MPs contest sports committee top spot

TWO ANC MPs are jostling for the position of chairman of the sports and recreation portfolio committee left vacant by the appointment of the controversial Butana Komphela as an MEC in the Free State.

ANC bosses in parliament prefer former Gauteng legislature speaker Richard Mdakane as Komphela's successor, but long-serving committee member and committee whip Kora Dikgacwi - who is acting chair - is digging in his heels.

ANC caucus spokesman Moloto Mothapo confirmed that Mdakane, who was moved from the human settlements portfolio committee, is the ruling party's preferred candidate for the chairmanship of the sports committee.

"We have recommended, as parties are supposed to do, the election of Mdakane. Parliament has to put processes in place for his formal election and appointment," he said.

But committee insiders say Dikgacwi has been stalling the formal election of a committee chairman by its members, a parliamentary requirement for Mdakane to take over. Dikgacwi is said to be unhappy about being overlooked.

The position of committee chairman comes with a R1.1-million salary package, political prestige and a promotion from the obscurity of the back benches of parliament into the national limelight. Committee chairmen are normally the first to be considered for promotions into the executive.

On Friday, Dikgacwi said he was not aware about Mdakane's deployment as chairman of the sports committee and would continue acting in that position until instructed otherwise.

"I don't know of anybody who has been deployed there and that is it. That is how you will quote me, I don't know anything and it ends there," he said.

But Mdakane confirmed that he was waiting in the wings to take over the committee that conducts parliamentary oversight of all sporting federations in the country. He said he was expecting a smooth handover from Dikgacwi.

"Once the ANC has taken a decision there would not be anyone opposing the decision, there's nothing like resistance in our movement," he said.

Mdakane said in terms of ANC deployment policy, the fact that Dikgacwi has served in the committee longer than him does not count for anything.

"In our movement it does not mean anything really, once you are deployed you must just do your work," he said.

It is not the first time that the committee has been engulfed in a power struggle. Former whip Cedric Frolick used to refer to himself as deputy chairman of the committee, even though there is no such position.