South Africa face the sensational prospect of being banned from this year’s World Cup.
Race campaigners are currently seeking a court order this week which could result in Springbok players and officials surrendering their passports.
According to the Guardian, the Agency for New Agenda (ANA) is behind the order. They claim that the selection criteria for the Springboks is ‘racially exclusionary and biased in favour of whites’.
Edward Mahlomola Mokhoanatse, the ANA president, said:
“The action is a public duty to defend our constitution and to consign to the rubbish bin of history all vestiges and remnants of racial bigotry, racial exclusion and discrimination.
The action will be heard by Judge Ntendeya Mavundla. A spokesperson for the department of sport and recreation, Esethu Hasane, said the summons would be defended, adding: “It is imperative for all South Africans to support the national team.”
The party has also written to World Rugby, calling on the governing body to take a stand against the marginalisation of black players.
The court case will only add to the pressure on the South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer after they dropped out of the top three in the world following a poor Rugby Championship.
Only last week, Meyer said he had met the minimum quota of 30% having included nine players of colour.
One of them, the wing Bryan Habana, who will be playing in his third World Cup, said he fully supported Meyer.
This is unfortunately something that is always going to be a part of South African rugby, I’m fully behind Heyneke’s standing in the situation and wanting to make this World Cup a successful one for South Africa.
I hope as players we can play our part in making his job a little bit easier. Having won the World Cup in 2007, I know that when we are successful we unite the nation.
