Makhi Feni, Chairperson of the Select Committee on Education, Sciences and the Creative Industries, has called on Black South Africans to intensify their efforts to defend, rebuild and advance the country, following Olympic swimming champion Tatjana Smith, decision to switch allegiance from South Africa to the Netherlands.

Feni said in his media statement on Saturday that although Smith’s decision to represent her country of birth remains a personal choice that South Africans should respect, it underscored the different realities facing citizens, particularly Black South Africans, many of whom have no alternative homeland to run to.

The MP maintained that South Africa was the only home many Black citizens had, a reality that should reinforce their commitment to safeguarding the country’s future and working towards its prosperity, even in the face of persistent challenges.

“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 the international stage,” Feni emphasised.

He said the determination of Black South Africans to defend their citizenship and stand up for their country was often misunderstood, despite being deeply rooted in their connection to the land and their sense of belonging.

“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 take collective responsibility to make the country prosper across sectors without the expectation of return,” he said.

Feni cautioned against allowing Smith’s departure to become a source of hostility towards the swimmer, the Ministry or sporting federations. Instead, he called for constructive introspection and renewed efforts to address the structural challenges confronting South African sport.

Smith, a four-time Olympic medallist, enjoyed an illustrious swimming career under the South African flag before qualifying to represent the Netherlands, her country of birth.

Feni said South Africans should continue supporting the accomplished swimmer if her decision was not driven by malicious intentions, arguing that resentment would neither reverse her decision nor advance the country’s sporting interests.

“This offers us another opportunity to groom another Tatjana, and it would be better if that person came from historically disadvantaged communities,” he said.

He challenged Swimming South Africa (Swim SA) to look beyond the high-profile departure and confront the urgent need to broaden access to competitive swimming, particularly among young people from historically marginalised and underdeveloped communities.
Feni said deliberate investment in grassroots programmes, talent identification and access to adequate sporting facilities was essential to unearthing the country’s next generation of swimming champions.

He maintained that South Africa’s response should not be defined by bitterness over an athlete’s decision, but by a renewed determination to create an environment in which homegrown talent can flourish and compete at the highest international level.

Smith leaves behind an extraordinary legacy under the South African flag, having established herself as the country’s most decorated Olympic swimmer.

Across the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games, she captured four individual medals, comprising two gold and two silver medals in the 100m and 200m breaststroke events.

Her defining moment came at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020, where she stormed to gold in the 200m breaststroke, setting a world record of 2:18.95. She added a silver medal in the 100m breaststroke before returning to the Olympic podium in Paris in 2024, winning gold in the 100m and silver in the 200m breaststroke.

Beyond the Olympics, Smith amassed three World Championship medals, including gold in the 200m breaststroke at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan. She also collected four Commonwealth Games medals, including three gold medals, and two gold medals at the 2019 World University Games.