COSATU condemns SASCOC's Chinese Olympic kit deal
The Congress of South African Trade Unions is outraged at the revelation that the kit for South African teams competing at the London Olympics is being made in China. It strongly condemns SASCOC for its contempt for the hundreds of South African clothing and textile workers who have been robbed of employment opportunities, and for its total lack of patriotism.
The Olympic Games ought to be a platform to exhibit the very best of each country's products. At the launch of the kit SASCOC Chief Executive Officer, Tubby Reddy, was quoted as saying: "The mere pride and feel-good factor of the wearing of the national kit should serve to up their performance by a few levels." Yet, thanks to his committee, our teams will now be promoting the best of Chinese clothing!
COSATU fully agrees with Proudly South African CEO, Adv. Leslie Sedibe, that "the manufacturing of South Africa's national team kit in
China is a mockery and an insult to efforts by local constituencies to promote local goods and services".
PSA has revealed that at three meetings with the SASCOC President, Gideon Sam, SASCOC gave a commitment that they would encourage their registered sports federations to support local manufacturers for any procurement of sporting equipment/clothing. These are now shown to be empty words!