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Two hundred and fifty million rand has been allocated to school sports programmes in the country despite the challenges the programme faces.
On Tuesday, the Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture received a briefing from the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) and the Department of Basic Education (DBE) on the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to integrate sports and cultural activities into the school curriculum across the country.
Dr.Cynthia Khumalo, Acting Director General DSAC stated that challenges in the joint implementation of the school sport programme include Inadequate sport infrastructure in schools in previously disadvantaged communities. She said this limits participation and with the support of the DBE, they can unlock the resources to build more infrastructure in schools.
Other challenges include:
Inadequate funding: Annually, DSAC commits over R220m through the Conditional Grant for the School Sport Programme and there are competing funding priorities for the voted funds or norms and standards.
Stakeholder management and cooperation: The programme depends largely on the smooth cooperation among stakeholders. However other stakeholders have used the school sport programme for their own agenda.
Dual mandate of delivering school sport and uneven support and capacity
Duplication of programmes with federations: Despite the limited resources, there are duplications of the same programmes with the federations and government-led school sport programme, resulting in misalignment.
Khumalo said they were one year into the implementation of the MoU and called for more oversight to be conducted, something the departments needed to revisit.
Eugene Mthethwa, an EFF MP, exposed the department’s failure to translate policies into tangible programmes that create long-term careers in arts and culture. He critiques the over-reliance on events, workshops, and camps, which offer no real qualifications or pathways into higher education and employment.
Dr Patricia Watson, DBE Chief Director for Care and Support in School stated that the school sports and enrichment programme at DBE is a flag ship of their enrichment space and that their collaboration with the DSAC is invaluable because it is through a collective effort and collective areas of expertise that they are able to deliver programs at the school level.
Last week, former league champions SuperSport United became the latest team to sell their PSL status.
For the first time since 1994, the once-mighty Matsatsantsa – a team with a short but storied history, and who at times were the only team able to stand up to Mamelodi Sundowns – are no more.
The news angered many fans and former footballers, shocked that a team which won three consecutive titles between 2008 and 2010 could be wiped out so suddenly.
SuperSport United was bought by Calvyn Le’John, who was later revealed to bethe son of Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie. Le’John’s plans for the club include relocating it to Bloemfontein, where they will play as Siwelele United.
He is also expected to invest up to R400 million in the project to revive football in the Free State. Soon after, it was reported that Cape Town City, who were recently relegated, were looking to buy someone’s status to remain in the topflight.
Due to the difficult financial situation TS Galaxy currently finds themselves in, they could be tempted to sell their status to keep the Citizens in the Betway Premiership.
IOL Sport takes a look at some of the most high-profile status changes in the PSL. Moroka Swallows → Marumo Gallants (2024)
Just last year, Marumo Gallants made their way back into the league when they purchased the status of Moroka Swallows, who themselves had only made it back to the professional ranks after buying another club’s status.
Bloemfontein Celtic → Royal AM (2021)
One of the most high-profile cases where a status was sold was when Durban businesswoman Shauwn Mkhize bought the status of Bloemfontein Celtic after Royal AM failed in their promotion bid back in 2021. After two years in the league, things didn’t go as planned for MaMkhize’s team, as they found themselves in a financial hole that got them kicked out.
Dynamos → AmaZulu (2006)
AmaZulu were relegated from the topflight back in 2001/02. They returned briefly in 2003/04 as Zulu Royals but were relegated again. In 2006, local businessman Patrick Sokhela bought the status of Dynamos, who had finished 13th in the league.
Thanda Royal Zulu → AmaZulu (2016)
AmaZulu were relegated again in 2014, and after failing to gain promotion back to the topflight, they bought out KwaZulu-Natal rivals Thanda Royal Zulu, who had won the National First Division.
In 2020, the beloved name of Bidvest Wits disappeared from South African football just three years after winning the league. Wits, then the oldest club in the country at 99 years old, sold their status to Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila. The club lasted just one season in the top flight before they sold their status to Marumo Gallants in 2021.
Highlands Park → TS Galaxy (2020)
TS Galaxy made history in 2019 when they beat Kaizer Chiefs in the Nedbank Cup final, becoming the first team from the National First Division to win the competition. The following season, the team struggled in the NFD and could only manage 10th place. However, the following season saw them make the jump to the top division after buying out Highlands Park. They’ve been in the topflight ever since, but speculation is rife that they might sell their status to the recently relegated Cape Town City.
