Sports transformation 'not moving fast enough'

(Image: GCIS)

Addressing the private and business sector about their involvement in sports earlier this week, Mbalula said: "It remains an undeniable fact that transformation of sport in our country has hitherto proceeded at a snail's pace.

"But to spend valuable time pointing fingers and apportioning blame will serve no useful purpose. Rather, we need to put all our energies into identifying the best alternative ways and means of how we can remedy the situation."

South Africa is aiming for the transformation of national teams to enable the country to reach its goal of sending teams that are truly representative of South Africa to the outside world.

"Therefore the transformation of sport in general and our teams in particular will only happen as a consequence of grassroots development. All federations, sport councils and clubs both at local, regional, provincial and national level need to produce development and succession plans that speak to generational mix," said Mbalula.

Bring in marginalised groups

The minister said this should be reflected at administration, technical and managerial level, and due consideration should be given to marginalised groups including women, youth and people with disabilities.

He said this process should be followed by targeted and cutting-edge talent identification, adding that his ministry firmly believes that sport is one of the most important cohesive factors in uniting the entire nation.

He appealed to the private sector, business and civil society to join hands in the roll-out of the schools sport programme aimed at making the country's schools "incubators and nurseries" for sport development and talent identification.

"We want to use school sports as a platform to encourage social integration ... We would like you all to put your valuable time and money to assist all our young athletes, especially in schools and our educators with the necessary coaching and officiating skills as well as sport administration and management, among other things.

"We should fully utilise the opportunity that sport offers to demonstrate the best qualities of South African society to the world," said Mbalula.