Follow Us on Google
•After de-recognition of federation
The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) has formally begun a process to rebuild and stabilise the governance of basketball in South Africa following the de-recognition of Basketball South Africa over prolonged governance and administrative failures.
The intervention is being carried out in collaboration with the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), through FIBA Africa, and the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC). Authorities say the process is aimed at establishing a new, properly governed national basketball federation that will protect athletes, restore confidence in the administration of the sport and secure its long-term future in the country.
Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, described basketball as a sport with far-reaching social and developmental value.
“Basketball is more than a game. It is a global sport and a way of life that resonates across communities, generations and social boundaries,” McKenzie said. “In South Africa, it is played and followed by people of all ages, from children and youth to senior citizens, and presents significant opportunities for youth development, social cohesion and international participation.”
The Minister noted that basketball’s accessibility, requiring minimal infrastructure at community level, makes it a powerful tool for grassroots development, while also offering pathways to elite professional and international competition. He added that the global rise of street basketball and the 3×3 format has further expanded participation and opened new opportunities for innovation, inclusion and partnerships with the private sector.
However, the Ministry acknowledged that persistent governance and administrative shortcomings had eroded these opportunities and undermined the credibility and growth of the sport in South Africa.
Other News
“Basketball holds enormous potential for South Africa, particularly for our youth,” McKenzie said. “It is precisely because of this potential that we could not allow continued governance failures to undermine the future of the sport. Our responsibility is to the athletes, the development pipeline and the long-term interests of South African basketball.”
Following engagements with FIBA Africa, DSAC and SASCOC have been mandated to oversee a structured recovery and reconstitution process. This will include the development of a comprehensive roadmap for the revival and sustainable growth of basketball in the country, as well as clear steps towards the establishment of a new national federation, culminating in the election of a credible and representative executive leadership.
To support the process, FIBA Africa has appointed a member of its Board as an official representative to work closely with DSAC and SASCOC, providing oversight and technical guidance in line with international best practice.
“This process is about restoring integrity, transparency and good governance,” McKenzie added. “Working with FIBA and SASCOC, we are committed to rebuilding basketball in a way that serves players, administrators and supporters, and positions South Africa to compete successfully on the African continent and in major international competitions.”
DSAC and SASCOC said they will provide regular public updates as the process unfolds, with the shared objective of ensuring that basketball reclaims its rightful place within South African sport and achieves sustained excellence at both continental and global levels.
