Briefing by Minister of Sport - Mr S Tshwete

15 February 1999

The presentation you have just witnessed demonstrates this Ministry’s resolve to redress the historical imbalances that continue to threaten the unity to which the 1994 dispensation gave political expression.

In addition to the factual account of this Ministry’s performance in spite of its low position in the budgetary queue, I wish to emphasise the following topical issues.

It has become necessary to upgrade the informal and voluntary relationship between the Ministry and macro-bodies in the form of the Sports Forum to a more formal level in line with other developed countries. By positioning the entity somewhere between government departments and NGOs, through the South African Sports Commission, it is believed we will be able to get the best of both worlds, e.g. resources can be accessed from both government and the private sector.

I am pleased to confirm that the process towards the establishment of the Sports Commission has surpassed all expectations. We are presently hosting a two person team from Australia, who are helping us

to complete the process. I need to emphasise that contrary to what others say, this initiative did not arise from the Presidential Review Commission recommendations.

I intend to announce the names of the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the Sports Commission before the end of March 1999.

I am on record as having said that National Federations, particularly the selectors, continue to pay lip service to transformation in sport and recreation.

My statements regarding the slowing down of the pace of transformation in some of our top sports convinced me that black magnanimity was being abused to perpetuate the status quo, hence my comment to the effect that I would not be supportive of single-race teams, in future.

I have since the beginning of this year met with the presidents of 18 National Federations, where I explained precisely why I was impatient with progress to date. I am happy to report that not only did they commit to hasten the pace but they will also speak out in support of these sentiments, in future.

Attempts to infer a repudiation of my statement from the views expressed by the Deputy President have failed, because being "African" and advocating transformation are not incongruous positions.

We have also been watching the unfolding developments regarding the corruption within the IOC and we are not impressed with the image these give to the Sports Movement.

Under the circumstances it was perhaps fortuitous that our bid to host the 2006 Olympic Games was not successful. When the book "The Lords of the Rings" was published, most readers readily accepted that the allegations contained therein were the work of a mischievous author. The latest incidents, however, make one wonder whether this is one smoke that does not follow a fire. I understand that a new list of IOC members allegedly implicated in corruption is about to be released and we hope that this one will not be dominated by members of the African Sports Movement. I further understand that the author of "lords of the Rings" will also be visiting this country in the near future. I hope that the IOC will move swiftly and decisively in restoring faith in Olympism at their March 1999 meeting. Sport in general and the country in particular can do without perceptions of double dealing. I am saying this not only in my capacity as the Sport and Recreation Minister in this country but also as the President-in-Office of the Supreme Council for Sport in Africa.

In my budget speech last year, I called for a pragmatic approach to hosting major events. I am quite aware that South African Sports Administrators are under enormous pressure in continental and international forums to host one event or the other.

I strongly believe that the cost of hosting such events would be minimised if we could focus in the coming years on infra-structure building programmes. I, accordingly, call upon the private sector to join my Ministry in ensuring that sport and recreation facilities are built ahead of rather than because of bids that we happen to be involved in. Our sports administrators and local authorities should also mount bids that we have a realistic chance of winning.

In this regard I wish to remind the country that while we have not done badly in hosting single-sport events, our capacity to host multi-sport events remains untested. Even in hosting single-sport events, weaknesses such as the absence of a culture of live attendance in major events, are challenges that we would be wise to pay serious attention to.

In view of the aforegoing, the gathering this September of Africa’s stars in the 7^th All Africa Games, needs the active support of the entire nation, not only because it would constitute concrete expression to our integration into the continent, but also because it has a strong bearing on our capacity to win bids in the future. In our view, it makes sense to follow the All Africa Games with, firstly, the Commonwealth Games as soon as possible after the 2006 Soccer World Cup effort and only target somewhere after 2010 to host the Olympic Games.

I am aware and indeed support the hosting by this country of the Cricket World Cup in 2003.

I am also convinced that the Soccer World Cup is ready for this continent and this country to take in 2006. I urge our bid committee to postpone any celebration until we have won the bid and instead to work hard at earning the right to host this major interest event. As a country we have no intention of upstaging our continental brothers and sisters particularly in the southern part of Africa. For this reason we intent to assist Zimbabwe in whatever way we can to convince CAF that the sub-region should not lose the right to host the African Nations Cup in year 2000. Additionally it is only at Zimbabwe’s request that we can consider stepping in to host it one more time.

1998 Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games I would like to take this opportunity to salute Team South Africa for winning 34 medals at the last Commonwealth Games. Our sons and daughters who represented us in Kuala Lumpur added to the growing stature of this nation as a sports powerhouse.

These successes, in addition to our performance at the 7^th All Africa Games, should provide the necessary preparation for our athletes to perform better at the Sidney Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Kuala Lumpur’s message of meaningfully investing in our athletes should be heeded if the above goals are to be realised.

Our multi-sports teams, however, regrettably still do not contain female and black participants in acceptable proportions.

At this rate, I am not sure how long I will be able to resist the temptation to legislate in this regard.

It is, however, up to the selectors in the various national federations to make legislation in this regard, unnecessary.

I would like, in signing off, to congratulate our tennis players, particularly Marian de Swart and Adams for their recent successes; Francois Botha for his brave attempt against Mike Tyson; Vuyani Bungu for his record breaking reign as world champion; the national rugby team for their long winning spell; the national cricket team for their successes in Bangladesh and against the Windies.

With such a record of success, why should I take seriously the ranting and raving of minority parties and right wing media. Anything less would have meant that I was not doing my job.

I thank you.