Student protests worry SASCOC

Briefing MPs on preparations for Rio 2016, South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) president Gideon Sam said two training camps were being arranged ahead of the Rio games.

These included training sessions at the National Training Centre in Mangaung between 18 and 20 March and another camp at the High Performance Centre at the University of Pretoria in June.

“We are of course hestiant because the campuses are really chaotic now and so we are worried now, so hopefully by the time we go to Bloemfontein…they would have settled down in the Free State,” Sam said.

Sam said universities and the armed forces were the “backbone of South African sport” as they always volunteered to help train the country’s athletes.

“So far five universities have put up their hands to support in terms of preparation – University of Pretoria, North West University, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Stellenbosch University and the University of the Free State. These are universities that have kindly put up their hands and said what do you want to achieve?”

He said the universities were also helping to raise funds for training.

Some athletes would also be subjected to “intense” training by members of the country’s armed forces.

Student protests have disrupted operations at several South African universities.

On Monday night, striking workers and students also disrupted a Varsity Cup rugby match between the Shimlas (University of the Free State) and the Madibaz (Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University). In the 17th minute of the match a group of protesters moved onto the field. The rugby players of both teams and match officials immediately cleared the field.

A few minutes later spectators ran onto the field and started attacking and chasing away the protesters. Video clips of clashes between protestors and spectators have been circulating on social media since Monday night, sparking comments of racial bias.

ANA