Mbalula suited to head sports dept - analyst

By Nthambeleni Gabara

Pretoria - Fikile Mbalula is well suited to head up the Sport and Recreation Ministry and is likely to be more visible in the various sporting codes.

This is according to Prince Mashele, the Executive Director at the Centre for Politics and Research, who was reacting to President Jacob Zuma's Cabinet reshuffle on Sunday, which saw Mbalula replacing Reverend Makhenkesi Stofile as Minister of Sport and Recreation.

"Mbalula is a young man and full of energy. I am sure that his visibility in the public domain promoting various sporting codes will be more than that of his predecessor and as a country we need such a leadership.

"This is a good move because in that ministry, we need an activist who will project his visibility to various sporting codes and hold conversation with their associations with the view of taking our sport into another level," said Mashele.

The appointment has also been welcomed by SASCOC President Gideon Sam.

"We welcome Minister Mbalula and as the country's sports movement, we stand ready to carry out his wishes and dreams of making South Africa a sporting nation that will be respected globally," said Sam, who also thanked Minister Stofile for his enormous contribution to sport and guidance.

"For now though, the 2012 Olympics in London gets ever closer and Minister Mbalula will be a key part of our drive for success in this regard," said Sam.

Mbalula was serving as the Deputy Minister of Police, after being appointed to the post in May 2009.

He is a member of the National Executive Committee of the African National Congress and former leader of the African National Congress Youth League. Mbalula retired as President of the ANC Youth League because at age 36, he was no longer eligible to be a member. - BuaNews