Civil rights initiative Afriforum has warned that proposed legislation could negatively affect South Africa's participation in the 2010 Soccer World Cup, which it is to host.
The draft National Sport and Recreation Amendment Bill now before parliament seeks to enable the Minister of Sport and Recreation to intervene in the management of sport bodies.
In a petition handed to National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete on Wednesday, AfriForum -- a civil rights initiative established by Solidarity trade union -- warned that South Africa's participation in the 2010 Soccer World Cup and other international sport events could be seriously jeopardised if the bill was adopted.
AfriForum pointed out that the charters of the international soccer organisation, FIFA, and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) both prohibited political interference in sport.
Mention was also made of the fact that FIFA expelled Greece on July 2, 2006 from participation in international soccer as a result of the Greek government's meddling in sport.
At the time, FIFA indicated that soccer structures alone should take decisions on soccer issues and be independent from government involvement.
The petition also noted that the powers envisaged for the minister would impair separation between state organs and civil society organisations, thus directly threatening democracy.
Mbete is expected to submit AfriForum's petition for consideration by the National Assembly's sport and recreation committee.
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