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Racism in South African cricket

Ozymandiasza said:
Don't do that, make as if you or anyone else have a say in who belongs in SA. You don't.

"South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white" that's an actual quote from the freedom charter.

If you think 4 million whites and 4 million coloureds (who are also mainly Afrikaans) are simply here by the graces of black South Africans, you are mistaken. South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white.
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With respect, you have not understood my post at all.

I clearly said that Afrikaaners and English-speaking whites are African and it is their home. I also earlier acknowledged that the opinions and comments of Dippenaar and Symcox are normal for their backgrounds and that they don't see why they would be inflammatory.

Do I think that white South Africans live there by the grace of 40 million black people? I don't think their birthright (yours) should be subject to a veto, no.

But I love history, as you can see. Even if we disagree about the Border Wars!

History tells me that the whites in Algeria and Mozambique should have been entitled to stay too. But it didn't happen. And white South Africans are badly outnumbered and outvoted and I'm sorry, but if they make inflammatory comments like Dippenaar and Symcox they will end up in an untenable position.
 
I don't disagree with the bulk of Junaid's analysis, but will make a post about Junaid's military hypothesis, ie that Cuba/ Soviet backed forces would have invaded South Africa all the way to Capetown. I do not agree.

In short, I'll contend myself by stating that Capetown is about 800 plus kilometres from the Namibian border. To execute and hold land in an invasion over that distance requires a logistical capability (troops, equipment, tanks, arty, planes) that would make it well nigh impossible, Cuba or no Cuba.

Yes South Africa was under severe international sanction that degraded their weapons capabilities. But they managed. For example, as for air superiority, the South Africans had by the mind to late 80s incorporated the Israeli Kfir variant the Cheetah. The Cheetah, while not 4 gen (the best at the time) was regarded as at least the equivalent of the MIG 23.

The Cheetah was never used in the Angolan/ Border war conflict but would have been if the Cubans invaded SA itself.

Now if we start talking about tanks, troops, supply lines, an order of battle, comparing defensive lines...well I doubt if it's happening.
 
Ok please get back to cricket now on this thread
 
going back to the comments by the two south africans, I just cant see how they cant be construed as racist. Of all the countries that should be self reflecting its South africa and especially the whites in that country.
 
the Great Khan said:
going back to the comments by the two south africans, I just cant see how they cant be construed as racist. Of all the countries that should be self reflecting its South africa and especially the whites in that country.
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Tell Sarfraz Ahmed!

This thread is about cricket, Apartheid and modern acceptable race-related comments by cricketers in South Africa.

There have been a few things overlooked by posters though. In the days of Apartheid, black South Africans cheered on the opposition, not the Springboks.

That’s why the comments that “Cuba wasn’t going to invade South Africa” or that “Afrikaaners don’t require Black permission to live in South Africa” miss the point completely.

Cuba never planned to invade with ground troops. They would have taken Namibia and then crossed the border only a few miles to seize the Alexander Bay airstrip from which they would have been able to bomb Cape Town, with the black residents cheering on deliriously. Apartheid relied upon blacks cowering down before overwhelming might. But that doesn’t happen when you can’t stop a foreign country from dropping bombs on you.

Similarly, while Dippenaar and Symcox are South African, if the whites ever overstep the mark the day might come when they are driven out, as happened in Africa from Algeria to Zimbabwe.

The question is not whether Dippenaar and Symcox are racist. It is whether their views can be tolerated by the majority or whether they can’t.

This whole thread is really about whether white South African cricketers of the past can exert a right to say whatever they want. My response is “no, only to a point, for reasons of simple pragmatism.”
 
White South Africans are less than 10% of the country but they run the whole thing. Sport, finance, education everything.

It's unfortunate that in 2020 non white players are still asking for equality. Lungi Ngidi didn't say anything wrong but I can tell you Mark Boucher will make his life a living hell as he's done with other black players at the Titans.


Cricket is a beautiful sport, loved by all of us. We can't continue to pretend that all is well when racism is so prevalent in society and especially in South Africa.
 
