Hon members, I am informed that the Deputy Minister of Sport and Recreation, the hon Gert Oosthuizen is with us this afternoon. He was originally not scheduled to speak but, after consultation, we felt that before hon Tlhagale presents a statement on behalf of the committee, the Deputy Minister must be given an opportunity to speak on the thrust of the Bill. I now hand over to you, Deputy Minister.
Chairperson, hon members of the House, thank you so much. This is due to some miscommunication on the part of my parliamentary officer. We prepared a speech because the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport Amendment Bill comes at a very important time, and this why we would like to make an input in this regard. It is a time in which there is a global fight against doping in sport, a fight aimed at promoting the values of fair play and honesty in sport. Let me say these are values we as government fully subscribe to.
About four months ago, this House passed a resolution for our country to ratify the International Convention Against Doping in Sport. This Unesco- driven initiative is based on the World Anti-Doping Code, which was drafted by the World Anti-Doping Agency, called Wada.
One of the principal functions of the Bill before the House is to align the existing Act with the provisions of the World Anti-Doping Code and the international standards. Let me point out that noncompliance would result in South Africa being refused participation in international sport, including the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
I know of no South African who would like this to happen, yet we read and hear on a regular basis how some of the top sportspeople in the world, some of them world record holders, are tested positive for using performance- enhancing substances.
Recently, we heard of two top cricket bowlers from Pakistan, Mr Akhtar and Mr Asif, who tested positive. This is sad, because doping undermines the spirit of fair play and discipline in sport.
Our own country has not escaped the scourge of doping. We read of our own heroes, like Ezekiel Sepeng, who have fallen foul of doping offences. A few weeks ago the leading article on the front page of the Rapport newspaper on Sunday morning read: "Skolesportskande", referring to doping amongst schoolboy rugby players.
The article described how parents buy the banned substances for their children so that they can be selected for the provincial schools teams with the hope of getting a contract with one of the senior provincial unions. Carte Blanche did an expos on their programme on 24 September this year in which young people, many of them still at school, admitted to using steroids and revealed that the practice was widespread in some of our schools.
One does not need to be a rocket scientist to determine the reason why top sportspeople resort to doping, which is nothing but cheating to achieve success - and that is the greed for money that drives them! What is shocking is that this greed for money leads people to totally disregard the long-term consequences of such behaviour. We all have a responsibility to ensure that the true values and virtues of sport are protected and preserved. I am sure I do not have to stand here today to expound on the good of sport. Unfortunately, there is also the ugly side of sport and this Bill aims to reinforce our commitment to clean up sport and to ensure fair play.
The SA Institute for Drug-Free Sport, Saids, a public entity associated with the Department of Sport and Recreation of South Africa, will have to be - and I say this with the full knowledge that it is us that will have to find the money - sufficiently funded to redouble their efforts aimed at counteracting this unwelcome tendency of doping in our sport. The testing programme of Saids, and their anti-doping advocacy and education campaigns will have to be intensified to achieve the required success.
It is, furthermore, our opinion that doping in sport is not dissimilar to recreational substance abuse. Our campaigns in sport to fight the scourge of doping can also serve to address drug abuse in our society. In this campaign, we should use our sports heroes and heroines as role models. They must not only be vocal on the topic of anti-doping and drug abuse, they should be the heroes, the champions who set the example. I know that we in South Africa can rely on them to assist us in this drive against doping and any drug abuse.
If and when we identify the real culprits of doping in sport, it is upon us to act decisively against them. It is here where we call on the federations to comply with the Act, because, regarding the failure of the federations to comply with the Act, section 17A of Act 14 of 1997 makes provision for investigation and dealing with national sport federations that do not comply.
The section is very clear, and I will mention the actions that can be taken by the Department of Sport and Recreation. They are: withdrawal of government funding; banning of such federations from administrating sport; and the recommendation that Sascoc withholds the awarding of national colours to members of the federation.
While the Act provides for this, I am convinced that it will never be necessary to use it because our federations have always supported measures aimed at promoting the values of fair play. We therefore thank the federations in advance for their unqualified support in this regard.
South Africa continues to play a central role in the fight against doping in sport internationally and on the African continent. We represent Africa on both the executive and foundation boards of the World Anti-Doping Agency, of which Minister Stofile, the Minister of Sport and Recreation, is a member. In fact, the Minister is not here today precisely because he is busy with a meeting in Canada, in Montreal. We also host the African regional office of the World Anti-Doping Agency in Cape Town. Let me say that that is something we are very proud of.
While it is important to be vigilant about doping practices in sport, it is equally important that we, on the other hand, increase our support to athletes to enable them to perform to the best of their ability without using drugs. Many of our athletes are currently in the national academy programme funded by government and co-ordinated by the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee, where they attend camps in preparation for the All-Africa Games in 2007 and the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008.
At these camps the athletes and coaches receive the necessary scientific and medical support that will help them achieve their optimum potential. Our ultimate objective is to place our athletes and teams in residential long-term athlete development programmes in cycles of four years.
To this end, we hope and trust that it will be within our means as government to shortly announce an athletes' assistance programme where our top athletes as well as those with the best potential will be financially supported on a monthly basis.
Chairperson, the intention of government by introducing this Bill is clear: we want our athletes to excel in a doping-free environment. We therefore ask the support of this august House in achieving this objective. I thank you. [Applause.]
Hon Chairperson, hon members of the House, this Bill seeks to amend the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport Act of 1997 by deleting certain definitions, and inserting, amending and substituting others. It also makes provision for the appointment of staff of the institute by the Minister and aligns the Act with the Public Finance Management Act.
The Bill also establishes a centralised doping control programme, which may subject an athlete to testing with or without advance notice and both in or out of competition.
Provision is also made for the entry of the name of an athlete found guilty of an anti-doping violation in the doping register as well as the disclosure of certain information to sports administration bodies, the public, the SA Police Service and the South African customs services.
The Bill also makes provision for the establishment of an independent board, which shall be known as the anti-doping appeal board. It shall consist of a panel of nine persons possessing special knowledge and expertise relevant to doping from which at least three members shall be appointed by the Minister on the recommendation of the institute and the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee to constitute an appeal tribunal to hear and decide upon appeals against decisions made in terms of Article 13 of the code, where appropriate. It also provides for punitive measures against national sports federations that do not comply with regulations contained in this Act.
In addition, by means of this Bill, our athletes will be alerted beforehand so that they are not caught with their pants down in some of the plots involving the use of drugs by unscrupulous persons who are in competition with them.
In conclusion, I wish to thank the committee, and the chairperson in particular, for their co-operation and friendly disposition during the deliberations. I move that the House accepts this Bill. Thank you.
Debate concluded.
Order! That concludes the debate. I shall now put the question. The question is that the Bill, subject to proposed amendments, be agreed to.
In accordance with Rule 63, I shall first allow political parties the opportunity to make their declarations of vote if they so wish. We shall now proceed to the voting. Those in favour say "Aye."
HON MEMBERS: Aye!
Those against say "No." [Inaudible.]
I think the ayes have it. The majority of the members have voted in favour. I therefore declare the Bill, subject to proposed amendments, agreed to in terms of section 75 of the Constitution. [Applause.]
Bill, subject to proposed amendments, agreed to in accordance with section 75 of the Constitution.