Hon Chairperson and members of the House, this amending Bill is going to address issues of cheating in sport to prevent individuals and/or organisations from gaining more power and will allow fair competition for any athlete in all sporting codes. This amending Bill inserts new clauses to ensure drug-free sport and to ensure that everyone will comply with the international standards.
Again, the amendment ensures the election of the appeal board members and its functioning, and also determines the voting powers. Furthermore, it looks at the co-ordination of the staff and provides a gender perspective as well as instructions regarding remuneration, allowances or any other employment benefit.
South Africa has only one relevant laboratory for such functions and it is situated in Bloemfontein. It is very important for us to note that in the entire Africa, there are just two laboratories: one is in South Africa and the other is in Tunisia. They constitute part of the 30 laboratories which exist globally.
South Africa has endorsed the International Convention Against Doping in Sport, which is spearheaded by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, Unesco. That emphasises the point that this does not apply to our sportspeople only, but includes anyone who is entitled to participate in sport within or outside the country. No one can engage in any doping without facing disciplinary measures. Again, this gives any victim room to defend himself or herself in case that particular person has been framed.
This Bill also complies with the Public Finance Management Act. It is very important to devise a strategy to inform all stakeholders about all these changes in order to avoid any disturbance in the process of this amending Bill, and also for our people to exercise democracy. Anyone is free to seek clarity or express himself or herself on any aspect.
Once everything has been finalised, the legislation should also be given to the World Anti-Doping Agency, Wada, so as to align it with the World Anti- Doping Code. We believe that all people who are proudly South African will be even prouder about the introduction of such constructive legislation. The ANC supports the Bill. [Applause.]