AfriForum submitted commentary on 28 February 2020, against the proposed amendments to the Sport and Recreation Act, 1998 (Act 110 of 1998), which were published in December 2019. AfriForum argues that these proposed amendments should not be implemented at all as it would have a detrimental effect on South African sport.

AfriForum set out the overall impact of the of the proposed legislation in a detailed document. In a nutshell, the focus is on two summarising points.

First, every international sports body prohibits the political or governmental interference in sport.

“Although we have been aware of political interference in sport for a number of years now, and even brought it to the attention of international sport bodies, the written, direct hijacking of sport would have serious implications for South African sport on an international level,” says Henk Maree, Spokesperson for AfriForum.

Second, history proves that political and governmental interference in sport have never been beneficial to sport in any country. South Africa is an excellent example.

AfriForum’s commentary also refers to the contradictory actions of international bodies concerning the application and action against countries that pursue direct racially representative policies.

“AfriForum is still determined to approach international sports bodies later this year to address political interference in sport and the aggressive implementation of the quota system in South African sport,” Maree concludes.

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Read the original article in Afrikaans on AfriForum

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