Tebogo Msimanga |
The Democratic Alliance (DA) says it will write to the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa, to request an independent investigation into all the allegations of sexual abuse at the various sporting federations as a matter of urgency.
DA Deputy Shadow Minister for Sports, Arts and Culture Veronica van Dyk said this is after Swimming South Africa (SSA) and the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) gave less than satisfactory answers to the parliamentary portfolio committee on sports, arts and culture during a meeting this week.
Van Dyk further said more and more allegations of sexual abuse at various sporting federations are coming to light. “It seems clear that too many sports federations in South Africa do not offer sufficient support for victims of sexual abuse. The only way to address this growing problem is a high-level investigation by an independent body with significant consequences for both the perpetrators of sexual abuse and those who are found wanting in disciplining the predators and protecting the victims.”
Van Dyk added that vague excuses and refusal to answer questions critical for oversight should also be punished. Adding that such behaviour shows a callousness towards the millions of victims of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) in South Africa.
“South African athletes cannot continue to be placed in harms’ way for the possibility of winning medals. The mental and physical health of the athletes must become the top priority.”
