South African swimmer Roland Schoeman this week wrote a letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa offering to be the Minister of Sports in his home country.
In the letter, Schoeman added some career achievements as the reason why the swimmer should become the Minister.
“In my humble opinion, we need ministers and a cabinet that are fit for purpose and know what they are doing,” he said. “Some real world experience in their portfolios would be helpful as well.”
“I have BA in psychology from the University of Arizona, along with a neurolinguistic programming and Life Coaching Certification from Bennett and Stellar University 2016, as well as sport management and marketing certification from Sports Management worldwide.”
Racist Allegations
Schoeman’s letter has been met with criticism due to the swimmer’s racist allegations in 2010.
The swimmer admitted to calling an Indian spectator a monkey which was taken as racism in nature, during the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.
“It wasn’t meant to be a racist remark — in South Africa when someone calls you a monkey they mean hooligan,” Swimmer defended himself back then.
South Africa is a multi-racial country with citizens taking racist issues seriously.
Cabinet Reshuffle
Schoeman’s application follows anticipation of Ramaphosa making a cabinet reshuffle any time soon.
Speculations of a cabinet reshuffle have been intensifying in South Africa after up-risings in the Kwazulu Natal and Gauteng provinces.
Ramaphosa has however downplayed the issue of cabinet reshuffling by stating that the reshuffle includes evaluation of those appointed to work alongside ide himself as well as how tasks are being executed.
“People who are deployed to work with any leader, even in a cabinet situation it’s a process that you evaluate it’s best you leave it there,” he said.
Schoeman also blames politicians for polluting South Africa’s sporting departments.
“For far too long, politics and ideology have polluted sports to the point that many federations are in dire straits. Cricket South Africa and Athletics South Africa come to mind,” he said.
“We need a Minister of Sport who is more interested in getting our young men and women to the point of success on major international platforms, than the politics of federations and sports clubs. Surely we want a win as a nation?”
