Lim athletes deserve an explanation after champs
The DA demands accountability after young athletes endured poor conditions at nationals, calling MEC Maseko’s apology insufficient.
LIMPOPO – The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Limpopo has welcomed an apology from Sport, Arts and Culture MEC Jerry Maseko, as well as Premier Dr. Phophi Ramathuba’s commitment to investigate the alleged mistreatment of school athletes during the recent national championships.
The controversy stems from the South African Schools Athletics Championships held in Bloemfontein, where several athletes and coaches from Limpopo reportedly spent the night sleeping on buses due to a lack of proper accommodation and logistical planning by the provincial department.
According to reports from concerned parents, some children and team managers went without food and endured unsafe conditions after hours of travel. In some cases, parents choose to withdraw their children from the competition, citing safety concerns.
Read more: Limpopo athletes left stranded
DA provincial legislature member Adv. Franco Marx said that while the party acknowledges MEC Maseko’s apology, it is not sufficient.
“This was not just a logistical error – it was a serious failure of responsibility,” he said.
Marx confirmed that the DA will submit formal questions to both Maseko and the Education MEC, seeking clarity on who was responsible for the planning failures, what disciplinary actions are being taken, and what measures are being put in place to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The party is also calling for the findings of the investigation to be made public and for swift disciplinary action if wrongdoing is confirmed.
“This debacle robbed our children of the opportunity to shine on a national stage and undermined public trust,” said Marx. “They deserve more than apologies, they deserve answers and justice.”
