Games are not child's play!

On the day we publish this edition of ANC TODAY, 9 June, the 2006 FIFA Soccer World Cup will kick off in Germany. For the next four weeks, billions across the globe will keenly follow what will undoubtedly be an exciting sports tournament.

We take this opportunity once more to extend our best wishes to the competing teams, the host nation Germany and its Chancellor, Angela Merkel, as well as FIFA, and its President, Sepp Blatter. We convey a special message of support to the teams representing the African continent and wish them success.

The whole of our nation was very disappointed when our national team, Bafana Bafana, failed to qualify for this year's Soccer World Cup. This is however no reason that we should not enjoy the spectacle that will be provided by the best national soccer teams in the world.

However, our absence from the tournament and the way we fared at the African Cup of Nations have sounded alarm bells about the state of soccer in our country and sports in general. The excitement generated by the 2006 World Cup and the fact that we will host the next one, should inspire the entirety of our nation to engage the issue of what we should do to improve our performance in the field of sport.

Fortunately, all of us agree about the critical importance of this area of human activity. We agree that participation in sport by all our people, both the young and the elderly, would make an important contribution to the health of the nation.

Health for all remains one of the central goals of our reconstruction and development process. Clearly, we must therefore do everything possible so that sport plays its part towards the realisation of this goal.

We are also agreed that sport plays an important role in the development of our youth. It also provides a most appropriate outlet for the energies of our young people, helping to keep them away from unhealthy and anti-social activities, such as gangsterism, alcohol and drug abuse.

We are further agreed that sport plays yet another important role in terms of uniting our people, helping us to accelerate the process of building a non-racial society and improving the social cohesion that our country needs. All of us have seen how much the victories of our national teams inspire pride and joy among all of us, teaching all of us that we are one nation. I believe that it is also true that our successes in international competitions help to strengthen the level of confidence in ourselves as a nation, inspiring all of us to work even harder to achieve the goal of creating a better life for all our people.

For all these reasons it is necessary that we all make a critical assessment of the development of sport in our country with a view to evolving some consensus about what needs to be done. This would also help to raise the level of awareness among all our people of the importance of participating in sport.

What has happened to soccer and cricket over the last few years indicates the urgency with which we must engage this process. This is reflected in an article on the website of the Department of Sport and Recreation, which draws on work done by Professor Tim Noakes (MD, DSc) Sports Institute of South Africa, and Ross Tucker (BSc Hons), student at the University of Cape Town.

On the issue of soccer, the article says:

"In 1994, South African was ranked about 100th in world soccer. Thereafter followed a period of rapid improvement so that by 1997, the team was ranked 16th in the world. Since then, with the exception of a period between 2000 and 2002 when the team stabilised at a position around 20th in the world, the trend has been downward. By the beginning of 2006, South Africa was ranked 49th in the world, the lowest ranking since December 1995.

"During this same period, the performance of Bafana Bafana in the African Cup of Nations has deteriorated progressively from victory in 1996, to beaten finalists in 1998, to third place in 1998, to beaten quarterfinalists in 2000, to first round eliminations in 2002 and 2004. Unchecked, this trend predicts that within two years South Africa will be ranked outside the top 16 African nations and will fail to qualify for the 2006 African Cup of Nations. Currently South Africa is ranked 8th in Africa, also the lowest standing since December 1995."

With regard to cricket the article says:

"In Five-Day cricket, South Africa held second position from 2001 to 2004 before falling from 2nd to 6th position in 2004 with a partial recovery to 4th in 2005 before falling back to 6th position at the start of 2006 and to 7th after the recent series whitewash at the hands of the Australians. But a review of South African cricketing performances since 1994 shows a progressive decline in competitiveness over the past decade when compared specifically to Australia.

"Thus the team coached by Bob Woolmer and captained by the late Hansie Cronje reached its peak as a One-Day team in 1996 with a win:loss record of 5:1 winning 25 of 30 matches. In contrast Australia's One-Day win:loss ratio in 1996 was only 1:1. Between 1995 and 1999, South Africa won 75% of their matches compared to 57% by Australia. In contrast since then the fortunes of the two countries have exactly reversed with Australia winning 75% of their games and South Africa only 59%."

These statistics relating to soccer and cricket communicate the very clear message that there is something radically wrong with our sports. Undoubtedly the dismal story relating to the international performance of our national teams also reflects what is happening domestically in amateur and school sport.

What is to be done! When he addressed the National Assembly a few days ago on 31 May, the Deputy Minister of Sport and Recreation, Gert Oosthuizen, said:

"Sport is still being trivialised in our country. It is regarded as frivolous and unimportant even though it is a multi-billion Rand industry, said to contribute more than 2% to South Africa's GDP. In fact, sport daily occupies the time of the majority of our people and it forms part of the psyche of the majority of our country's people. How much time do we not spend watching or reading about sport every day? Many of us start reading the newspaper from the back page. For some, it is the only page that gets read.