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Dark Magician said:
White South Africans are less than 10% of the country but they run the whole thing. Sport, finance, education everything.

It's unfortunate that in 2020 non white players are still asking for equality. Lungi Ngidi didn't say anything wrong but I can tell you Mark Boucher will make his life a living hell as he's done with other black players at the Titans.


Cricket is a beautiful sport, loved by all of us. We can't continue to pretend that all is well when racism is so prevalent in society and especially in South Africa.
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There is a genuine point here about cricketers and conservative views.

In the UK, Australia and New Zealand even members of parties equivalent to the British Conservative Party describe themselves as “liberal”. To identify as “conservative” triggers instant disrespect, allegations of racism and a general perception of being backward and quite literally stupid.

Many British sportsmen have always been conservative - hence their willingness to play in Apartheid South Africa from Graham Gooch to Roy Hodgson - but few are daft enough to publically acknowledge their conservatism.

This was not the case in the 1980’s, but when the UK-based West Indies cricket captain Clive Lloyd attended a Margaret Thatcher Conservative Party rally in 1983 he sentenced his captaincy of the West Indies to a slow death, and even a 5-0 Blackwash in England the next summer couldn’t save Lloyd from being viewed as an Uncle Tom figure in the Caribbean. In late 1983 he remained mute as West Indian countries assisted the USA in invading Grenada, which everyone knew Viv Richards would not have done.

When Shahid Afridi self-identified as “conservative” when his book came out I was flabbergasted. In Australia, England or New Zealand that would be like publicising your book by wearing a sign saying that you were backward and stupid - but in certain countries the word “conservative” is not an insult.

As @Dark_Magician states, Dippenaar and Symcox feel free to express conservative views. But their views would only be tolerated in the USA or a place like Pakistan: in other advanced English speaking countries their views would be viewed as at best racially insensitive and inappropriate.

But they don’t live in another country. They live in a country where the 90% of the population that is black grapples every day with poverty caused by the actions of the generations of white people to which Symcox (and Dippenaar’s parents) belong.

So to exercise your right to express their views is deeply insensitive and risks accelerating not just the reduction of the white presence in South African cricket, but also brings into question their welcome and protection and safety in the nation.
 
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Thirty former Proteas and five senior coaches have thrown their weight behind Lungi Ngidi and the global Black Lives Matter (BLM) campaign.

Ngidi made headlines last week when he expressed his support for the movement and the need for the Proteas to get behind it too.

In reaction, Ngidi was met with some harsh reactions on social media including from former Proteas Rudi Steyn, Pat Symcox and Boeta Dippenaar questioning his stance.

Since Ngidi's comments, former Proteas batsman Ashwell Prince also said he experienced racism during his playing days.

Other cricketers, including Ethy Mbhalathi, Qaasim Adams and Omphile Ramela, have also since been vocal on the issue.

On Monday, Sport24 received a statement signed by 30 former Proteas - all players of colour - and five coaches who wanted to air their support for both Ngidi and the BLM movement.

The group includes Makhaya Ntini, Vernon Philander, Ashwell Prince, Paul Adams, JP Duminy, Charl Langeveldt and Herschelle Gibbs.

"We commend Lungi Ngidi for supporting Black Lives Matter - and wed like to add our support for it too," the collective statement read.

"We note the criticism aimed at Lungi for expressing his views and we hope that Cricket South Africa (CSA), together with fellow cricketers - both present and past - will come out strongly in support of BLM.

"We note too that the most outspoken criticism directed at Ngidi has come via former players such as Pat Symcox, Boeta Dippenaar, Rudi Steyn, Brian McMillan and others, and we urge that their views be challenged.

Proteas spinner Tabraiz Shamsi has taken over the reigns from Imran Tahir has South Africa's premier spinner in white-ball cricket, the 30-year-old opens up on the responsibility.

"We are not surprised at their comments. Given South Africa's well-known past, black cricketers have borne the brunt of subtle and overt racist behaviour for many years, including from some colleagues.

