Massive change to MSSA's Regional Championships.

South Africa has 56 regions within the nine provinces. The districts are the municipal districts as defined by the South African government. The Minister of Sport and Recreation considers growth at the Regions as vital to the growth of sport in South Africa as a whole.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) totally subscribes to the view expressed by the Minister in this regard.

Thus MSSA has implemented the policy of holding Regional Championships. It is hoped that the Regional Championships will be expanded to each and every region in the country, as the championships will undoubtedly help:

1. Strengthen clubs that are in each region,
2. Encourage clubs to grow in regions that as yet do not have member clubs, and
3. Allow a greater base of players to participate in official MSSA championships without having to travel vast distances.

Thus, considering that Regional Championships are to be used as a vehicle to increase MSSA's footprint across the country, MSSA has decided that for the remainder of the year any player (whether affiliated or not to a member club) be allowed to enter any MSSA Regional Championship subject to an additional payment of R20.00 per player per game, and on completing (in its entirety) an 'Associate Player Registration Form'. .

Such decision will allow such gamers to win medals, and to earn Regional Colours, but will not extend to any other benefit of membership such as qualifying for National team Trials, voting rights, and so forth.

Also, such additional payment shall not be retained by the host club, but shall be paid by such host club directly into MSSA's bank account.

#feesmustfall

ANC election poster circa 1999

Watching the development of events in South Africa over the past couple of weeks, I have noticed a disturbing  trend.

While it is true to say that fees for tertiary education are unrealistic for many South Africans and that any country should try to get as many people as educated as possible, the South African government has not been without blame.

The ANC, years ago, promised a free education. since the promise, fees at both school and university level have increased every single year.

But what has this got to do with sport and gaming.

Simply put, if sport does not create better citizens, there is no point having sport at all.

Yet what do we see, increases in the cost of education that both the poor and middle classes cannot afford as well  as blithe remarks made by the Minister of Sport and Recreation, Mr. Fikile Mbalula on his Twitter page, such as:

What is interesting by the top comment that he makes is that he seems to try to  misdirect his readers.

In the next 'Tweet' he seems to accept government failure.

In my opinion, he is as equally to blame as the rest of the government.

Every year the Department of Sport and Recreation host the S A Sports Awards. In 2014 the event cost over R80,000,000.00. The amount of eighty million rands could have funded approximately 567 free 3-year BSc degrees.

Then we look at the Commonwealth Games bid. It is estimated that it will cost South Africa over 3 billion rands. An interesting article on this may be found here: http://businesstech.co.za/news/general/97279/how-much-will-the-commonwealth-games-cost-south-africa/

If that is what the Commonwealth Games costs, then such amount could provide no less than 20,000
free 3-year BSc degrees.

It is really all a matter of perspective in my opinion.

Should we educate the nation, and have a better and more productive nation, or spend the money on the 'quick-fix' and temporarily feel good about ourselves?

"Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more!"

As in the past when only the MSSA would stand up in SASCOC meetings and vote against unsound policies, it seems as though only the MSSA is speaking out against the Minister's proposed amendments to the Sport and Recreation Act.

In a recent press release by the MSSA, which was also apparently sent directly to the Minister, the MSSA stated:

“In short it is hard to believe that any lawyers actually wrote such amendments.

The grammar is poor, the concepts vague, in places in direct  conflict with the country's constitution, encroaching on the  powers of other legislation and ministries, and at times      totally devoid of any meaningful definitions.

It is safe to say that many International Federations will at least 
baulk at the level of government interference that will be the result of 
these amendments. At the worst, such International Federations will 
cease to have anything to do with South African National Federations 
should these amendments come into play.

Also, as an unexpected outcome of such amendments, whereby both 
administrators and athletes shall be criminalised, I expect here to be a 
mass exodus of both from the sporting arena, which in turn, should shut 
down most of the codes in the country.

Is that really what SRSA wants?

It is thus the MSSA's opinion that the proposed amendments be thrown 
back to the Ministry and reworked.”

It is also believed that the MSSA has sent the comments to each and every National Federation in the country, as well as to SASCOC, in order to make them aware of the changes and to make them aware of the effect that the amendments will have on all sport in South Africa.

So, again, the MSSA like a noble knight upon a white charger, defends the many when those who are far more capable, in terms of manpower, resources, etc., choose to remain silent!

