Latest news with #SAWP
TimesLIVE
14-05-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Swimming SA, private body in court in fight for the soul of local water polo
A private organisation wanting to uplift water polo has told the Cape Town high court that Swimming South Africa (SSA) has failed to advance the sport locally, especially 'at an elite level'. SSA, the national federation responsible for the aquatics disciplines of swimming, water polo, diving and artistic swimming, is seeking an interdict against the freshly-launched South Africa Water Polo (SAWP), a nonprofit company. SSA's action, in which 14 respondents have been named, is being heard on Wednesday. In heads of argument SSA is accusing SAWP, the first respondent, of trying to usurp its functions and of interfering in the running of the sport. It says its status as the only national aquatics authority is recognised by the National Sport and Recreation Act, the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc) and the international governing body, World Aquatics. SSA also cited a legal precedent to bolster its argument that only a single federation could run a sport in the country. '[SSA] is the only national federation for the sport of swimming recognised both locally ... as well as internationally.'
Daily Maverick
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Maverick
Swimming SA and SA Water Polo prepare to do battle in high court on 14 May
Swimming South Africa's attempts to restrain an autonomous water polo body will be heard by a high court judge next month. South Africa Water Polo (SAWP) and Swimming South Africa (SSA) are due to meet in court next month for a judge to determine whether the former is allowed to continue to operate following a cease-and-desist letter sent by SSA. A successful outcome for SAWP could mean a body other than SSA overseeing the sport in South Africa for the first time, which would come as a relief for SAWP's members, who make up the majority of the country's water polo fraternity. Affidavits from SSA and SAWP have been filed in court and are on the public record as the two groups prepare to meet in the Western Cape Division of the High Court in Cape Town on 14 May. SSA is seeking an interdict to restrain SAWP from behaving as if 'it had the authority to govern or administer the sport of water polo in South Africa' and to stop the group from instructing people to boycott SSA events. Matthew Kemp, an attorney and an SSA member, is one of the respondents named by SSA. Kemp has called SSA's application 'factually and legally baseless', claiming that SAWP has not claimed to be the authority of the sport and has not called on SSA members to boycott events. In his 92-page affidavit, Kemp recognises SSA as the governing body of aquatic sports (water polo, synchronised swimming, open water swimming, swimming and diving) in South Africa, as set out by World Aquatics. However, Kemp said that as water polo has professionalised and evolved, 'its administrative development requirements have become increasingly distinct from those of swimming', and the team sport requires an administrative body dedicated to its 'specific needs'. A new body Kemp said SSA had 'no legal basis to interfere with the work now to be undertaken by SA Water Polo in the way which it seeks to do so in this application' because: SA Water Polo is not a member of SSA — which is a voluntary association; SA Water Polo is not a national federation as defined by the National Sport and Recreation Act 110 of 1998; and SA Water Polo is not a national federation recognised by World Aquatics. As per SAWP's initial letter of intent, Kemp purported that SAWP was not a breakaway organisation, but rather an 'emergent organisation', which had invited SSA to collaborate. 'But, if [SSA] does not cooperate, [SAWP] will ultimately seek to replace [SSA] as the internationally recognised body responsible for water polo in South Africa.' It plans to do this by applying to World Aquatics to be recognised as the governing body of the sport in SA, which World Aquatics' constitution permits, with the needs of the athletes of a country being the determining factor. Back and forth Shaun Adriaanse, SSA's CEO, in his 10-page affidavit in response to SAWP, said, 'a significant portion of Kemp's affidavit is focused on criticising the applicant's administration of the sport of water polo'. He said this was not relevant to the court proceedings and 'should be disregarded'. Despite noting that the governance of SSA was not what was being challenged in court, Adriaanse said SSA 'took heed of concerns that were being raised regarding the administration of aquatics, including water polo, and established an operations committee to support the administration of water polo'. He said the governance model of the sport was not being challenged, and 'should be left to be determined by the members of the applicant through the appropriate mechanisms'. These mechanisms, such as going to World Aquatics and Sascoc, are what SAWP intends to do, as laid out in Kemp's affidavit. Adriaanse said SAWP was 'actively interfering in [SSA's] administration and governance of the aquatic discipline of water polo, or at least are intent upon doing so'. He said SAWP 'intend to take over the administration and governance of water polo, despite the fact that they have no right under our law to do so. 'They have no right to wrest the governance of water polo from the existing (locally and internationally recognised) federation that is responsible for its control and administration. 'That decision must come from within the sport, and they must first get recognition from Sascoc and World Aquatics, which they have not even applied for.' According to what SAWP has outlined, its first point of call is not to apply for recognition but rather to engage with SSA to work together. If that fails to materialise, SAWP will seek recognition from World Aquatics. 'SA Water Polo has the overwhelming support of the largest and most active entities responsible for administering the sport of water polo at local level, including Gauteng Water Polo, Cape Town Metro and Winelands Water Polo, Nelson Mandela Bay Water Polo, and SA Masters Water Polo,' said Kemp. DM
CBC
24-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
How do the major political parties plan to support migrant workers who bring the harvest to Canadian tables?