Mpumalanga Black Aces → Cape Town City (2016)
Cape Town City were founded just nine years ago after the club purchased Mpumalanga Black Aces and relocated the club to Cape Town. Amazayoni, as they were known, had finished fourth in the league during the 2015/16 season.
More status changes
Vasco da Gama → FC Cape Town (2007)
Benoni Premier United → Thanda Royal Zulu (2007)
City Pillars → Mpumalanga Black Aces (2007)
Mbekweni Cosmos → Chippa United (2010)
Bay United → Polokwane City (2012)
Vasco da Gama → Stellenbosch FC (2016)
These repeated status sales raise deeper questions about the integrity and sustainability of South African football.
While club owners may see it as a business decision, it’s the supporters and communities that are left betrayed. Unless the PSL re-evaluates its policies around franchise trading and puts heritage and supporter loyalty at the heart of its decisions, South African football risks losing more than just club names – it risks losing its soul.
Wiaan Mulder’s record-breaking triple century on Day two of the second Test against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo has placed South Africa within nine wickets of victory and a 2-0 series whitewash.
Starting the day on 267 – just seven runs short of equalling Graeme Smith’s record for the highest Test score by a South African captain – Mulder made swift progress. He passed Smith and then Hashim Amla’s 311 with a crisp cover drive off Blessing Muzarabani to move into uncharted territory.
Mulder, who had barely celebrated his previous achievements in this series, showed visible delight upon reaching the highest individual Test score by a South African. By lunch, his unbeaten 367 had already secured fifth place on the all-time individual scores list, behind only Brian Lara (twice), Matthew Hayden and Mahela Jayawardene
Needing just 33 more runs to become only the second player to reach a quadruple century in Test cricket, Mulder instead opted to declare South Africa’s innings closed on 626/5, bringing his epic knock to a close and shifting the focus to the bowlers.
Having fielded for 114 overs and staring at a daunting total, Zimbabwe’s reply started poorly as Codi Yusuf struck with the very first ball of the innings. He went on to finish with 2/20, while debutant Prenelan Subrayen impressed with figures of 4/42 as the hosts were skittled for 170.
Mulder (2/20), Corbin Bosch (1/27) and Senuran Muthusamy (1/59) also chipped in with the ball to enforce the follow-on after just 43 overs.
In their second innings, Zimbabwe showed more resistance, reaching stumps at 51/1 with Kaitano unbeaten on 30 and trailing by 405 runs. The Proteas will be aiming to take the remaining nine wickets quickly on Day three to seal a comprehensive victory.
Openside flank Thando Biyela will lead the Junior Springboks in their third and final Pool A match at the World Rugby Under-20 Championship against Scotland, which kicks off at 3.30pm on Wednesday at the Stadio San Michele in Calvisano.
Even though the SA Under-20 team shows several rotational changes from the team that beat England in their previous group match in Rovigo, the match-23 to face Scotland is a strong combination filled with experience.
Fullback Gilermo Mentoe, right wing Cheswill Jooste, outside centre Gino Cupido, and flyhalf Vusi Moyo are retained from the starting fifteen that defeated England on Friday evening.
Up front, Matt Romao (loose forward), Jaco Grobbelaar (lock), Jean Erasmus and Oliver Read (both props), and Jaundre Schoeman (hooker) all provided impact off the bench against Australia and England, and are now in the starting pack.
According to Kevin Foote, the Junior Springbok coach, they’ve named a team that will play this important pool game with real purpose and pride against a very good Scotland side. A win will solidify the Junior Boks’ top spot in Pool A.
“We are fortunate that the players in our match-23 have experience playing for the Junior Boks against Georgia, in the Under-20 Rugby Championship, and also in our warm-up matches against Kenya,” said Foote.
“It is a tremendous honour for any player to represent the Junior Boks and the starting fifteen for Wednesday have earned that right because everyone has worked extremely hard to be considered.
“Thando has captained us earlier this year, Stephanus Linde played for us against Georgia, while Matt Romao was our Player of the Match against Argentina in the Rugby Championship.
“Jaco Williams, Jaco Grobbelaar, and Oliver Reid have all seen a lot of action in the two previous group matches, while we have more experience playing off the bench in Herman Lubbe, JJ Theron, Batho Hlekani, and Haashim Pead.”
Age or nationality is neither here nor there for Marumo Gallants chairman Abram Sello when it comes to appointing a new head coach.
