Break with colonial links – EFF

Welcoming South Africa losing the right to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Durban, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) yesterday urged the country to break free from “its colonial linkages and past” with Britain.

“The Commonwealth is an association of all political territories under the colonial conquest and control of Britain and it shouldn’t be anything that a post-1994 South Africa celebrates. South Africa does not owe its allegiance to colonial Britain and should therefore cut all ties to colonial masters,” said the EFF.

“The EFF does not recognise the Commonwealth as a legitimate body and will advocate for South Africa’s complete withdrawal from all Commonwealth platforms.”

Durban lost the 2022 hosting rights as it did not meet certain requirements, the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) announced on Monday in London.

Sport and Recreation Minister Fikile Mbalula told reporters yesterday that hosting the Games and putting in more required funding under the current unfavourable economic environment would be unsustainable for the government.

“The South African government has regrettably noted the statement issued by the Commonwealth Games Federation … we wish to state that while we disagree with the contents of the statement, we accept the decision of the CGF as the rights holder,” Mbalula said in Durban.

Director-general for sports and recreation, Alec Moemi, said R118 million had been spent to secure bidding rights. None of this could be recouped.

The EFF said the hosting of major world events had “no meaningful socioeconomic impact on the lives of ordinary people”.

“The 2010 Soccer World Cup has illustrated that South Africa’s hosting of international events does not benefit ordinary South Africans, but benefits huge multinational corporations, colluding construction companies and the elite.

“The present ruling party will not be in power in 2022 so they must avoid taking decisions that they will not implement and might be cancelled by those who will be in power in 2022,” the party said. – ANA