Cape Town - Sports and Recreation Minister Makhenkesi Stofile says nation-building and reconciliation in South Africa lies on positive attitude towards the country's national symbols.
"Serious nationals and citizens take their national symbols serious," said Minister Stofile, during his department's Budget Vote in Parliament on Wednesday.
"The nation was shocked and appalled when our National Anthem was abridged during the opening ceremony of the Confederations Cup.
"We have raised this sharply with SAFA and we hope it will never happen again," said the minister.
He further said his department was pleased to see that the King Protea has now found its rightful place as a national symbol for all the national sports teams.
"We should be proud of this. But federations must be more rigorous in forcing manufactures to have the Protea where it belongs, on the heart of our athletes," Minister Stofile said.
The minister said this should be a norm irrespective of the international event they represent South Africa in and has promised to monitor this meticulously.
Meanwhile, Minister Stofile said as part of contributing to peace and social cohesion, ten bilateral exchanges are planned for the 2009/10 financial year.
"We will in this regard, as we have already done with the Indian Premier League and many other events, be providing assistance to four international events linked to SA Rugby; Triathlon South Africa; Swimming South Africa; and Cricket South Africa, in terms of logistics and finance," he said.
The events are British & Irish Lions Tour (currently underway); this month's All Africa Triathlon Championships, FINA Swimming World Cup scheduled for October and the ICC Champions Trophy to be held in September and October respectively.
Minister Stofile said once the decision has been made on the hosts of the IRB Rugby World Cup for 2015 and 2019, government may find itself supporting SA Rugby on preparations for one more event.
