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Cape Town. – Proposed sports regulations that would make the minister of sport an almighty selector were withdrawn on Tuesday night.
The regulations would effectively have given Makhenkesi Stofile the power to prescribe who should play flyhalf for the Springboks or open the bowling for the Proteas.
It also appears that the government wanted to regulate the selling of replica jerseys and other supporters’ clothing. That would have led to the loss of millions of rands for sports governing bodies.
The regulations were delivered quietly at sports federations shortly before Christmas and the deadline for comment was shortly after the festive period. It was published as a supplement to the existing law on sport and recreation.
However, a highly-placed source informed Beeld on Tuesday night that the regulations were set to be withdrawn. They are apparently not legal.
According to the regulations a national colours board, which would have been appointed by the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee, would have decided over the awarding of national colours.
It would have taken punitive measures against federations that ignore the regulations and even withdraw recognition, for example in a case where a foreigner plays in the country without the minister’s permission.
Sporting federations would have to select squads 30 days before a tournament, after which the board would decide on the awarding of national colours.
The minister would have the right to recall any decision by the colours board. He would basically decide who runs onto the field.
An apparent contradictory clause said the board would not be allowed to interfere in team selection, but there would have to be motivation for why certain players are picked.
“It’s totally unacceptable for rugby. We won’t leave it there,” Saru president Oregan Hoskins said Tuesday.
“I gave up my right to change teams long ago so that the final decision rests with the coach. Now the government can decide who plays or not?”
Deputy minister of sport Gert Oosthuizen denied the aim was to interfere in sport.
“We just want to prevent someone that runs onto a rugby field for a second from getting national colours … that is not interfering,” he said.
Cape Town. – Proposed sports regulations that would make the minister of sport an almighty selector were withdrawn on Tuesday night.
The regulations would effectively have given Makhenkesi Stofile the power to prescribe who should play flyhalf for the Springboks or open the bowling for the Proteas.
It also appears that the government wanted to regulate the selling of replica jerseys and other supporters’ clothing. That would have led to the loss of millions of rands for sports governing bodies.
The regulations were delivered quietly at sports federations shortly before Christmas and the deadline for comment was shortly after the festive period. It was published as a supplement to the existing law on sport and recreation.
However, a highly-placed source informed Beeld on Tuesday night that the regulations were set to be withdrawn. They are apparently not legal.
According to the regulations a national colours board, which would have been appointed by the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee, would have decided over the awarding of national colours.
It would have taken punitive measures against federations that ignore the regulations and even withdraw recognition, for example in a case where a foreigner plays in the country without the minister’s permission.
Sporting federations would have to select squads 30 days before a tournament, after which the board would decide on the awarding of national colours.
The minister would have the right to recall any decision by the colours board. He would basically decide who runs onto the field.
An apparent contradictory clause said the board would not be allowed to interfere in team selection, but there would have to be motivation for why certain players are picked.
“It’s totally unacceptable for rugby. We won’t leave it there,” Saru president Oregan Hoskins said Tuesday.
“I gave up my right to change teams long ago so that the final decision rests with the coach. Now the government can decide who plays or not?”
Deputy minister of sport Gert Oosthuizen denied the aim was to interfere in sport.
“We just want to prevent someone that runs onto a rugby field for a second from getting national colours … that is not interfering,” he said.
