Politicians rant over rugby transformation

Bantu Holomisa, leader of the United Democratic Front today called for an independent commission to investigate transformation in rugby.

He told Parliament’s Sport and Recreation Portfolio Committee that, in his opinion, the current state of rugby administration was questionable and that all attempts to transform the sport in the last 13 years have failed.

“The national leadership claims it has transformation targets in place, but reality does not reflect this. In order to achieve tangible and implemental outcomes, it would therefore require the appointment of an independent two- or three-person committee to investigate transformation, equity and BEE status of the entire rugby administration.

“The findings that flow from an investigation could then be brought to a rugby indaba where all stakeholders can reach consensus on the necessary steps that need to be taken and set clear timeframes for implementation.”

Most Super14 franchises confirmed that transformation is moving slowly. Johan Schoeman, Blue Bulls general manager, said a lack of emphasis on rugby in schools made it particularly difficult for his union to achieve transformation targets.

“Other stakeholders, such as the department of education, local governments and provincial sports departments have to assist us if we are to succeed,” Schoeman said.

Butana Kompela, the committee chair, said Holomisa’s view was a personal one and should not be seen as the committee’s position.

“The committee would first interact with all rugby role-players before deciding on what steps to be taken. Sport cannot be exonerated from the broad picture of government programmes. Sport cannot be excluded from imperatives of empowerment and transformation.”

He recently suggested that the players should have their passports conviscated if the team did not become more representative of the country’s ethnicity. Home affairs later rubbished that idea.

Tsietsi Louw of the ANC said that he believes aspiring black Springboks are running into obstacles. “We are dealing with a political problem here. We have all these players moving up but when they get there, there is a bottleneck.

“There is a deliberate political agenda to keep these black players where they are. Only three or four will (succeed). How is it possible that after 13 years we have only three players?”

SARU president Oregon Hoskins agreed that there were problems with the transformation process and its results. “I am not happy with the pace of transformation as the leader of South African rugby. We will endeavour to do the best we can in what are sometimes difficult and trying circumstances.”