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Timothy Molobi

THREE sports bodies will be grilled by the parliamentary sport portfolio committee this week.

The South African Football Association (Safa), South African Sports Confederations and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) and Athletics South Africa (ASA) will face a barrage of questions from members of the Butana Komphela-led committee.

Safa will have to explain why it did not comply with the National Sports and Recreation Amendment Act when hiring Joel Santana as the new Bafana Bafana coach.

Sascoc and ASA are being hauled before the committee for their public mudslinging that was the aftermath of comments made by athletics president Leonard Chuene on transformation. Sascoc said they were investigating whether Chuene’s comments had brought the organisation into disrepute.

Komphela said his committee would be meeting all three organisations this week.

He said he was not happy with the public mudslinging, and wanted to call both Sascoc and ASA to order.

“We cannot go on like this,” said a fuming Komphela. “What has been happening is not good for the image of the sport, and Sascoc is out of order by trying to hold Chuene to ransom for something he said to Parliament. He has to enjoy the privilege of addressing Parliament, and what Sascoc is doing is in contempt of this body.”

Komphela was also unhappy that Safa did not follow correct procedure when replacing Carlos Alberto Parreira. Safa has been called to explain Santana’s hiring and to give a progress report on the preparations for the 2010 World Cup.

When recruiting Santana, Safa failed to adhere to the act, which stipulates that before recruiting a foreign sportsperson in the republic, they must satisfy themselves that there are no other suitable people within the country.

Minister of Sport and Recreation Makhenkesi Stofile has since reprimanded Safa and warned they might face his wrath.

Last week, Stofile wrote a letter to Safa, reminding them of the act.

After failing to respond to the letter, Stofile sent another letter this week pertaining to the same subject.

Media liaison in the office of the minister, Lerato Mogorosi, said a second letter had been written to Safa, as the minister was still awaiting Safa’s response after the body’s failure to respond to the initial letter last week. She could not say what measures Stofile could implement if he was not happy with the association’s explanation.

But speculation is that he could delay the issuing of Santana’s work permit as he would first have to set aside some requirements if he was satisfied with Safa’s explanation.

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