The furore surrounding Sport and Recreation Minister Ngconde Balfour’s ”racist” remarks about white cricket players in the national side continued on Friday.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) and Freedom Front (FF) called for Balfour’s resignation, while the United Democratic Movement (UDM) threatened to lay a complaint with the Human Rights Commission.
In the minutes of a meeting between Balfour and the United Cricket Board (UCB) soon after its July 7 decision to scrap the quota system, he said, among other things, he preferred watching black cricketers play, and white players meant nothing to him.
One of those he named was all-rounder Jacques Kallis. The minutes of the meeting were reportedly made available to the media in Johannesburg on Thursday, as Balfour released the report of the ministerial committee of inquiry’s report into cricket’s transformation at Parliament in Cape Town.
On Friday, DA representative Donald Lee said Balfour ”is a racist and should resign with immediate effect”. The minutes of the meeting ”prove unequivocally that the minister has an entirely racist agenda at heart”, he said.
FF representative Leon Louw said Balfour was no longer worthy of his position after his racist remarks about white players in the national team.
With South Africa hosting the 2003 Cricket World Cup, Balfour’s attack on the UCB management was not only uncalled for, but also made at the most inappropriate time.
It was clear from Balfour’s actions that there was a serious breach of confidence between him and the UCB; something that could ”never be healed again”.
He should be replaced by someone who would not make ”emotional political comments”, but who would protect and promote the interests of sport, irrespective of the race or gender of the participants, Louw said.
UDM leader Bantu Holomisa issued an ultimatum to Balfour for his ”despicable racist remarks and references to Jacques Kallis”.
”Apologise to Kallis, the team, and South Africa by Sunday evening, or the UDM will hand in a complaint at the Human Rights Commission on Monday.”
UDM advisors were still working on the exact legal wording of the complaint, ”but early indications are that it will include ‘racism and hate speech”’.
Holomisa said Balfour was becoming known as a ”bully and racist”, and was now a ”disgrace” for organised and professional sport.
The UDM is also planning a public campaign against Balfour prior to the 2003 Cricket World Cup — to be hosted by South Africa early next year.
According to informed sources, this will include the distribution of pamphlets and light aircraft advertising at upcoming test matches around the country.
At Thursday’s media briefing to release the committee’s report, Balfour explained how his remarks should be interpreted.
He said the players across the board knew he was the minister ”for all of us”.
”I love them (the players) all, but, of course, I would like to see more and more players from areas that were historically disadvantaged coming through.
”I would like to see a balance. I will not be apologetic about that,” Balfour said. – Sapa