Parliament, Saturday, 14 November 2026 – The Chairperson of the Select Committee on Education, Sciences and the Creative Industries, Mr Makhi Feni, has said South Africans needed to respect Tatjana Smith’s decision to switch allegiance and compete for Netherlands.
Mr Feni said switching allegiance for any athlete was a choice that needed to be accepted. “But we must bear in mind that many Black South Africans do not have this choice; they only have South Africa to look up to, which must make all of us work hard to have South Africa succeed on international stage” emphasised Mr Feni.
“Many people do not understand why black South Africans put up so much fight to defend their country and their citizenship, but this is precisely the reason. South Africans must defend their country whatever it takes and that they must take a collective responsibility to make the country prosper across sectors without the expectation of return. We must make South Africa work instead of gaslighting the Ministry or the federations” continued Mr Feni.
Mr Feni said Smith qualified to represent her native Netherlands in swimming after a successful and colourful career for South Africa. She represented South Africa and is a four time medallist at the Olympics Games.
Mr Feni also said if the decision was not ill-intentioned South Africans needed to continue to support Tatjana as harbouring ill feelings will achieve nothing.
“This offers us another opportunity to groom another Tatjana, and it would be better if that person will come from the historically disadvantaged communities and focus more on true South Africans. The switch, if anything is testament to how the world had globalized.”
Mr Feni said Swim SA needed to look beyond Tatjana story and focus on what needed to be done, that is offer opportunities to young South African swimmers from disadvantaged underdeveloped communities.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, SCIENCES AND CREATIVE INDUSTRIES, MR MAKHI FENI.
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