"Consequently, there is a need to understand how white privilege feeds into the perpetuation of these old attitudes and assumptions.

"Our attitude, mistakenly, we now believe, has always been to say: 'These are teething problems, and that these will be resolved if we are patient.' But after almost three decades of cricket unity, the views expressed from one side of the racial divide are still very much part of our lives, and we now believe: 'Teething problems cannot be allowed to continue for this long.'

"We see this as an opportunity for CSA to be unequivocal about its position and to make sure the problem is confronted, and we also invite our fellow white cricketers to join in this move to defend human dignity.

"We represent, or have represented, South Africa on merit. Far too many white South Africans cannot accept that black cricketers have proved, time without end, that they are good enough to play at the highest level.

"We want to remind South Africans that as recently as 2017, we were told that a South African sister sport, rugby, was 'dead' - killed by transformation. But guess what? South African rugby won a World Cup last year.

"We cannot recall anyone suggesting that the victory was due to transformation. Why is transformation always rammed down the throats of national teams when they lose, but never when they win? Can there be equal treatment, please?

"All the signatories to the release stated that they have stories to tell about the racism they have had to endure as they strived to get to the top of their sporting careers. Sadly, these have often been at the hands of team-mates.

"It is important to bring these into the open, and for CSA to support black cricketers who come forward to air their stories. Here we also include our women colleagues.

"We live in a beautiful, diverse country, but where the playing fields are still far from level, and the transformation of cricket and people's lives should be of paramount importance.

"We are determined that future generations should not have to experience the pain we have had to endure, and that no South African cricketer should be discriminated against in the future. Racism is a global problem and, as the great Michael Holding explained, we can no longer just keep on laughing, grimacing and moving on.

"We support Lungi Ngidi, we support BLM and, in this week that we remember Nelson Mandela's birthday, we believe that, with honesty and sincerity all-round, lingering racism in cricket and our beautiful country can be tackled once and for all for the sake of every child and every cricketer in South Africa."

Sport24 spoke to former Proteas spinner Adams on Tuesday, who confirmed that all the names included had signed.

"The world is going through so much at the moment, and this is a collective on what we feel is a very important issue," he said.

Signed by (Nos 1-30 represented South Africa at international level):

1 Makhaya Ntini, 2 Vernon Philander, 3 Ashwell Prince, 4 Paul Adams, 5 JP Duminy, 6 Charl Langeveldt, 7 Mfuneko Ngam, 8 Robin Peterson, 9 Aaron Phangiso, 10 Justin Ontong, 11 Herschelle Gibbs, 12 Roger Telemachus, 13 Wayne Parnell, 14 Monde Zondeki, 15 Omar Henry, 16 Alfonso Thomas, 17 Victor Mpitsang, 18 Henry Davids, 19 Loots Bosman, 20 Henry Williams, 21 Alviro Petersen, 22 Thandi Tshabalala, 23 Rory Kleinveldt, 24 Thami Tsolekile, 25 Dane Piedt, 26 Garnett Kruger, 27 Shafiek Abrahams, 28 Lonwabo Tsotsobe, 29 Eddie Leie, 30 Imraan Khan, 31 Ethy Mbhalati, 32 Geoffrey Toyana, 33 Wandile Gwavu, 34 Rivash Gobind, 35 Mandla Mashimbyi, 36 Faiek Davids

https://www.news24.com/sport/cricke...t-for-lungi-ngidi-black-lives-matter-20200714
 
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Junaids said:
Tell Sarfraz Ahmed!

This thread is about cricket, Apartheid and modern acceptable race-related comments by cricketers in South Africa.

There have been a few things overlooked by posters though. In the days of Apartheid, black South Africans cheered on the opposition, not the Springboks.

That’s why the comments that “Cuba wasn’t going to invade South Africa” or that “Afrikaaners don’t require Black permission to live in South Africa” miss the point completely.

