A memorable evening during our recent KZN farming sojourn was at the home of Steuart Pennington, headmaster of South Africa’s glass-half-full school. He seeks the positive in all things, especially his country, applying this passion via public speaking and his popular website, SA The Good News.
So when Steuart turns critical, you know it’s serious. And right now he’s seething at Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula’s banning of SA’s Big Four hosting international events which he describes as “Government blaming the private sector for its own shortcomings.”
Pennington asks the obvious question: What have Mbalula and his cabinet colleagues done at SA’s 23 000 primary and 7 000 secondary schools to promote now blackballed rugby, cricket, netball and athletics? Specifically, he asks, how much of the massive corporate and NGO sponsorship and other investment in sport has actually hit these nurseries?
His scathing conclusion: In 22 years, Mbalula’s Ministry “has failed in its duty to give children with interest and talent a chance of reaching the top. So, as is typical, a scapegoat must be found and a privilege removed.” True transformation starts outside places television cameras reach. And far away from boozy shindigs the Sports Ministry seems so adept at hosting.
From Biznews community member Ian Jayes
We are all missing the obvious.
When South Africa was expelled from the IOC and international competition it was on the grounds of: “Teams must be selected on merit and no government interference in sport”.
