The uncertainty over whether the King inquiry into alleged racism in Springbok rugby would be open to the media continued on Tuesday afternoon.
Lawyers for the SABC, which failed in a court bid on Monday to get access to the proceedings, met with lawyers for the South African Rugby Football Union (Sarfu) at the union’s Cape Town offices, the venue of the inquiry, on Tuesday morning.
However, the SABC’s team was tight-lipped when it emerged shortly before 1pm.
“The commission is not sitting today,” said attorney Alan Jaftha. “Sarfu has given the SABC an undertaking that … at the stage the committee is convened, we will be given an opportunity to approach judge King and effectively put to judge King the case being made by the SABC.”
Asked what Tuesday morning’s talks had been about and whether the SABC lawyers had in fact spoken to King, he repeated that the commission was not sitting on Tuesday.
“If there’s any further information you need, speak to Sarfu about it.”
The probe was launched by Sarfu to investigate claims of racism in the Springbok rugby camp — claims sparked by reports that white lock Geo Cronje would not share a room with coloured teammate Quinton Davids.
The investigation is headed by former judge Edwin King.
King himself left the Sarfu offices shortly after noon on Tuesday without speaking to waiting journalists.
On Monday night Cape High Court Judge Roger Cleaver rejected the SABC’s bid for an order that it be allowed to broadcast the proceedings. He said there was no evidence that the SABC had formally asked King for access to the proceedings.
The SABC had also not obtained permission from the Cape judge president to bring the action against King.
The commission held its first sitting behind closed doors on Monday, but attended to legal and administrative matters and did not hear any testimony.
It was understood that it had planned to hear its first witness, SA Rugby MD Rian Oberholzer, at 10am on Tuesday. — Sapa
Court rejects SABC rugby interdict bid