Gayton McKenzie has ordered an investigation into complaints raised by South African athletes competing at the 24th African Athletics Senior Championships in Ghana following concerns over accommodation and catering conditions at the tournament venue.
The move comes after South African athlete Aiden Smith posted a video on social media highlighting what he described as poor living conditions and inadequate food arrangements at the accommodation facility in Accra.
The video quickly gained traction online, prompting the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture to request a full report from Athletics South Africa regarding the circumstances surrounding the complaints.
“The welfare of our athletes is non-negotiable. We need to understand what led to these concerns, and our department will continue to monitor the remaining days of competition. We look forward to welcoming our athletes home after the weekend,” McKenzie said on Thursday.
Following the emergence of the video and media coverage, the department moved swiftly to arrange alternative hotel accommodation in Accra for Team South Africa. The offer was communicated to the delegation.
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