Cuba never planned to invade with ground troops. They would have taken Namibia and then crossed the border only a few miles to seize the Alexander Bay airstrip from which they would have been able to bomb Cape Town, with the black residents cheering on deliriously. Apartheid relied upon blacks cowering down before overwhelming might. But that doesn’t happen when you can’t stop a foreign country from dropping bombs on you.

Similarly, while Dippenaar and Symcox are South African, if the whites ever overstep the mark the day might come when they are driven out, as happened in Africa from Algeria to Zimbabwe.

The question is not whether Dippenaar and Symcox are racist. It is whether their views can be tolerated by the majority or whether they can’t.

This whole thread is really about whether white South African cricketers of the past can exert a right to say whatever they want. My response is “no, only to a point, for reasons of simple pragmatism.”
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We have actual racism laws. If someone reports them there will be a case to make, but we both know they are entitled to their opinion on BLM, and saying All Lives Matter, by itself, does not make them racist. Our race relations are far more "advanced" than what you're used to. Over there is actually a thing such a "Racism against white people", which is why they highlight the farm murder, they do not say 62=22000 or whatever rubbish you made up. Stop putting words in other people's mouths. As for their right to comment on the Proteas, they have as much a right as any former player to comment on a team they played for. If they want to make racist remarks, they must live with the consequences.

In regards to land distribution, there's been no land audit done, but you're describing is farmland owned by people literally called "Boer"(farmer), who found all farmland in South Africa. There is an actual process of land claims where land was stolen. Since you like history:

https://www.sahistory.org.za/article/land-restitution-south-africa-1994

Not all land was forcibly taken and seized, and of the 79,696 claims 76,023 were settled. Bet you didn't know that.
[MENTION=120955]Dark Magician[/MENTION]
Yes, please generalise more about a minority of a country you know nothing about. The ANC runs the government, they hold overwhelming power and are able to be racist. Whites do not run the "whole thing". If you believe that you're in for a rude awakening:

"A 2011 study published by the University of Cape Town about the richest 10% found that nearly 40% are black, where this group had once been almost exclusively white.[139] While only 29% of the absolute wealthiest[vague] South Africans are black, this jumps to 50% among the "entry-level" rich (defined as earning more than $4,000 per month).[139] Factors that were found to be common among those in the entry-level rich group include being young, entrepreneurial and having some post-secondary education.[139]"

It simply isn't possible for less than 4 million people to "run the whole thing". You seem to be under the impression that there is no effort being made. Perhaps you should go read about the changes since.
 
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Junaids said:
There is a genuine point here about cricketers and conservative views.

In the UK, Australia and New Zealand even members of parties equivalent to the British Conservative Party describe themselves as “liberal”. To identify as “conservative” triggers instant disrespect, allegations of racism and a general perception of being backward and quite literally stupid.

Many British sportsmen have always been conservative - hence their willingness to play in Apartheid South Africa from Graham Gooch to Roy Hodgson - but few are daft enough to publically acknowledge their conservatism.

This was not the case in the 1980’s, but when the UK-based West Indies cricket captain Clive Lloyd attended a Margaret Thatcher Conservative Party rally in 1983 he sentenced his captaincy of the West Indies to a slow death, and even a 5-0 Blackwash in England the next summer couldn’t save Lloyd from being viewed as an Uncle Tom figure in the Caribbean. In late 1983 he remained mute as West Indian countries assisted the USA in invading Grenada, which everyone knew Viv Richards would not have done.

When Shahid Afridi self-identified as “conservative” when his book came out I was flabbergasted. In Australia, England or New Zealand that would be like publicising your book by wearing a sign saying that you were backward and stupid - but in certain countries the word “conservative” is not an insult.

As @Dark_Magician states, Dippenaar and Symcox feel free to express conservative views. But their views would only be tolerated in the USA or a place like Pakistan: in other advanced English speaking countries their views would be viewed as at best racially insensitive and inappropriate.

But they don’t live in another country. They live in a country where the 90% of the population that is black grapples every day with poverty caused by the actions of the generations of white people to which Symcox (and Dippenaar’s parents) belong.

