Komphela's alleged racist remark sparks boycott
Comments allegedly made by chairman of Parliament's Sports Committee, Butana Komphela, that Sascoc (the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee) was 'full of whites and Indians who don't understand transformation and lack vision' were slanderous and racist, according to Sascoc president Moss Mashishi.
He confirmed a Sascoc decision taken at its annual meeting on Saturday not to have any dealings with the Sports Committee as long as it was chaired by Komphela. According to a report in The Times, he said a complaint would also be lodged with the SA Human Rights Commission against Komphela for reportedly making remarks designed to incite racism. Mashishi said all sporting codes affiliated to Sascoc would abide by the ''unanimous decision'' taken at the general meeting.
Full report in The Times
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The committee will not be 'held to ransom' or intimidated by 'a kangaroo court' of sporting codes, says its deputy chair, Cedrick Frolick (ANC). 'They have a leadership that is obsessed with power. They want sports federations to be accountable to them and not Parliament and the Department of Sport,' he added. According to a Cape Times report, he said the Sascoc decision was 'irresponsible'. He threatened to invoke a law allowing MPs to subpoena people to appear before them to account to them. The legislation provides for a jail term for anyone who ignores such a summons.
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