Amid the South African team basking under its six medal victory for the 2024 Paris Olympics, the EFF slammed the Sports, Arts and Culture Ministry’s failure to transform barriers clouding black children in achieving thriving sporting careers.
Although the country is 30 years into democracy, EFF spokesperson Leigh-Ann Mathys lamented racial inequality was the chief factor that hindered black children from successful sports careers.
“Thirty years after the oppressive apartheid government denied African equal rights, the race demographics of team SA do not reflect our nation's diversity. This highlights that access to sports is still largely determined by race and class,” said Mathys.
Instead of focusing on transformation, she accused the department’s minister, Gayton McKenzie, of creating a social media frenzy, while running a ministry notorious for “issuing condolences”.
“We call on the minister to use the same energy that is misdirected to social media, and instead focus on dismantling the systemic barriers that prevent the majority of our people from accessing and excelling in sports,” said Mathys.
With the unemployment rate worsening at 33.5% for the second quarter, a handful of South African households will add to the poverty line, in particular, black people.
As black people lag economically, education activist Hendrick Makaneta emphasised that this ultimately blocks sporting opportunities for black children, further exacerbating the existing inequalities in sports.
“Economic disparities have undoubtedly limited access to sports development opportunities for black children. Many black families struggle to make ends meet, making it difficult for them to afford sports equipment, training, and transportation to competitions,” said Makaneta.
According to media reports, the Equal Education Law Centre revealed that 80% of under-performing schools were dysfunctional, mentioning they were plagued by shortage of study material, poverty and violence. Most of these schools served black and coloured learners.
The above mentioned painted a stark picture of the country’s education system, where learners from quintile 1 to 3 schools cannot develop their sporting talents due to poor facilities, and qualified sports teachers.
Therefore, Makaneta said: “It is a significant contributor to the under representation of black athletes in the SA Olympics team. Inadequate infrastructure, funding, and resource allocation have hindered progress.”
For sporting transformation in indigent schools, he explained the Department of Basic Education (DBE) must increase funding to develop sports infrastructure and render training programmes that will equip teachers with the right skills and professionalise sports.
Additionally, Makaneta indicated that DBE carried a crucial role in ensuring equal access to education, including sports development.
To achieve this, he urged the government to forge partnerships with the private sector to provide resources, mentorship, and opportunities for young black athletes.
However, sports development for black children is not solely reliant on the government, but communities and parents must get involved to cultivate and nurture young talent.
“By working together, we can create a more inclusive sports development ecosystem that empowers black learners to reach their full potential and represents South Africa's diverse talent on the global stage,” said Makaneta.
The Star