So to exercise your right to express their views is deeply insensitive and risks accelerating not just the reduction of the white presence in South African cricket, but also brings into question their welcome and protection and safety in the nation.
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Our welcome is not determined by you, or the opinions of other people. South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white. Stop saying we are not welcome in our own country. We are part of the South African nation, whetther you like it or not. It is extremely insulting coming from a Brit, who by the way, has one of the worst histories of entire "white race".
 
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All non cricket related posts will now be deleted - stick to CRICKET only.
 
NCU BOARD PRESIDENT TEBOGO SIKO'S STATEMENT ON ALLEGATIONS OF RACISM AND DISCRIMINATION

After reports in the media of former Titans player Ethy Mbhalati on his experiences of racial discrimination we feel it is necessary for us to respond publicly.

Titans Cricket (Pty) Ltd and Northerns Cricket Union prides itself on its successful history and its association with some of cricket’s biggest names. Ethy Mbhalati is one of those players and he served the Union and Franchise well during the 14 years he spent with us.

Recently Mbhalati has come out in the media to speak out on some events of racism and discrimination he faced during his time as a Titans player. We believe it is important that all players, employees and those associated with the franchise and Union are able to speak about these experiences without fear of being victimised, intimidated, or silenced. This allows us to engage in positive, progressive conversations.

We’ve recently come to learn of the experiences of racial discrimination, cultural bias and remuneration bias Mr Mbhalati was faced with. There was never a formal complaint laid by Mr Mbhalati and this makes it difficult for us to deal with such a matter. We can also go on record and say Mr Mbhalati was among the top earners at the franchise towards the end of his career.
The history of South Africa is a very dark one and we are well aware that remnants of our past live on 26 years later. It is clear that in our society people still battle with the difficulties from pre-1994 and some of these difficulties are experienced even within the game we love.

As citizens of South Africa, we understand what we have been through and as a union and franchise we acknowledge that past and where we are currently. With this having being said, it is important that we make it clear that we do not tolerate racism and discrimination of any sort at franchise level, provincial, or anywhere within our pipeline.

We have never had any complaints of racism in the past or in the present. Players and staff are aware of the processes they need to go through to lay a complaint. Our board has a Transformation and Ethics Committee, which is responsible for dealing with such matters should they arise.

The structure through the committee was set up to ensure that we have a progressive transition as we diversify and address any cricket related inequalities within the franchise, promote diversity as we continuously drive awareness. We stand firm on our Transformation values, that “we are stronger together”.

Upon reflection of our franchise team it is evident that we have made great strides and we are happy with the representation of the players and technical team. We also pride ourselves on the transformation we have seen in the staff at NCU and significant positions being held by black and female employees.

Let me conclude by saying we are continually striving and endeavouring in all aspects and are encouraged by how far we have come. We will continue to strive to be an example and be at the forefront of the battle against discrimination, we will continue to offer our voice and give a platform to those that need to be heard.
 
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transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div></a> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CCp426rjCvP/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">Waking up to 100s of messages on my whatsapp is a usual occurance especially with the introduction of whatsapp groups. Most of the time it's not serious stuff but I now know that being offline for a day(for whatever reason) can throw you into a storm unwittingly. Well... here's my (latest) weather report The Black Lives Matter (BLM) campaign has relevance for everyone. Why? In the Islamic tradition it is understood that the first man, Adam (peace be upon him), was of dark skin henceforth all of humanity have deep roots to this proud heritage and should have zero qualms in being refered to as black. This make it even clearer for the person who believes in their black lineage that the imagined superiority of whites over blacks or blacks over whites, or one nationality over another, is simply delusional. Yes that's right- nothing but delusional. However many of us, including myself have bore the brunt of these delusions and have crazy stories to tell which is why it makes it even more admirable to see exceptional youngsters like @lungingidi doing his bit to represent us all. Thank you brother and all those who stand up for just causes in their own way-publically and privately. I speak for myself and those who share this belief that the end product of being racist is only self destruction and social change. There are oppressed people here in this country and the world over, of all colours and walks of life, cricket included. However the darker skinned people have had the worst of it. Some may convince themselves otherwise but you have to ask yourself - are those who know the same as those who dont know? Justice for all is the only true justice that will bring peace and anything else is sadly delusional. So why is Black Lives Matter relevant for us ?... because we are all black (to me anyway). I stand with all those who are oppressed. And I stand with @lungingidi (again). This pic is from his debut in January 2018. #bigmanbigsmile #istandwithlungi</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hashamla/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Hashim Amla</a> (@hashamla) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2020-07-15T07:33:57+00:00">Jul 15, 2020 at 12:33am PDT</time></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
 
