The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is investigating Swimming South Africa (SSA) over the controversial Franschhoek High Performance Centre project.
This was confirmed by Gayton McKenzie, national minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, contradicting earlier claims by the federation that no such probe exists.
In February, SSA denied reports that it was under investigation by the SIU. In a statement issued at the time, the federation said allegations of an SIU probe were “factually incorrect and without basis”.
“SSA categorically places it on record that SSA is not under investigation by the SIU, has never been notified of any investigation, and has not been contacted by the SIU or any investigative authority at any time,” the statement read.
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Sports training hub
But McKenzie addressed the matter while fielding questions, after he delivered his budget speech in Parliament Tuesday 12 May.
The minister confirmed that investigators are looking into the stalled Franschhoek project, which was intended to become a world-class aquatic and high-performance training centre but has instead been left incomplete.
McKenzie added that discussions were underway with the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc), warning that further action would follow.
The Franschhoek development, according to a 2020 statement by Train Camp, was envisioned as a major international training hub in partnership with Franschhoek High School.
Train Camp is a private sports and lifestyle development company based in Franschhoek, placed under final liquidation in June last year, after it was provisionally liquidated in December 2023.
Plans for the development project included transforming the campus into an elite sports destination focused on Olympic sporting codes, while also upgrading educational and sporting facilities for learners and the surrounding community.
Major funding
Central to the project was a high-performance aquatics centre featuring a heated 50-metre swimming pool built to international standards, alongside the refurbishment of the local school’s existing 25-metre pool.
The facility was expected to serve both the South African and international swimming teams as a training base.
The project also aimed to improve academic infrastructure at the school without increasing fees for locals. SSA secured funding from multiple sources for the development, including around R35 million from the National Lottery Commission, around R8,5 million from World Aquatics and about R6 million from The Sports Trust.
The overall project value was expected to exceed R111 million, with additional private-sector backing.
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