In terms of the question of bidding in the future, at the present moment we are working on a bidding strategy. That is because what is happening in South Africa today is this: you go to China, you meet a few people there who do karate and you pronounce yourself the president of the karate association. You commit, without consulting government, that yes, you can come to our country. When? Tomorrow. So, we need a bidding strategy so that everyone who wants to bid can understand that you cannot simply go and commit the country, with all due respect, without consultation with the South African government.
In the bidding process, we need to understand what is major and of interest to the country, such as the economic spin-offs and the things that help us in our sport tourism journey - job creation and the like. We need to know what the mega events are that we would choose as a country, because everybody looked at South Africa after 2010 and realised that this was the perfect place to host most sporting events. So, we are in a process of developing a bidding strategy that will be tabled for proper discussion and adoption, both here in the House and out there in engagements with the federations in South Africa's sporting fraternity.
Position regarding application of criteria based on race and/or culture when children are adopted or placed in foster care
37. Adv A D Alberts (FF Plus) asked the Minister of Social Development:
(1) Whether the Government applies any criteria that are based on (a) race and/or (b) culture when persons apply to (i) adopt children or (ii) place children in foster care; if so, what are the relevant details;
(2) whether the persons, who are applying for such (a) adoption or (b) foster care, may state preferences with regard to race and/or culture; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details? NO1744E