Issued by: Ministry of Sport and Recreation
It is with shock and dismay that I come to learn of the pay to view approach in respect of two major sports codes in South Africa, mainly Rugby and Soccer as reported in the Sunday Times of 11 February 1996 (Rugby) Sunday Independent (Soccer) 11 February 1996.
The Department of Sport and Recreation's approach to addressing imbalances in sport is to give even-handed consideration and attention to the development continuum that is sport from elementary grassroots level to the elite level. The outstanding victories of the Rugby World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations serve as a tremendous boost for the inflow of young talent into the catchment area for Rugby, cricket and soccer. Television viewing of stars like Francios Pienaar, Mark Fish, Doc Kumalo and the like serves as a major inspiration for their own commitment to sport and the realisation of their full potential. The finalisation of the Pay to View contracts will sever the umbilical cord in respect of the sport development link between grassroots level and elite sport. We must remain mindful of the social and economic imbalances and our peoples ability and inability to buy into pay channels on television.
My Department and I believe that the masses of our people in this country would be denied the right to see their national sports heroes on television should money be the only criteria to determine accessibility to view sport. Many of the sport stars emerge from the ranks of the masses of our people and the Department of Sport and Recreation is determined to create a flood of opportunities for disadvantaged sports people in particular.
The communities producing the stars can therefore not be penalised simply because they are poor. The Department of Sport and Recreation is determined to secure the right of the nation to view their sport heroes in action because this contributes to nation building and reconciliation and is a major stimulus for encouraging emerging sports stars.
I am already in the process of investigating legistative options to preserve the viewing of sport in the interest of the nation as a whole. The right to sport for all South Africans is a basic fundamental principle which must be defended at all times.
S TSHWETE
MINISTER