Athletes, not Beyonce, should be Minister Mbalula's top priority
It is absurd that Minister of Sports and Recreation, Fikile Mbulula, is willing to spend millions on the upcoming Sports Awards, rather than on supporting our athletes (see report).
Minister Mbalula's department has stated that it has no problem with sponsors footing the reported R17 million bill that it will cost to get singer Beyonce to perform at this year's event.
Instead of campaigning for millions of rands to be donated towards his yearly bash, Minister Mbalula should be doing all he can to ensure that our national athletes get much needed sponsorship.
The Minister has made no attempt to hide his willingness to turn the Sports Awards into an extravaganza.
Last year's ceremony cost R45.9 million, with R8 million coming from the National Lottery Board, despite being earmarked for Olympic Athletes, and R12.1 million from the Department of Sports and Recreation.
Many of our sports teams are facing serious funding shortages, for example, the South African national men's hockey team, which had to make an appeal for sponsorship, and Lebogang Moeng, the South African 400m champion.
For the Minister to insist on spending millions of rands on a single event, while our athletes are in serious need of financial support, is inexcusable.
I will be submitting a series of parliamentary questions to the Minister to find out:
- The budget for this year's Sports Awards;
- where the money to fund the Sports Awards is coming from; and
- how much money the Department of Sports and Recreation has made available to support South Africa's athletes at this year's Olympics.
Sport and a successful Olympic squad have the potential to bring our people together. It is an important opportunity for our country to unite behind our national teams, and can inspire a whole generation of athletes.
Our teams deserve all the support we can give them. This should be Minister Mbalula's top priority.
Statement issued by Winston Rabotapi MP, DA Shadow Minister of Sports and Recreation, June 20 2012
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