Sports minister Mthethwa slams EFF, labels march as ‘ populist theatrics’

Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa has described the planned picket by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) outside his office as “ill-advised and populist theatrics”.

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The EFF is set to march to Mthethwa’s office on Thursday to demand the immediate reopening of stadiums across the country.

In a statement issued by his department on Wednesday, Mthetha described the EFF’s call for the reopening of stadiums as foolhardy and bizarre.

“The choice to picket at the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture and direct attention at the Minister on a matter based on the Disaster Management Act is quite curious and misguided. This is particularly so since EFF is a political party represented in Parliament and various legislatures and therefore part of law making. An elementary reading of the Disaster Management Act proves the fact that calling on the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture to open up stadiums is foolhardy as much as it is bizarre. The Minister is not empowered to make any such decisions and the EFF should know this,” read the statement.

“And for a party that claims to be made up of academically acclaimed characters, it just boggles the mind what deduction could have brought EFF to conclude that the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture is the go-to spot.

“Assuming basic facts about the Disaster Management Act is known to EFF, it begs the question, what truthfully motivates their irrational nit pickings of Minister Nathi Mthethwa? Is EFF part of a larger nefarious and dubious campaign and essentially serving as a hired gun if the price is right? Are they being used in a political chess game through which they will yet again use unsuspecting innocent people as political pawns? Or again, without any inkling of rationality, are they about to yet again embark on an abusive campaign based on the belief that South Africans are easy to fool and cannot separate fact from fiction?

“They should know that their ultimate agenda is transparent and easy to see. It will be responded to accordingly.

“The Minister – like many throughout the world – is proud of government and his department’s response to the devastating Covid-19 pandemic. With Covid-19 vaccines accessible to all South Africans, a partnership-type approach was embarked on with sports and creatives’ personalities and bodies. The result of this well-established and continuing
collaborative relationship resulted in formulation of the Safe Return of Spectators strategy at sport, arts and culture events as well as venues. Fundamental to this strategy is a phased in approach which remains relevant and is guiding the approach to open up venues. This strategy is currently under consideration through Cabinet-related processes responsible for South Africa’s response to Covid-19.

“In other words, the decision on opening up of venues does not lie with the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture or his department. A fact which either skipped EFF’s logic or affirms the belief that they are actually up to something more perverse and are using this matter as a launch pad towards such end.

“The Safe Return of Spectators strategy proposes opening to 2 000 spectators as the first phase which was accomplished in October 2021. It is intended to scale up to Phase 2, 3 and the last phase at 50%, 75% and 100%, respectively. The initial target was to be at 75% by now. Unfortunately, the emergence of the Omicron Covid-19 variant made this target unachievable by the initial timeframe. The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture is though still committed to pursue Cabinet on this phased approach to opening up.

Mthethwa added he and his department went a step further and established a committee of experts called Return to Play Adjudication Committee to support organisations, clubs and individuals to ensure compliance with Covid-19 prescripts.

“This is done through submission of plans which are analysed, adjudicated, approved and monitored based on guidelines shared with the sector. Success factors recorded following this approach includes numerous games last year such as Bafana Bafana v/s Ethopia; Bafana Bafana v/s Zimbabwe; MTN 8 Challenge Final; Rugby Carling Championship; Stormers v/s Lions and others.

“In terms of the creative sector, a total of about R 750 million has been distributed since 2020 to around 65 000 beneficiaries through Covid-19 grants. These monies are not sufficient to provide for the entire sector and government has acknowledged as much repeatedly.

“But they are also monies in the pockets of artists and verifiable information confirming as much is publicly available.”

“No amount of irrationality, vulgarity or grandstanding will intimidate the Minister, his department or government into populist and irresponsible decision making and actions. The country’s Covid-19 response strategy is correctly hailed across the world for seeking a balance between saving both lives and livelihoods. The EFF is ill-advised to assume that its theatrics will bear any fruit. And they are advised to show respect to the basic acumen of South Africans and halt their theatrics,” concluded the statement issued by the Sports department.