Moeti Molelekoa, Thabong:
The national minister of Sports, Arts and Recreation, Gayton McKenzie, has vowed to produce black world-class swimmers.
South Africa has been doing well in the transformation of football, rugby, cricket, and in field and track athletics. All these sports fraternities are a true reflection of the Rainbow Nation that South Africa is.
Black and white sportsmen have been competing together at the highest level globally.
But the same, however, cannot be said about swimming.
Black people have been dragging behind due to lack of basic facilities at school and township level.
South Africa’s most decorated swimmer, Tatjana Smith, has won gold and silver in the Olympics. Chad le Clos is also one of the best swimmers ever produced by this country.
To produce more swimmers and create employment, McKenzie says he has already engaged athletic and Olympic federations to address his concerns.
McKenzie is the co-founder of the Patriotic Front (PA), established in 2013, and was subsequently appointed as the minister of Sports by the president, Cyril Ramaphosa, after the formation of the Government of National Unity (GNU) after the outcome of the elections held in May 2024.
McKenzie, former convicted criminal, a God-gifted motivational speaker, and author, should be given a chance.