Gallants have named Lafitte Alexandre as their new head coach, replacing Abdeslam Ouaddou, who recently joined Orlando Pirates. At just 28-years old, Alexandre becomes the youngest coach in the DStv Premiership ahead of the new campaign.
But this is not unfamiliar territory for Gallants, who previously appointed 31-year-old Romain Folz. Although Folz’s stay at the club was brief, he went on to make a name for himself at Horoya AC, Fifa, AmaZulu, and Mamelodi Sundowns.
Speaking at Alexandre’s unveiling at Hotel Sky in Sandton on Monday — alongside the club’s new signings — Sello explained their approach to recruitment.
“I think as our payline, Bahlabane Ba Ntwa, when we look for someone, we really mean business,” Sello said.
India captain Shubman Gill's commanding 269 was the cornerstone of India's first-innings 587 on the second day of the second Test. England were 77-3 at stumps -- a huge deficit of 510 runs.
India captain Shubman Gill scored a superb maiden, record-breaking Test double-century before stand-in fast bowler Akash Deep took England in consecutive balls at Edgbaston on Thursday.
Gill's commanding 269 was the cornerstone of India's first-innings 587 on the second day of the second Test. England were 77-3 at stumps -- a huge deficit of 510 runs.
Deep only played because India rested Jasprit Bumrah, the world's top-ranked Test bowler who is only due to play in three games in this five-match series to minimise the effects of a back injury.
The 28-year-old Deep conceded 12 runs in his first over, but his second was a double-wicket maiden that left England faltering at 13-2.
He had Ben Duckett, fresh from a superb 149 in England's five-wicket win in the first Test at Headingley, edging to third slip. Gill capped his already brilliant day by holding a fine catch.
Next ball Ollie Pope fell for a golden duck when he nicked Deep to second slip, with KL Rahul clinging on at the second attempt.
Joe Root survived the hat-trick delivery.
India, made to pay for dropping several catches in the cordon at Headingley, then held another when Mohammed Siraj had Crawley edging to Karun Nair at first slip. England were 25-3.
Root (18 not out) and Yorkshire team-mate Harry Brook (30 not out) prevented further collapse with an unbroken fourth-wicket stand of 52.
But the day belonged to India and above all Gill, who in just his second Test as skipper broke records previously held by India batting greats Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar and Sunil Gavaskar.
Gill's innings surpassed the recently retired Kohli's 254 against South Africa at Pune in 2019 as the highest score by an India Test captain, and replaced Tendulkar's 241 against Australia at Sydney as the highest score by an India batsman in a Test outside Asia.
It also topped Gavaskar's celebrated 221 at the Oval in 1979 as the largest score by an India batsman in a Test in England.
"I worked on a few things before the series as well, that I thought might be important for me going into Test cricket," Gill, who made 147 at Headingley, told Sky Sports.
"Looking at the results, they are working for me," added Gill, who was equally delighted by India's much improved out-cricket.
"Fielding was definitely one of those things we spoke about as a team, and it's great to see that come off so far," said Gill.
'MASTERCLASS'
England assistant coach Jeetan Patel accepted the hosts had endured a gruelling time.
"One hundred and fifty overs in the dirt in any scenario is pretty tough," Patel told reporters.
"Credit must be given to Shubman with the way he's batted over two days. It was a masterclass in how to bat on a good wicket," the former New Zealand off-spinner added.
Earlier, the 25-year-old Gill received excellent support from spin-bowling all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja (89) and Washington Sundar (42) in partnerships of 203 and 144 for the sixth and seventh wickets.
Until he got out, Gill batted in near flawless fashion.
He was especially severe on Shoaib Bashir, cover-driving the off-spinner for four and lofting him for six, with the bowler largely unthreatening against frontline batsmen in a return of 3-167 in 45 overs.
A hooked single off fast bowler Josh Tongue, whose two wickets cost 119 runs, took Gill to 200, with the elated skipper bowing to a capacity crowd in celebration.
Gill's marathon innings of 387 balls, including 30 fours and three sixes, spanned some eight-and-a-half hours. It finally ended with a rare false shot when a tired pull off Tongue found Pope at square leg.
England players shook Gill's hand as he walked off with India now 574-8.
India, again sent into bat by England captain Ben Stokes, had resumed on 310-5, with Gill 114 not out and Jadeja 41 not out.
But India, batting in ideal sunny conditions on Thursday, wanted even more runs from Gill and Jadeja after collapses of 7-41 and 6-31 at Headingley proved costly -- and the increasingly ruthless duo got them.
*This article was first published by Eye Witness News
