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MickeyD
RIP
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- Oct 4, 2010
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Minnie Samaai, the mother of South Africa’s long jump bronze medallist at the Commonwealth Games was called by the Department of Sport and Recreation (SRSA) last Wednesday and asked if she would be attending the welcome home parade in Johannesburg on the Friday.
She explained to Ntombomzi Hlanjwa (SRSA) that she lives in Paarl and it wouldn’t be possible to make it, although it would have been a great honour for her.
Hlanjwa said they would make plan to get her to JHB be part of the celebrations.
Rushwahl Samaai (seen left) was not going to be at the parade as he had gone straight to his training base in Italy after the Games in Glasgow.
Samaai was one of a number of the medallists who weren’t at the so-called “heroes victory” parade hosted by SRSA and LEADSA.
Hlanjwa called Mrs Samaai back to inform her that she would be picked up and driven to the airport on Friday morning to catch a 6am flight to JHB.
Due to the time of the flight, Mrs Samaai made things easier for SRSA and herself by taking two days off from work and took the train from her home in Paarl to stay at a friend’s house in Mitchell’s Plain on Thursday night.
The driver arrived on Friday morning and Mrs Samaai was at the airport at 4.40am only to find out the ticket was booked in Rushwahl’s name and not hers.
The athlete’s mother tried in vain to get the ticket changed which included a call to Hlanjwa who said she “couldn’t understand it as the ticket in JHB was in the correct name” but she would try to sort it out.
That’s the last time Mrs Samaai heard from SRSA, who was left at Cape Town International airport until 9.30am.
When asked for comment, Hlanjwa told SportsFire that she thought she was speaking to Rushwahl himself on the phone, hence the ticket was booked in his name.
I can assure you after speaking to Mrs Samaai, there can be little confusion.
Hlanjwa added that “family members were not invited to the parade” which is again, nothing but a cover up.
Sports Minister, Fikile Mbalula was quoted as saying: “Family members of athletes who can‘t attend the parade on Friday will be invited.”
My heart aches for Mrs Samaai who went out of her way to come to JHB and after four days had still not had as much as an apology from SRSA.
The least SRSA could do now would be to apologize, cover her for two days work leave and give her a return ticket to watch Rushwahl compete at the Olympic Games in Rio.
It may sound a little over the top but it’s nothing in comparison to what is spent on the parade and who was really benefitting?
Ironically, SASCOC were also on the back foot on Saturday after Rapport questioned why some OPEX athletes hadn’t had their travel expenses paid since May.
SASCOC CEO Tubby Reddy came out boxing as usual.
“Yes, we had a slight delay in processing their payment due to cash flow challenges but everything has been resolved and all athletes in the OPEX programme were paid on Saturday. We urge our media not to blow issues like these totally out of proportion when we face resolvable problems as this only hinders our athletes’ performance.”
SASCOC didn’t seem to have any cash flow challenges in getting their board members, PA’s and Lotto distribution agency members to Glasgow.
And one wonders if it wasn’t for the media exposing the maladministration, how long it would have taken SASCOC to pay the athletes.
But blame it on the media for hindering the athlete’s performance.
SASCOC have become masters in blaming everybody else but themselves.
Until the next “victory” parade, it shouldn’t be long now.
On parade: Mbalula and SASCOC board member, Mark Alexander
http://sportsfire.co.za/no-winners-from-victory-parade
She explained to Ntombomzi Hlanjwa (SRSA) that she lives in Paarl and it wouldn’t be possible to make it, although it would have been a great honour for her.
Hlanjwa said they would make plan to get her to JHB be part of the celebrations.
Rushwahl Samaai (seen left) was not going to be at the parade as he had gone straight to his training base in Italy after the Games in Glasgow.
Samaai was one of a number of the medallists who weren’t at the so-called “heroes victory” parade hosted by SRSA and LEADSA.
Hlanjwa called Mrs Samaai back to inform her that she would be picked up and driven to the airport on Friday morning to catch a 6am flight to JHB.
Due to the time of the flight, Mrs Samaai made things easier for SRSA and herself by taking two days off from work and took the train from her home in Paarl to stay at a friend’s house in Mitchell’s Plain on Thursday night.
The driver arrived on Friday morning and Mrs Samaai was at the airport at 4.40am only to find out the ticket was booked in Rushwahl’s name and not hers.
The athlete’s mother tried in vain to get the ticket changed which included a call to Hlanjwa who said she “couldn’t understand it as the ticket in JHB was in the correct name” but she would try to sort it out.
That’s the last time Mrs Samaai heard from SRSA, who was left at Cape Town International airport until 9.30am.
When asked for comment, Hlanjwa told SportsFire that she thought she was speaking to Rushwahl himself on the phone, hence the ticket was booked in his name.
I can assure you after speaking to Mrs Samaai, there can be little confusion.
Hlanjwa added that “family members were not invited to the parade” which is again, nothing but a cover up.
Sports Minister, Fikile Mbalula was quoted as saying: “Family members of athletes who can‘t attend the parade on Friday will be invited.”
My heart aches for Mrs Samaai who went out of her way to come to JHB and after four days had still not had as much as an apology from SRSA.
The least SRSA could do now would be to apologize, cover her for two days work leave and give her a return ticket to watch Rushwahl compete at the Olympic Games in Rio.
It may sound a little over the top but it’s nothing in comparison to what is spent on the parade and who was really benefitting?
Ironically, SASCOC were also on the back foot on Saturday after Rapport questioned why some OPEX athletes hadn’t had their travel expenses paid since May.
SASCOC CEO Tubby Reddy came out boxing as usual.
“Yes, we had a slight delay in processing their payment due to cash flow challenges but everything has been resolved and all athletes in the OPEX programme were paid on Saturday. We urge our media not to blow issues like these totally out of proportion when we face resolvable problems as this only hinders our athletes’ performance.”
SASCOC didn’t seem to have any cash flow challenges in getting their board members, PA’s and Lotto distribution agency members to Glasgow.
And one wonders if it wasn’t for the media exposing the maladministration, how long it would have taken SASCOC to pay the athletes.
But blame it on the media for hindering the athlete’s performance.
SASCOC have become masters in blaming everybody else but themselves.
Until the next “victory” parade, it shouldn’t be long now.
On parade: Mbalula and SASCOC board member, Mark Alexander
http://sportsfire.co.za/no-winners-from-victory-parade
