LIMPOPO – The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Limpopo is calling for a comprehensive investigation into the alleged mistreatment of athletes representing the province at the South African Schools Athletics Championships held in Bloemfontein during the school holidays.

The party is demanding that MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture, Jerry Maseko, urgently address the issue.

The controversy follows numerous reports from concerned parents, who claimed that athletes and their coaches were forced to sleep on buses overnight due to the department’s failure to secure proper accommodation and make necessary logistical arrangements.

“Some children and managers allegedly went the entire night without food and had to endure unsafe and undignified conditions after long hours of travel. The situation was so dire that some parents made the difficult decision to withdraw their children from the tournament, prioritizing their safety and well-being. We fully support this decision under these circumstances,” said Adv Franco Marx, DA member of the provincial legislature.

Marx expressed further outrage, emphasising that these athletes had already been subjected to poor conditions during their training camp, where they reportedly lacked both accommodation and meals.

“It is incomprehensible that these athletes, who should have been given every opportunity to showcase their talent, were once again left to fend for themselves on their way to a national competition.”

A parent from one of Tzaneen’s schools who accompanied her son to the championships shared her concerns, saying the entire Limpopo team was poorly organised, and this issue has been ongoing for years.

“I booked accommodation for my son and me because I know there are usually problems with securing proper lodging. However, some learners had to face severe hardships. Some didn’t even receive their provincial kit, and when they did, it was on the bus. Many couldn’t wear the kits because they were too small. This was a waste of money for the province,” she explained.

Meanwhile, another athletics coach, who also spoke anonymously, confirmed the lack of suitable accommodation. “From what I observed, there was plenty of food, but the accommodation was not up to standard,” the coach said.

“The problem began when some athletes were booked to stay in Kimberley, about 110km from Bloemfontein. On the night before the finals, the bus transporting the athletes got stuck while delivering them from the stadium. Teachers were forced to sleep in the bus overnight, and as a result, they missed the competition the following day and had to withdraw.”

The coach questioned the decision to book accommodation so far from the event venue, suggesting possible financial mismanagement. “I don’t understand how they could book accommodation in Kimberley when the event was in Bloemfontein. It seems like someone was trying to profit from the accommodation funds, possibly through an arrangement with the accommodation providers in Kimberley,” he said.

In response, Maseko issued a statement taking full responsibility for the incident. “I extend my sincerest apologies to every learner who was looking forward to this opportunity. I would also like to extend our apologies to the parents who entrusted us with their children, as well as the dedicated educators and coaches. What happened is unacceptable, as the safety and well-being of learners remain our top priority,” said Maseko.