Cricket South Africa (CSA), its Board of Directors and Executive Committee, reaffirm their support of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, and its relevance in South Africa and South African sport.

We note the claims of discrimination and racism that have been made by current and former players and coaches, and we acknowledge that these are a part of the sport’s past, and sadly, its present. We have to face the reality, as management and custodians of the game, that we need to come up with creative, tangible and meaningful ways to address this – even more than we have done already – to make sure that they are not part of our future.

As a national federation that is custodian to a sport that is loved and played by South African men and women, CSA is actively working to redress the inequalities of the past and to make cricket a truly transformed national sport of winners.

CSA welcomes the statement of support for Lungi Ngidi’s BLM stance, made by 31 players and coaches, and the CSA Board and CSA Exco stand with this group, and every other cricket player, coach and fan that believes that there is no place for racism of any kind in cricket. CSA encourages more current and former players and coaches to do the same.

CSA’s Transformation Charter embodies a roadmap for the organisation and its component entities to structure and implement broad-based transformation initiatives as part of a process of reinvention, re-engineering, and re-organisation of the cricket system.

CSA and its Affiliate Members affirm their commitment to a process of transformation based on the principle of broad-based empowerment and affirmative action that will continue to increase the number of people involved in the game; increase accessibility to all participants and participant groupings; and consistently improve performances.

CSA continues to focus on the transformation of the sport at every level, and invested nearly R385 million in cricket transformation and development in the 2019/2020 financial year, and met its transformation targets at the development level in the 2019/2020 season. CSA's intention is to continue to invest resources in transformation as they did in the past and measure impact with incentives and consequences.

At an executive and administration level, 52 of the 64 full-time CSA employees are Black, as is the current President and Chairman of the Board. Ten of the 12 Board members are Black, of which six are Black African.

Two hundred and forty-four of the 261 nationally accredited men’s coaches in South Africa are Black, and nine of the 15 nationally accredited women’s coaches are Black. Seventy two of the 115 nationally accredited male referees and umpires in the men’s game are black, while six of the 15 umpires and referees in the women’s game are black.

CSA also supports 612 township-based cricket clubs, 1052 township primary school cricket clubs, and 572 township high school cricket clubs. However, facilities remain a huge area of concern for us in these areas.

While the current COVID-19 global pandemic is having a significant impact on transformation projects, CSA continues to meet with Members to agree on sustainable growth targets in increasing participation and improving access to cricket. Quarterly monitoring of member progress against their self-set transformation targets will be in place, in a drive to increase the pace of transformation.

It is clear that a multi-disciplinary focus is required to ensure the sustainability of cricket programmes among disadvantaged communities, particularly when it comes to field and wicket maintenance. This includes engaging with local authorities, and strengthening CSA’s partnership with Netball South Africa.

The advances made in professionalising Women’s Cricket environment will serve as a new wave for future expansion of Girls’ Cricket and this area therefore, presents itself as a new market for sponsors.

There are also plans to strengthen the Women’s T20 Super League, and to introduce Meso cricket at high school level to grow participation, and create an ongoing flow of new recruits to the game.
 
I think it’s fair to note that the two bigoted men quoted in the OP are just two bigoted men, and the official CSA position as well as the strong majority opinion of South African cricketers has been to support the important notion that black lives matter.
 
james said:
i think it’s fair to note that the two bigoted men quoted in the op are just two bigoted men, and the official csa position as well as the strong majority opinion of south african cricketers has been to support the important notion that black lives matter.
Click to expand...

qed.
 
