South Africa wants to become the first African country to host the Olympic Games, in 2036 or 2040. But trouble at several sports bodies could hurt the bid, IOL Sport reported.
A host city decision from the sports ministry is expected by the end of October, SASCOC board member Kim Pople told IOL Sport.
“You’ve got to clean up your house long before then. Take the administration squabbles out and put sport back in the forefront,” Pople said. “Corporates hear ‘crisis’ and they don’t want to be involved.”
Pople, who is the second vice-president of SASCOC, said governance must be fixed to bring corporate support back.
Earlier this year, then SASCOC president Barry Hendricks confirmed that Cabinet had approved talks with the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The talks are about hosting the 2036 or 2040 Games.
Hendricks proposed a plan based on Paris 2024. It would link Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban to share the cost of the Games, which would run into billions of rand.
Months later, SASCOC suspended Hendricks. This followed an internal probe led by retired Judge Basheer Waglay into safeguarding and code breaches. First Vice-President Lwandile Simelane is now acting in the top job while a formal judicial probe continues.
Other Olympic sports bodies are also in trouble. Swimming SA, Athletics SA, Karate SA and Basketball SA face executive suspensions, governance reviews or High Court cases, according to IOL.
Lottery grants from the National Lotteries Commission have been frozen and state funding is limited. IOL reported that many top athletes pay for their own qualifying campaigns. This can cost up to R300,000 a year for each athlete.
Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has pushed sport as a business. In an interview with BizNews, he said he is changing the 25-year-old National Sport and Recreation Act.
“I found that people receive money from government and some don’t even have offices. They operate out of their cars,” McKenzie said. “For the first time, that political protection is gone.”
McKenzie said sport adds 2.6% to South Africa’s GDP, the same as agriculture. He said the figure is 5% to 7% in China and America.
He said the current law limits what he can do. “I cannot just fire people. It’s not allowed for me to fire them under the law, and the IOC will step in,” McKenzie said.
He said he has worked through international sports bodies while the Act is being changed. IOL reported that he worked with World Athletics on claims of credit card abuse at Athletics SA.
Deputy Minister Peace Mabe confirmed government support for an African Olympic bid. She spoke at the launch of a new sports facility in Durban.
Mabe warned that the department will not pay legal costs for federations that fight each other. “If you fight amongst yourselves as federations, we will not use the department’s money to defend your battles in court. It will be at your own cost,” she said.
The IOC charter has strict rules against government interference in sport. IOL reported that heavy government action against failing federations could bring sanctions from the IOC.
McKenzie is expected to name the candidate host city by the end of October, Pople said.
Source: this article is based on reporting by IOL Sport. Image: IOL Sport. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Sports desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Tiyani Mathebula writes about sport for Tzaneen Voice. Tiyani covers Bafana Bafana, the Springboks, the Proteas and the PSL, along with athletics, tennis and local club sport. Match reports and previews focus on results, team news, fixtures and what each game means for South African teams and fans.