The South African Sports Confederation, Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SASCOC) convened its General Meeting bringing together National Federation and Provincial Sports Confederation leaders; stakeholders and partners including Mr Joseph McGluwa (Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture) and Mr Vincent Campbell (Deputy Director General in the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture), to reflect on progress and confront key challenges shaping the future of South African sport.
Strategic Progress Led by CEO Nozipho Jafta
SASCOC CEO, Ms Nozipho Jafta, reflected on the first year of SASCOC’s 2025–2029 quadrennial strategy, highlighting key achievements across the organisation’s 10-Point Plan.
Central to this progress is SASCOC’s athlete-centred approach, driven through its High-Performance framework built on the “3 Ps”: Team Preparation, Team Presentation, and Team Performance.
Over the past financial year, SASCOC successfully:
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Delivered Team SA to seven international events
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Strengthened partnerships with key stakeholders including DSAC, NLC, IOC, IPC, and commercial sponsors
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Advanced the Bidvest Operational Excellence (OPEX) programme as a flagship high-performance initiative
A key enabler of this success has been the continued and significant support from Olympic Solidarity, which remains instrumental in athlete preparation, development programmes, and international participation.
The CEO also highlighted progress in governance, digitisation, and stakeholder engagement, alongside ongoing work to establish a SASCOC Foundation to unlock new funding streams for athletes and the sports ecosystem.
Looking ahead, SASCOC is preparing to deliver Team South Africa to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow – just 96 days away – while intensifying preparations for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
President Barry Hendricks: A Call for Unity, Accountability and Urgency
In his address, SASCOC President Barry Hendricks reaffirmed the organisation’s vision to be “a beacon of sporting excellence,” with athletes firmly at the centre of all efforts.
He reflected on a year of strong international performances by Team SA, including:
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Dominating the AUSC Region 5 Youth Games medal table
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A record 99 medals at the African Youth Games
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Podium finishes at the World Games
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South Africa’s largest-ever Winter Olympic team at Milano Cortina 2026
“These performances demonstrate that our youth pipeline is alive and producing,” the President noted.
A System Under Pressure: Funding and Sustainability
Despite these achievements, the President delivered a clear warning on the sustainability of South African sport.
Severe funding constraints, delayed allocations, and limited resources across national federations pose a direct threat to athlete preparation and long-term success.
“Without a sustainable funding model, our progress cannot be maintained, and the dreams of our athletes will be compromised.”
The CEO reinforced this concern, emphasising the importance of diversified revenue streams, strengthened partnerships, and the establishment of the SASCOC Foundation to secure additional funding.
Governance, Accountability, and System Reform
The President placed strong emphasis on governance and accountability, highlighting ongoing challenges within certain federations and reaffirming SASCOC’s commitment to strengthening compliance and oversight.
Good governance, he stressed, is non-negotiable and essential to serving athletes effectively, and providing confidence for partners and funders.
Looking Ahead: Olympic and Paralympic Ambitions
With the countdown underway to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, SASCOC is aligning all high-performance programmes toward podium success.
Beyond LA 2028, South Africa is positioning itself for a historic opportunity — a potential 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games bid, which would mark the first time the Games are hosted on African soil.
A Call for Collaboration and Renewal
Both leaders concluded with a unified message: the future of South African sport depends on collaboration, accountability, and sustainable support.
The President called for a new National Sport Indaba to redefine the country’s sporting framework, while the CEO emphasised the collective responsibility of all stakeholders to build a stronger, more inclusive, and high-performing system.
These key messages were further reinforced by the messages from both Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture, as well as the Deputy Director General in the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture.
At its core, the message remains clear: Athletes must remain at the centre of everything SASCOC does.
