Minister of Sports, Arts, and Culture Zizi Kodwa says big corporates should come on board to help and unearth athletes to continue the country as a winning nation.  

Zizi was speaking at the SA Sports Awards in 2024 at the Sun City Super Bowl in Rustenburg on Sunday night, where Sportswire was in attendance.

It was a night that yet again belonged to South Africa’s Springbok star captain Siya Kolisi who claimed the Sport Star of the Year and People’s Choice Athletic of the Year.  

He was joined on the podium by his fellow lock Eben Etzebeth, who claimed the Sportsman of the Year, after an outstanding year he had with the Boks including that big carry for the try in the quarter-final match against France.   

“There are many ways of looking at remodeling in terms of financing,” started Kodwa. 

“Because if you look at the entire corporate South Africa, stampede to one federation, stampede to one club, that’s the problem, that doesn’t help in terms of development of sport.  

“So, we must have a conversation. For example, why only Vodacom mainly involved with two clubs, what about the other clubs at the school level, and what is their involvement?” asked Kodwa.  

Vodacom is the headline sponsor of one of the two big clubs in the PSL – Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates and a few know their contract terms and lengths.  

“The issue about government (can do things) on its own, the government cannot carry the agenda of the sport alone, we need a very active corporative citizen. I think many of them are playing their part, but I think let’s find a conversation between government and corporate South Africa.”    

Kodwa, who is in his second year in his term, said whoever will take over from him should continue the work that he has done. 

“I’m quite happy with our achievement,” said Kodwa.  

“I think because the term comes to an end. I hope there will be no disruption in the work that has been done to ensure that we built school sports as the battle of development because that is where our focus is.  

“If we want to sustain this country as a winning nation, then we must sustain the positive outcomes of our national teams. Let’s focus on school sports because it is a backdrop of our grassroots.”