March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma has reportedly called on the Department of Sport to intervene in an attempt to prevent South African swimming star Tatjana Smith from representing the Netherlands.

Ngobese-Zuma reportedly blamed poor management within South African sport for driving talented athletes away from the country. She argued that failures in sports administration and a lack of proper support were contributing to the loss of some of the nation's best sporting talents.

However, her comments quickly attracted criticism on social media, with many questioning her position on the matter. Former South African swimmer Roland Schoeman also reportedly weighed in, highlighting what he viewed as double standards in her remarks.

Critics pointed out that Ngobese-Zuma had previously questioned Smith's background, making her latest intervention particularly controversial.

Smith, who has reportedly considered switching her sporting allegiance to the Netherlands, is believed to have become frustrated with issues surrounding local support, sports administration and disagreements over prize money.

The Netherlands is her father's home country, making it a possible destination for her international swimming career.

The controversy has reignited discussions about how South Africa treats its elite athletes and whether poor administration is contributing to the country's struggle to retain top sporting talent.

https://www.facebook.com/100082640086011/posts/1142880138476645/?app=fbl