By Thapelo Molefe
Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has promised to make school sports a priority, stating that it would have the most prominent space in the budget.
“I’m passionate about school sports,” he said. “And you know, the good thing is that we have
a Minister of Basic Education that’s equally passionate about school sports.”
In a recent radio interview, McKenzie emphasised the importance of school sports in unlocking South Africa’s sporting potential.
“There’s no country that can continue its greatness without involving school sports,” he said.
The minster expressed his frustration with the lack of resources and infrastructure for school sports, particularly in disadvantaged areas.
“If your child goes to a private school, model C school, they are definitely bound to be recognised,” he said.
“You look at the best prospect to come out of South Africa, Walaza Bayanda (Olympic sprinter), he had to go to a private school, semi-private school, or whatever you call it. Curro.”
McKenzie also acknowledged that he would be judged on his ability to deliver on his promises regarding school sports.
“If I don’t uphold the upliftment of school sports, then I failed,” he said. “And I’m one guy that tells you straight up. I would be the first one who walks around with a board around my neck,(written) ‘I’m a failure because I promised school sports would come back and I didn’t do it’.”
In addition to school sports, McKenzie discussed the current state of various sports in South Africa, including rugby, cricket, swimming and basketball.
He criticised the lack of transformation in these sports, particularly with regards to the representation of black African players.
McKenzie also addressed the issue of the Formula One (F1) maybe coming to South Africa. When asked about Rwanda’s bid to host the F1, McKenzie expressed confidence in South Africa’s chances.
“Rwanda stands no chance against us,” he said. “Our economy is 30 times bigger than the economy of Rwanda. We have a track, and in a few months, our track will be up to F1 standards.”
The minister also shared his thoughts on the current SA20 cricket tournament.
“I think it’s a brilliant thing what the SA20 is doing,” he said. “Tickets are being sold out. It’s January and people are filling stadiums.”
However, McKenzie also expressed some concerns, particularly with regards to team ownership and transformation.
“There’s no South African that owns a team,” he noted. “All six teams are owned by Indian gentlemen. That I’m never going to allow.”
McKenzie also criticised the lack of representation of black African players in the SA20.
“I agree with the view that it’s unacceptable that there are no black African players in the SA20,” he said. “I’ve met with Cricket SA and raised this issue. I’ve told them that their transformation sucks, and it’s embarrassing.”
The minister also highlighted the need for transformation in other sports, including swimming and basketball.
And expressed his frustration with the lack of representation of black swimmers in South African swimming.
“We’ve never had a black person qualify for the Olympics in swimming in the past 30 years.
You want to tell me what that is? We can’t even produce one person that qualifies.”
“And basketball in this country is probably the worst organisation in South Africa,” he said.
McKenzie cited a recent incident in which Basketball South Africa failed to make arrangements for a group of 15-year-old players arriving at the airport for an international tournament.
“I had to make a call to the African president of basketball to sort out the mess,” he said.
“It’s unacceptable, and I won’t tolerate it.”
McKenzie cited Mark Alexander, the president of the South African Rugby Union, as an example of a leader who has driven transformation in rugby.
“Mark Alexander has transformed rugby whether we like it or not,” McKenzie said.
“Rugby at the current moment, I don’t care who says what, is enjoying its best era in the history of the game of rugby.”
McKenzie emphasised the need for strong leadership and accountability in sports administration.
“It’s time that we call them out,” he said. “Our people are hiring the coaches. And it’s time that we call them out.”
INSIDE EDUCATION
