Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture has turned up the heat on Netball South Africa (NSA) over the unaccounted R90 million earmarked for the 2023 Netball World Cup hosted in Cape Town. During a tense parliamentary session on Tuesday, committee members grilled NSA officials after the federation failed to present its audited financial statements for the 2023/2024 financial year.
The scrutiny comes days after NSA President Cecilia Molokwane was suspended by the sport’s international governing body, casting a shadow over the federation’s credibility. Members of Parliament questioned why, more than two years after the funds were disbursed, the full financial breakdown remains unavailable. The lack of transparency has ignited public concern over potential mismanagement of state resources.
Linden Barber, a former member of the Netball World Cup Board, attempted to clarify the financial status, stating that R60 million was spent on infrastructure, including venue preparations and flooring. The remaining R30 million, he said, covered operational costs such as event launches, logistics, and securing air travel. He confirmed that while financial reports for 2021 and 2022 had been submitted, the final audit for 2023 was still in progress.
However, Parliament remained unconvinced. Committee members emphasized that partial reporting was inadequate and demanded full accountability for every cent spent. They expressed concern over the delayed audit process and called for the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture to expedite a forensic investigation into the use of the funds.
As public trust wavers, the federation now faces mounting pressure to restore transparency and governance. With Cecilia Molokwane sidelined, the spotlight is firmly on Netball South Africa to deliver a comprehensive financial report—or face further repercussions.
