AfriForum and Solidarity earlier this week submitted official complaints against race quotas and political interference in South African netball at the headquarters of the International Netball Federation (INF) in Manchester, England. This delegation also held a meeting with members of the European Parliament (EP) in Brussels, Belgium during which political interference in South African sport was discussed.
It was pointed out to both bodies that the South African government is interfering politically in South African sport’s activities, as well as to the fact that race plays a crucial role in team selections.
According to Kallie Kriel, CEO of AfriForum, the independence of South African sporting bodies is placed in question by increased government influence.
“AfriForum believes in the independence of sport associations. These associations need to make their own decisions without the influence of a prescriptive government,” says Kriel.
This week’s submission will be followed up in the next two weeks with the submission of similar complaints at the respective headquarters of the International Cricket Council (ICC), the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).
“At the INF specifically the door is left open to approach the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) which is the highest authorised body in the international sporting arena. This Court was particularly established to deliver a final and binding judgement about international sporting disputes,” says Henk Maree, Spokesperson of AfriForum.