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Minister "moers" corruption

Johannesburg - Sport and recreation Minister, Fikile Mbalula’s fight against corruption in sport and his commitment to advance sport codes through sound and clean governance, loyalty to all sports, a levelheaded approach to sport development amongst youths and quotas, graphically illustrates why politics has a moral obligation to intervene in sport.

Mbalula again nailed corruption in sport when he confirmed that the suspended CEO of Cricket South Africa (CSA), Gerald Majola and former Chief Operation Manager, Don McIntosh, must repay millions of rands they received in unauthorized bonuses.

After providing pivotal guidance to create structures and strategies to resolve the bonus scandal in CSA Mbalula said that he will not tolerate corruption in sport.

In an article, No cash for corrupt sport, carried by Sport24 on 24 January 2012, Mbalula was quoted to say: “We have made it clear that we will not collaborate with corrupt activities in sport.”

The minister said he would not ask business in South Africa to put money into corrupt sport. “By doing so it is investing in social cohesion, and it is equally a fight against crime,” he said.

Mbalula’s commitment to good sport governance stretches further than cricket and in recent times he spoke harsh words about the lack of leadership showed by former president of Athletics SA, Leonard Chuene; the African Cup of Nations qualifying fiasco; and the ongoing rivalry between the South African Sports Confederation and the Olympic Committee.

Despite the minister and his department’s ongoing involvement in bad sport administrations Mbalula said that it should not be necessary for his ministry to intervene in sport administration. He said sport administrations should be able to deal with their problem without the involvement of government but that he has no option to intervene when administrators are dragging their feet.

In the past Minister Mbalula committed him to transformation in sport and the creation of equal opportunities through development programs for scholars rather than quotas.

He emphasized on numerous occasions that transformation is not a black-versus-white-matter but sport development of youths.

The department of sport allocated 40% of its budget to the physical training of children between 6 and 12 years.

In a media interview the minister said that the emerging of sport stars through early childhood development programs will bring an official end to quotas.

The minister set the ball rolling for a sport development facilitation centre in South Africa, based on the Australian model.

He said private and public partnerships will develop South Africa’s local and international competitive abilities.

With his call that the Springboks should go to the world cup in New Zealand with the intent to “Moer hulle! Bliksem hulle, die bokke sal dans!”, minister Mbalula became a leader of all people.

In an article of Sport24 on 9 September 2011, Mbalula slams Bok critics, the minister made it clear that there is no room for senseless criticism about team elections. He said “as ons verloor, verloor ons saam. As ons wen, wen ons saam. Vorentoe Die Bokke.” 

The minister lashed out at those, with little loyalty towards the Boks, who saw the World Cup as an opportunity to travel and dine: “Those self-seeking Johnny-come-lately’s who were not there when you played test and Tri-Nations rugby; those recalcitrant pessimistic cowards, who, when faced with challenges, stuck their heads in the sand like ostriches and did nothing to support the team.”        
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