Sport cannot become the dairy cow of the ANC

6 June 2016

Everything in South Africa which is still functioning properly has to be dismantled and milked dry while there is no sign of new state initiatives to supplement the treasury, Adv. Anton Alberts, the FF Plus’s parliamentary spokesperson on sport, says.

Adv. Alberts says a report in the weekend newspaper “SundayTimes” regarding a 5% levy that could possibly be imposed on all ticket sales of professional sporting events in South Africa, is disconcerting.

“There is great pressure on traditional supposedly white sports such as rugby and cricket to grow in popularity in black communities in an attempt to satisfy the government’s racial targets.

“The government’s contribution in this regard by way of advice, actions or financially, is negligible and it places a huge burden on these sports to keep afloat. Sport cannot become the dairy cow of the ANC.

“It is well known that sponsors in these difficult economic times are not queuing to sponsor rugby and cricket. The Springbok rugby team has, for example, secured a sponsor at the last minute that will sponsor them for only this series of three games against Ireland.

“In addition, the government is silent when the bankrupt SAA, which is being kept afloat with taxpayer’s money, sponsors the country’s poor soccer team with millions of rand, which effectively boils down to taxpayers sponsoring the team.

“The FF Plus will oppose these attempts of the ANC in every possible way and asks the support of the public with this,” Adv. Alberts says.

Issued by Anton Alberts, FF Plus Parliamentary Spokesperson: Sport, 6 June 2016