Cape Town - Minister of Sport and Recreation, Fikile Mbalula, has launched an astonishing social media response to SA Olympian Sunette Viljoen after the star javelin thrower confirmed she's still awaiting payment of the bonus promised for winning a silver medal at the Rio Olympics.
Prior to departure for this year's Games, as part of the incentive scheme, the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) promised all Olympians (and Paralympians) R500 000 for a gold medal (R400 000 for the athlete, R100 000 for the coach), R250 000 for a silver medal (R200 000 / R50 000) and R100 000 for a bronze medal (R80 000 and R20 000).
Viljoen duly won a silver medal - and was paid the R200 000 owed to her.
However, upon the team's return to South Africa in late August, Mbalula took it upon himself to pay gold medalists a "bonus" of R100 000, silver medallists an additional R70 000 and bronze winners R50 000.
SASCOC were quick to confirm that this "bonus" was to be paid by the Department of Sport and Recreation and not by themselves.
On Monday, Viljoen took to Twitter to confirm that some 11 weeks later she's still waiting payment of the R70 000, adding a screen grab of a conversation she had via text message with Mbalula in which he claims Viljoen said she "didn't need the money" and thus would be "honouring her wishes".
Viljoen vehemently denied making such claims.
Never, ever uttered these words. This is how you are treated for winning an Olympic medal. What a total disgrace. Always doing it on my own. pic.twitter.com/NFmSIqzgyD
— Sunette Viljoen (@Sunette_Viljoen) November 7, 2016
Sport24 contacted all 10 of the SA medal winners from Rio, and, while not wishing to be named, some confirmed they had been paid, while others are still awaiting payment.
Following Viljoen's social media post, Mbalula took to Twitter himself to post 12 messages in response.
I will never succumb to anarchy. Never ever the next thing you want the money tmro I don't need it @sunetteviljoen
— RSA Min of Sport (@MbalulaFikile) November 7, 2016
@sunetteviljoen declared for all to kno she doesn't want the money. ..now she needs the money I must jump @sunetteviljoen
— RSA Min of Sport (@MbalulaFikile) November 7, 2016
She even blocked me @sunetteviljoen
— RSA Min of Sport (@MbalulaFikile) November 7, 2016
Am throughly abused by @sunetteviljoen and her girlfriend day and night
— RSA Min of Sport (@MbalulaFikile) November 7, 2016
SASCOC is a sport Confederation of the Department of Sport and Rec, athletes were paid - all including Sunnette.For their Rio participation
— RSA Min of Sport (@MbalulaFikile) November 7, 2016
What I promised was a top up on that to show appreciation and recognize excellence. This Sunnette demanded before it was even promised.
— RSA Min of Sport (@MbalulaFikile) November 7, 2016
Emails, Calls,SMS, tweets and everything we've been harassed by someone who doesn't appreciate due process,makes demands daily. That's abuse
— RSA Min of Sport (@MbalulaFikile) November 7, 2016
She tricked you once and said to you I've blocked her. I never did, she blocked me, the Department account.
— RSA Min of Sport (@MbalulaFikile) November 7, 2016
There's something some of or you do not understand, Non of the athletes are entitled to what we give. What was due to her was payed.
— RSA Min of Sport (@MbalulaFikile) November 7, 2016
Non of our athletes have done what she's doing @WaydeDreamer @caster800m @chadleclos list is endless. True professionals ....
— RSA Min of Sport (@MbalulaFikile) November 7, 2016
The Minster according to some of you is a joke! @sunetteviljoen is The Best! !
— RSA Min of Sport (@MbalulaFikile) November 7, 2016
@sunetteviljoen is the most arrogant and thankless person let alone being an athlete, I've ever met.
— RSA Min of Sport (@MbalulaFikile) November 7, 2016