Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba has condemned the evident administrative incompetence and potential collusion among officials and service providers that prevailed during the April National School Sports Championships in Bloemfontein, which were affected by chaos.

The premier’s criticism follows the recent release of findings from an investigation she mandated after the saga surrounding the mistreatment of athletes became public.

The Limpopo athletes faced challenges of inadequate accommodation and were forced to sleep in buses during the tournament. Some teams were forced to withdraw from the competition following the abhorrent treatment.

The MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture, Jerry Maseko, presented the report, which showed serious issues that needed to be addressed to safeguard the interests of the youth.

In response to the findings, Ramathuba outlined a clear path forward, ensuring that all individuals involved are allowed to account for their actions.

“We are committed to restoring integrity within our sporting administration,” Ramathuba expressed.

She indicated that Maseko’s department is actively following established processes to implement the report’s recommendations.

“This entails taking disciplinary action against those responsible, declaring and seeking to recover fruitless and wasteful expenditure, and pursuing legal action where necessary. We demand diligence and transparency in all handling of public resources,” Ramathuba highlighted.

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