"While Government is committed to sport and recreation, we are certainly not on par with the developed world with whom we compete. The developed world, with whom we compete have identified and committed to exploiting the potential of sport and recreation for achieving significant socio-economic and other outcomes...

"To realise the benefits that can possibly accrue from our sector, we need three things; resources, resources and more resources.

"What we need is: * infrastructure organisation, programmes, facilities, equipment and kit; * human resources sufficient thereof, of good quality and with an appropriate disposition; and, * finance that underpins both infrastructure and human resources...

"As a Department we have the smallest budget of all national government departments. We are committing some R10 per person per year to the participation of our people in sport and recreation activities presently. R10 can never make a substantial contribution to participation rates in sport and recreation..."

Perhaps the most important lesson we should draw from the fact that Bafana Bafana will not step into any of the magnificent German stadia during the 2006 FIFA Soccer World Cup tournament is that we should, at last, stop trivialising sport, very wrongly treating it as frivolous and unimportant. Lilliputian efforts cannot produce Olympians!

UN AIDS Review Meeting

Making a positive difference in people's lives

Going back to New York last week for the review of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV and AIDS adopted by the nations of the world five years ago was a gratifying experience. The Comprehensive Review and High-Level Meeting was a reflection of how the world has come to accept what we had sought to highlight as early as 2000.

We said then that we could not blame the challenge of HIV and AIDS only on the virus. We should have a collection of interventions that addresses the correlation between the agent, the host and the environment.

The report of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to the meeting recognises that poverty, underdevelopment and gender inequality are among the principal contributing factors to the spread of HIV infection and the impact of AIDS. Annan goes on to emphasise the role of prevention as the mainstay of the global response to HIV and AIDS, which has been the basis of the South African government's response to HIV and AIDS all along.

Overall, the review process has indicated that much progress has been made in implementing prevention, care and treatment programmes that were found to be effective but with guarded success rates. In our submission to the meeting as the South African delegation, we tried to highlight the areas which we believe can assist in improving the global response to HIV and AIDS.

We emphasised that if we are to scale up HIV and AIDS services, we have to make extra efforts to build better partnerships in a multi-sectoral response that includes governments, civil society and various other partners. The magnitude of the challenge before us requires that we act in unity for our response to achieve maximum impact.

The meeting provided an opportunity for all partners in the global response to HIV and AIDS to recommit to addressing the obstacles that hinder progress in scaling up our interventions. There is a need to strengthen our health systems and develop adequate human resource capacity to deliver good quality health services including those relating to HIV and AIDS.

South Africa emphasised in particular, on the importance of promoting healthy lifestyles to maintain optimal health and delay as much as possible the progression from HIV infection to the development of AIDS-defining conditions. We need to also address the challenges of food insecurity and malnutrition and focus our energies on the emancipation of women and the protection of the rights of children, in particular the girl child.

We also called for continuation of endeavours to reduce the prices of medicines and other essential commodities. Affordability of these commodities is critical in improving accessibility and sustainability of treatment interventions. We also have to encourage innovation and research into additional tools for our response including vaccines and microbicides, traditional medicine and other forms of therapies.

In our presentation to the meeting, we expressed the South African government's full support for the scaling up towards universal access to HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support by 2010.

We believe that ambitious and realistic targets are important for measuring progress in our endeavour to achieve universal access. These targets have to cover all the essential elements of a comprehensive response, including the social determinants of the spread of HIV and the impact of AIDS. These targets should also be coupled with appropriate indicators and tools for monitoring progress.

The discussions during the build up to the New York meeting and the World Health Organisation (WHO) document on scaling up towards universal access suggest that targets should be set at a country level, coordinated at regional level and aggregated at global level. South Africa supports this approach to target setting.

There has been greater recognition that the epidemiology of HIV and AIDS depends on local socioeconomic, cultural and other dynamics, particularly the challenges of poverty and underdevelopment. The success of a global response to HIV and AIDS therefore requires the doubling of efforts in meeting the Millennium Development Goals.

Our submission to the meeting was to highlight the urgent need to honour various financial commitments made previously, such as the pledge by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) member states to commit 0.7% of gross national income for official development assistance. It is also necessary to ensure that the Global Fund to fight AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria is fully funded.

UNAIDS estimates that 20 to 23 billion US dollars is needed each year to support scaled-up responses in low- and middle-income countries towards universal access. This means doubling the current level of resource allocation. While these figures serve as an excellent advocacy tool, we need to also determine national resource gaps and countries need to make an effort to mobilise resources to close these gaps to ensure sustainability of national interventions.

