sisulu

I hereby request, that following the numerous issues surrounding Mr. Komphela's involvement in the Caster Semenya saga, that he be suspended from his position as chairperson of the portfolio committee on sport and recreation, as he is unable to objectively assess the report in which he has been implicated. Mr. Komphela still needs to publicly admit or deny whether he had any involvement in the decision to field Caster Semenya, and whether Mr. Chuene consulted him on this matter. But, regardless of his stance, he should still not be allowed to participate in the assessment of the report, as it concerns his conduct specifically.

If the report is accurate, the consequences of Mr Komphela's possible intervention are numerous:
• First, he would be complicit in the decision to field Caster Semenya. This was clearly a political decision, taken in direct contravention of the advice of the team doctor. The consequences of that were profound, both for Caster Semenya herself and for Mr Chuene. This sort of interference is deeply problematic; indeed, the IAAF has acted before to suspend those countries in which politicians meddle in the affairs of athletics federations. Mr Komphela needs to explain his role and, on what grounds he saw fit to overrule a team doctor. In short, Mr Komphela himself has a case to answer before the committee.
• Second, the Democratic Alliance has called for ASA, Harold Adams and Wilfred Daniels to be brought before the portfolio committee, to explain their actions in general and those of Mr Chuene in particular. This is the committee's core function: providing oversight. However, it cannot do that if the person overseeing that meeting is complicit in the problem it is interrogating. His neutrality and objectivity is compromised. For this reason he would have to recuse himself.
• Third, it is not just Mr Komphela who is implicated. According to the report, several other senior ANC officials were consulted. It is the responsibility of the Chairperson to call these people to appear before the committee. If he is involved and has an interest in concealing his actions or protecting the reputation of those he reports to, not only is he unlikely to call those people to appear, but he will be unable to properly interrogate them when they appear before the committee.