Stofile forbids White to meet Mbeki (Updated)

South African Rugby Union deputy president Mike Stofile revealed tonight that “We are completing a letter in which we inform Jake that there will be no meeting with President Mbeki. We cannot allow this to happen. We are also writing to the minister of sport. All the presidents of the provincial unions feel the meeting  should be cancelled. Jake is undermining our authority.”

SARU released a statement today saying Jake did not follow internal protocol when he arranged the meeting and is therefore advised to cancel it. “Given this bold step that has been taken by the Springbok coach, SARU realises that Mr White has issues that are unresolved between himself and his leadership. The leadership would therefore like to afford Mr White an opportunity to raise his concerns internally before he can take any issues to an external audience,” the statement concluded. Surely any ideas of protocol have long been abandoned in the halls of SARU? Where, for example, in the protocol does it state that the Presidency is also the Springbok selection committee? 

Mighty Mike appears to be running scared (and writing a lot of letters) as White looks to go straight to the top to try and sort out the complete administrative disaster that is SARU under Stofile and his hand-puppet Oregan Hoskins. They are appearing before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Sport today, and probably being grilled on the lack of ‘transformation’ in South African rugby. Chairman of the committe, Butana Komphela, said rugby is an asset belonging to the people of South Africa that should not be destroyed. He told the SA Rugby Union executive and president’s council, that rugby should unite the country and not be a divisive factor.

He went on to say that the achievements of the Bulls and Sharks in the Super 14 competition have made South Africa proud. However, he remains concerned about the small number of black players used by the Super 14 franchises this year. In this season’s competition, 21 coloured and 7 black African players were used by the five franchises.

Komphela stated yesterday that his first order of business would be to tell SARU president Oregan Hoskins that “Jake White is out of order. By arranging a meeting with the president of the country, White is undermining the authority of the minister of sport as well as that of his own leaders. I am not sure how the meeting was arranged, but I will obtain details on Tuesday.”

Komphela’s previous contributions to the wellbeing of South African Rugby were his reference to Os Snyman, and his threat to convince the minister of Home Affairs to cancel the team’s passports unless they met transformation requirements. Home Affairs later confirmed that only criminal matters warrant the cancellation of passports.

Presidential spokesman Mukoni Ratshitanga confirmed that Jake had requested the meeting. However, he did not want to say how it had come about. “It is a courtesy visit, the same as when you inform someone you’ll be in his vicinity and would like to visit. If he wants to, he may make you some tea,” he said.

White has tried to reason with Stofile and Hoskins but this has got him nowhere. They have been undermining him at every turn. Hoskins in particular has lost all respect in rugby circles for his lack of backbone. Stofile is still running around like a bull in a china shop and has made no secret of his dislike for White and Smit.

For the good of South African rugby, we must hope that Jake makes his courtesy visit to Mbeki. Say hi to Thabo for me Jake, and enjoy your tea.