The full MSSA comment on the proposed amendments may be found on http://www.news24.com/MyNews24/The-MSSAs-comment-on-proposed-changes-to-the-national-sports-and-recreation-act-20150727

Comment is required

All South Africans should take notice of the following:

 National Sport and Recreation Draft Amendment Bill, 2016; South African Institute for Drug Free Sport Amendment Bill, 2017; South African Combat Sport Bill, 2017; Fitness Industry Regulatory Bill, 2017

Comment expires on 2015-07-30

2015-04-24

Sport and Recreation

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The Department of Sport and Recreation invites you to submit written comments on the following draft Bills;

National Sport and Recreation Draft Amendment Bill, 2016

The seeks to amend the National Sport and Recreation Act, 1998 so as to:
▪ amend, insert and delete certain definitions;
▪ provide for policy framework with regard to the promotion and development of sport and recreation;
▪ provide for the establishment of commissions;
▪ allow for the development of sport and the intervention of Sport and Recreation South Africa in sport matters at school level;
▪ develop policy framework for talent identification and development programme;
▪ establish a Sport Arbitration Tribunal to resolve disputes in sport or recreation bodies;
▪ provide for offences and penalties.
 

South African Institute for Drug Free Sport Amendment Bill, 2017

The Bill seeks amend the South African - Institute For Drug - Free Sport Act 14 of 1997, so as to:
▪ insert new definitions;
▪ provide for an inquiry with regard to the removal of a member of Institute from office and for the resignation of a member;
▪ make provisions for a resolution of the National Assembly calling for the removal of a member of Institute or for the dissolution of the Institute;
▪ provide for the appointment of interim members of the Institute;
▪ provide for the consent in random testing of learners in schools that participate in sport.
 

South African Combat Sport Bill, 2017

The Bill seeks to provide for the administration, governance and regulation of combat sport in the Republic;
▪ establish a Combat Sport Regulatory Authority to oversee combat sport;
▪ make provision for the establishment and constitution of a Council and the appointment of its councilors to implement the oversight function of the Authority;
▪ provide for the establishment of Committees to assist the Council;
▪ make provision for appeals against decisions in combat sport;
▪ provide for the appointment of inspectors and their powers to monitor combat sport and investigate complaints.
 

Fitness Industry Regulatory Bill, 2017

The Bill seeks to provide for the establishment of Fitness Industry Regulatory Authority, the establishment of a Council and the appointment of councilors;
▪ provide for the registration of fitness controlling bodies, fitness professionals and the accreditation of fitness establishments in the Republic;
▪ provide for disciplinary action against fitness professionals, owners or managers;
▪ provide for the maintenance and upkeep of a register of registered fitness controlling bodies, fitness professionals and accredited fitness establishments;
▪ provide for the constitutions and powers of fitness controlling bodies; to provide for the offences.
 

Comments can be emailed to Adv Nkosana Mehlomakulu at nkosana@srsa.gov.za or legalservices@srsa.gov.za and Mr Gideon Boshoff at Gideon@srsa.gov.za by no later than Thursday, 30 July 2015.

It should be noted that the National Sport and Recreation Bill is without doubt, in my opinion, one of the worst pieces of legislation ever written. The Bill, if passed will criminalize many who are involved in sport if they do not comply with the Minister. How this Bill passed by the government's counsel escapes me. However, we can all be confident that the best legal minds in the MSSA will comment.

What makes a national federation?

It seems as though, as much as I try to explain what makes a national federation, there are still a few people who remain blissfully unable to understand what I am indeed writing!

Maybe looking at the law would help!

All sport and recreation in South Africa is governed by the Sports and Recreation Act of 1998 (as amended). Yes this is an Act of Parliament passed by the highest authority in the land – parliament! As such it really does not matter as to whether the reader agrees with it or not, it is the law!

But, what does the Act say in this regard?

It reads as follows:

“National Federation: means a national governing body of a code of sport or recreational activity in the Republic recognised by the relevant international controlling body as the only authority for the administration and control of the relative code of sport or recreational activity in the Republic;”

So, what does that mean?

Simply put it means that first the international body recognises the national federation and then the government recognises such body.

This means that some people have really misunderstood the entire process.

While such persons are claiming that some international events were not official, it seems now that they indeed are as recognition begins with the international federation.

So, again, a national federation is a national federation when the international body recognises it to be so, and an international event is official when the international federation says it is.

Have fun!