The Democratic Alliance has backed Springbok rugby coach Jake White’s call on the South African Rugby Union (Saru) to clarify the position regarding his team-selection obligations.
At the same time, DA spokesperson Donald Lee urged politicians to stick to ”more pressing issues” rather than meddle in sport.
Lee was responding on Wednesday to reports that Saru, ”undoubtedly bowing to ANC pressure”, had given a number of directives to White, including that he should select ”more ethnic black players”.
”The DA supports White’s call on Saru to issue a public statement to clarify the position concerning his selection obligations,” Lee said.
The ”sarcastic or ironical” support for White by National Assembly sport committee chairperson Bhutana Khompela ”should not mislead South Africans”.
”More than anything, Khompela’s assertion indicates and confirms that the directives given to White emanated from the ANC,” Lee said.
”In a blatant reference to the selection criteria, Khompela stated in yesterday’s [Tuesday] SABC news interview that ‘he [Jake White] can’t just put the team as it is out, not considering those issues which are very thorny and topical in the country’.”
The ANC should state unequivocally what these ”thorny and topical” issues were, Lee said.
For a long time, the ANC and ANC Youth League had vaguely talked about transformation in South African rugby, but avoided the real issue.
It was the state’s job to provide the facilities and impetus at school and tertiary level so that all young people had the chance to play and compete.
When they had this opportunity, hundreds of potential provincial and national sportsmen would spring up.
”They will then be available for selection on merit. Why does the government fail in this?”
The ANC and its allies will be well advised not to meddle unnecessarily in sporting affairs just for the sake of political point-scoring.
No one was constitutionally barred from participating in sport of his or her choice and constitutional measures were in place to prevent that.
”There are more pressing issues that demand the undivided attention of the politicians.
”Sport should be merely what it ought to be: ‘a game or activity needing physical effort and skill that is played according to rules, for enjoyment and/or as a job’,” Lee said. — Sapa