In the case of South Africa, our Comprehensive Plan for Management, Care and Treatment of HIV and AIDS is 90% funded through the government fiscus. Overall government budget for HIV and AIDS has tripled over the last four years from just over R1bn in 2002 to R1.9bn in 2003 and to R2.9bn in 2004 and R3.5bn in 2005. The Department of Health alone has increased its conditional grant for HIV and AIDS to more than R2bn for the 2006/07 financial year.

We do not need political grandstanding to demonstrate our commitment and leadership in addressing HIV and AIDS. Sustained increase in resource allocation and implementation of programmes which make a difference to lives of the people on the ground is what matters most to us in government.

** Manto Tshabalala-Msimang is an ANC National Executive Committee member and Minister of Health.

Eric Molobi

One of the brightest stars of his generation

Eric Molobi, who passed away last weekend after a long struggle with cancer, was one of the brightest stars that has shone in the South African firmament. That this star has disappeared so soon is indeed a great loss to the nation.

Many have paid tribute to Molobi over the last few days, justly praising his sterling contribution in the fields of community development and economic empowerment. As head of the Kagiso Trust, Molobi was instrumental in forging a new path for civil society in promoting and supporting development, particularly among the youth. Setting up Kagiso Investments as an investment vehicle to help sustain the work of the trust, Molobi made a valuable contribution to the ongoing process of black economic empowerment. It is for these achievements that many obituary writers have remembered him.

But there was a great deal more to the life and person of Eric Molobi, whom we referred to as 'Marooi'.

Few people in the country would be aware that the ANC's current headquarters in Johannesburg, Chief Albert Luthuli House, are in the same building that housed the offices of the Rivonia trialists and other senior political prisoners released in 1989.

Fewer people still would know that it was Eric Molobi who was responsible for securing these offices for senior ANC leaders like Walter Sisulu, Andrew Mlangeni, Ahmed Kathrada, Elias Motsoaledi and others at a time when the ANC was still a banned organisation. These served as the offices of the ANC immediately after its unbanning in 1990 until the size of the ANC's organisational machinery necessitated the move to Shell House.

The building that is now Chief Albert Luthuli House was occupied in the late 1980s by the reinsurance company Munich Re, for whom Molobi worked as underwriter following his release from Robben Island. The management of Munich Re held Molobi in such high regard that they readily agreed to provide two floors of their building to accommodate the recently-released leaders of a banned political movement - a step that was, to say the least, highly unusual within corporate South Africa at the time. It probably still is.

This anecdote, a footnote in the long history of struggle, highlights much about the character of Eric Molobi, and how he was regarded among those with whom he interacted.

I first came to know Eric Molobi while he was training as an electrician at the Vocational Training Centre in Dube under Principal Tabor. It was there that I came to know him as an impressive football player, a skill that stayed with him over many years.

He was the star player in what was then a formidable football team at the centre under the leadership of the teacher, Mr Shabangu. The team included players like Tokyo Lesolang, Chippa Moloi, Trustee, Rusty and Moss Mabena.

Molobi was such a talent on the field that he played over the weekends for the first team of Mofolo Dynamos alongside his teacher, Mr Shabangu. Later he joined Rockville Hungry Lions, a semi-professional team, where he played alongside greats such as Chippa Moloi, Tshombe Meletse, Norman Bahlekazi, George More, Kellar Maponyane, Sugar Maunye, Snakes Makgoe and Johny Motluoatse, to name but a few. Many of these players went on to become top professionals. Lesolang and Moloi went on to play for Orlando Pirates, while Meletse and Bahlekazi went on to play in Zambia. Eric Molobi and Chippa Moloi formed such a close bond that Molobi served as best man at Moloi's wedding.

Incidentally, the Rockville Hungry Lions was probably the only soccer team coached by a priest, Father Molale, who later became Bishop of Botswana. Before his departure for the seminary, a young Molale went to visit Can Themba at his place in Sophiatown, referred to as the 'House of Truth'. Legend has it that Themba, being the rebel that he was, offered to arrange a visit for Molale to a local prostitute. Not prepared to be dissuaded from his chosen path, Molale is reported to have declined the offer.

Eric Molobi was similarly not to be dissuaded from what he knew to be right. It was not only his ball skills and smart footwork which distinguished him on the football field. It was also his unmistakeable leadership abilities which came to the fore within whatever team he played for. It was these same abilities that were to distinguish him as a political activist, a political prisoner, a development worker and a business person.

For Molobi, leadership was about accountability. He did not take on any task, did not accept any responsibility, without first understanding to whom he was accountable and for what. Given a responsibility, not only would he undertake it with enthusiasm and commitment, but he would ensure that he took whatever steps necessary to account for his actions.

It was for this reason that he earned the trust and respect of everyone he worked with. He became known as a person whose integrity was beyond reproach, and who could be relied upon to do what was asked of him. And in whatever he did, he would account.