As many Canadians are looking for more locally made products at places like the supermarket and liquor store, those growing and harvesting the fruits and vegetables that are sold there or go into those products are often not Canadian themselves. Despite spending most of their time in Canada, migrant workers in the agricultural sector have limited or nonexistent pathways to becoming permanent residents or getting an open work permit. That also means they cannot vote. "These are essential workers who come to do essential work here in Canada. They do work that Canadians do not want to do," said Rev. Antonio Illas, who runs the Migrant Farmworkers Project (MFP) in the Niagara Region. "If it weren't for our agricultural workforce, our greenhouses, vegetables, flower industry, vineyards, these industries could not be successful," he said in an interview translated from Spanish. Illas said many workers spend decades doing "backbreaking labour" in Canada for months at a time. "A worker who has come here for 25, 30 years and who, at the end of the day, when they want to enjoy their pension, wants to make this their country … how unfair it is, that they cannot do it?" he said. "In my opinion, to improve the structure of this program, and based on social justice, this seasonal farmworker program must be modified." Illas said it falls on Canadian citizens to "watch over this vulnerable community and fight," because they have no say when it comes to the ballot. "It's up to us," he said. Read all of CBC Hamilton's coverage of the federal election here. Illas wants to know what pathways political parties are offering migrant workers toward permanent residency. He said in his experience, most workers don't want to stay in Canada, "but there is a percentage that would like to adjust their immigration status and [the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program] does not provide it." 'We must safeguard the dignity of this group' Through the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP), Canadian employers can hire and fly in temporary foreign workers. The program is open to workers from Mexico and several Caribbean countries (Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts-Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago). SAWP started in 1966 with Jamaican workers and was expanded to the Caribbean until 1974, when Mexico was included. "Maybe in 1966, when the program was made, it wasn't an issue, but now, 58 years later, there are some [workers] who would like to migrate to Canada and make this their country," he said. The Migrant Farmworkers Project in Niagara aims to "bring together" workers with volunteers and community members in the region, said Illas. They offer free meals, clothes, healthcare and a space for workers to access the internet and connect with others. The project also locally runs a program called Plaza Comunitaria (Community Square in English), which helps Mexican adults finish their elementary and secondary education. Illas said they're always looking for volunteers. Illas said as it stands, the federal government sees migrant workers purely as a source of "cheap labour." "We must safeguard the dignity of this group, and that is why we want [migrant workers] not to be invisible in Canadian society," he said. Other advocacy groups have been calling for migrant workers to have an access to permanent residency for many years. "Without permanent resident status, migrants are left vulnerable to abuse, exploitation, and in some cases, even death," Karen Cocq, with the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change, said at a news conference in B.C. last year. What the parties are saying CBC Hamilton reached out to the major political parties to ask about their plans for the program, how they will support agricultural and migrant workers and if they plan to make permanent residency more accessible for these workers. The Conservative Party did not respond to CBC's request. Here's some of what the others said. Green Party Fabrice Lachance Nové, press secretary for the Greens, said in a statement to CBC Hamilton the party would "comprehensively review and overhaul the Temporary Foreign Worker Program," a program broader than SAWP which lets employers fill temporary jobs where there are no Canadian workers available. The party would do that in order to "protect workers from abuse and exploitation while ensuring critical labour needs are met in agriculture." "This includes strengthening enforcement of labour protections, fair wages, adequate housing, and safe working conditions for foreign agricultural and other seasonal workers, and address barriers these seasonal workers face to access social safety net programs such as employment insurance and disability protections," said the spokesperson. The party would aim to reduce reliance on the program, expand "employer-driven immigration pathways," and ensure migrant agricultural workers have "fair routes" to permanent residency. They'll also aim to "prevent labour trafficking and exploitation by mandating open work permits, increasing unannounced workplace inspections, and enforcing strict penalties for abusive employers." Liberal Party The party did not respond directly about the program or support for workers in Canada under SAWP. Mohammad Hussain, a spokesperson for the Liberals, said in a statement Liberal Leader Mark Carney is "taking action to build a strong economy and to put more money back in the pockets of Canadians." "By Canada Day we will remove interprovincial trade barriers that will make it easier for Canadian businesses to trade their goods across the country and bring down costs," the spokesperson said. The statement also said the party wants to set "responsible" immigration levels "with a focus on building a strong economy and ensuring that key sectors have the workforce they need." According to the party's website, they're also aiming to "make it easy" for Canadians to buy local products by working with "agricultural producers," among others. New Democratic Party The NDP provided a statement via the Hamilton East—Stoney Creek MP candidate Nayla Mithani, who said "our immigration system should be accountable to Canadians and rooted in the values of fairness, dignity, and human rights." Mithani said the party will eliminate closed work permits, "an exploitative system that denies workers their rights." "We will implement a broad and inclusive regularization program that gives those without status a clear pathway to permanent residency," she said. "Canada's strength comes from the people who have made it their home – from the First Nations who have stewarded the land for millennia to generation after generation of newcomers who have built their lives here."