It was because of his approach to leadership and responsibility that Molobi was able to achieve so much in taking forward the struggle for a better life particularly for the poor and marginalised. International donors were prepared to fund development programmes under his leadership because they had learnt of his extraordinary commitment to thoroughly account for all the resources placed in his care. This explains too the progress he made in the business world.

One of the shining stars of his generation, Eric Molobi has now left us. We extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to Marooi's dear wife, Martha, and to his family.

Molobi leaves behind him an example of what we should seek in the leaders of today and tomorrow. As we remember his life and contribution to building a new nation, we should draw inspiration from his humility, integrity, commitment and deep sense of accountability. Through our actions, we should ensure that his spirit and his example lives on.

** Kgalema Motlanthe is ANC Secretary General.

What the media says

Wild statements obscure facts about legal deportation

Editor's Comment: In the recent past our media has taken a keen interest in the matter of the deportation from our country to Pakistan of one Khalid Rashid. Rashid is a Pakistani national who entered our country illegally. Since his deportation, and related to court proceedings in this regard, wild statements have been made suggesting that our state authorities, especially the Department of Home Affairs, deported Rashid at the instigation of the United States government and its Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). In the light of recent controversies in our country that have sought to present some actions of our criminal justice system as products of political conspiracies, ANC TODAY has decided to publish the statement our government made to explain what happened to Rashid. We believe that those who continue to express concerns about the whereabouts of Rashid should ask his national authorities, the government of Pakistan. Our state organs should not hesitate to enforce our laws and protect the security of the nation, simply because some people will seek to politicise illegal actions, such as the violation of our immigration law. Below is the government statement on the deportation of Khalid Rashid:

"Government has noted the public discussion around the case of Mr Khalid Rashid. Now that the matter has been processed through the courts, government wishes to clarify critical issues pertaining to the case.

"In the first instance, government hereby reiterates that Mr Rashid was an illegal foreigner in South Africa. He was arrested and deported to his country of origin, Pakistan.

"The right to decide who enters and remains in South Africa is a fundamental aspect of state sovereignty. Our Constitution and laws require that we protect the integrity of our borders and our country. The Department of Home Affairs is charged with the responsibility of implementing immigration law and policy, and of preventing illegal immigration.

"Secondly, as the Department has indicated, Mr Rashid was deported to Pakistan on 6 November 2005. As required by prescribed procedures, he was given an opportunity to oppose the deportation and indicated his willingness to be deported to Pakistan. Incidentally, the person who was arrested with Mr Khalid Rashid was afforded the same opportunity and he elected to appeal against his deportation. He was duly given this opportunity.

"It had come to the attention of the state that Mr Rashid was alleged to have connections with international terrorist cells. From the perspective of the South African government there were not sufficient grounds to extradite him. There were, however, grounds to deport him as he was in fact an illegal foreigner. Nevertheless, extra care had to be taken with regard to the deportation and special transport arrangements were agreed upon between the Department of Home Affairs and our security agencies.

"Thirdly, because of the special circumstances indicated above, the arrangements for Mr Rashid's deportation were undertaken in cooperation with the Pakistani authorities. Government can confirm that he was handed over to Pakistani officials who travelled to South Africa to receive him. Further, we can confirm that the Pakistani government has acknowledged in writing that he arrived in Pakistan on 6 November 2005.

"Subsequent to his arrival in Pakistan, the Pakistani Government confirmed in official correspondence to the South African High Commission in Islamabad that he had arrived in Pakistan, subsequent to his deportation from South Africa on 6 November 2005. Mr Rashid was, with the exception of a skin ailment (eczema), in good health.

"Therefore, further information on his whereabouts should be sought in Pakistan. It should be underlined in this regard that our responsibility as government is not only to implement laws pertaining to illegal immigration, but also to protect our country from being used either as a hide-out or as a base for terrorist activities. We are signatories to relevant international conventions and we also have a responsibility to ensure that nothing happens in our country, which jeopardises the security of our citizens.

"We hope that this explanation does help clarify matters that have thus far not been fully canvassed, in part because some of these issues were not the subject of court proceedings.

"Government had all along sought to deal with this issue without raising alarm, and with due regard to the implications on individuals who may have, unwittingly, found themselves in the web of the infrastructure that Mr Rashid relied on to enter, and stay in, our country.

"In this regard, we are concerned that the campaign being waged by Mr Rashid's legal representative, Mr Zahir Omar, has the effect of creating complications that our country can ill-afford. His unfounded and deleterious insinuations that our country can engage in abduction or any other illegal activities, and his unethical behaviour in handling this case, are not only harmful to community relations in our society, but they also have the effect of undermining the international standing of our country.

"Government calls on all South Africans to work together to consolidate our common security as a nation, and to partner the international community in promoting peace and stability throughout the world."

** This statement was issued by Government Communications (GCIS) on behalf of the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster, 8 June 2006.

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