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font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;"> View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div></a> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CCu6DNUnZOB/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">In the last couple of months I have realized that we must choose our battles. We are surrounded by many injustices in our country that require urgent attention and action to fix them. If we wait only for the ones that attack us personally, we will always live for “my way vs your way” and that way leads us nowhere. So I’ve remained silent, with the intent to listen, but not respond. Slowing down my point of view, but quicker to hear the pain of someone else. I knew that words would be lacking and that my understanding is not close to where it needs to be. I surrender my opinions and take the knee as an intercessor. I acknowledge that South Africa is still hugely divided by racism and it is my personal responsibility to do my best to emphasize, hear the stories, learn and then be part of the solution with my thoughts, words and actions I have gotten it wrong before. Good intentions were failed by a lack of perspective when I said on a platform that - I don’t see colour. In my ignorance I silenced the struggles of others by placing my own view on it. A race problem is a human race problem, if one part of the body hurts ,we all stop, we empathize, we get perspective, we learn and then we tend to the hurting part of the body. So I am saying that all lives don’t matter UNTIL black lives matter. I’m speaking up now, because if I wait to be perfect, I never will. I want to leave a legacy of empathy. The work needs to continue for the change to come and whether we agree or disagree, conversation is the vehicle for change.</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/fafdup/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Faf du plessis</a> (@fafdup) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2020-07-17T06:20:34+00:00">Jul 16, 2020 at 11:20pm PDT</time></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
 
To us, Black lives really do matter…

When I grew up, my teachers and coaches always told me we must always be a team because “Together Everyone Achieves More.” Never before have I been more convinced as I am now that irrespective of your demographics, if we work as a team, we can achieve far greater than the sum of our parts.

We at Central Gauteng Lions (CGL), North West (NW) and the Imperial Lions family, continually aspire to pride ourselves on our pipeline: A diverse and unified system integrating all races without discrimination, is what we long for. We don’t want to shy away from, nor do we want to be afraid to have tough discussions and be brave. We want to be brave with our words and brave in our actions. We want to show that actions do speak louder than words. We want to continue to back our coaches, players and staff fully, as we are aligned in our vision that players, schools, universities, clubs, coaches, staff and all other key personnel of our system understand and support the focus for equality and inclusivity.

We have made some good progress over the past few years. This is visible from our executive level right through to our grassroot coaches. We are proud of our female CGL President and Lions Chairperson, a transformed Board of Directors at CGL, a combined total of over 75% black staff contingent and 85% black coaching staff throughout all levels of CGL and NW.

We want development to continue to be part of our DNA at the Lions, part of our value system and one of the main reasons we wake up every day and deliver the level of excellence we strive for – we appreciate that as we strive to redress the ills of our past, we can and will deliver competitive and best performing teams across all age groups.

The three recent CSA Domestic Coach of the Year recipients Geoff Toyana, Enoch Nkwe and Wandile Gwavu are proud products of the Lions. Our CGL u19 and CGL/Lions Academy Head Coach Siyabonga Sibiya was appointed Assistant Coach of the SA u19 team, and participated in the ICC u19 World Cup earlier this year. Our Imperial Lions Captain, Temba Bavuma is one of the greatest human beings and cricket leaders that has crossed my path, and it is an honour to witness his teammates follow their man.

Every child’s hero, Kagiso Rabada, is another Lions’ man. A man who is loved by all because of his passion, determination, talent and all-round good attitude. Both Temba and Kagiso do some wonderful work through their respective foundations, and we are privileged and blessed to have them both investing time and energy into our CGL and NW system, and giving back to the communities and young lives that look up to them as role models. The Imperial Lions One Day Captain, Aaron Phangiso, has been part of the system for many years and has always been a clear voice of reason on and off the field for his team. It is clear, however, from his recent experiences outlined in the media, that we still have some way to go in achieving all our goals.

We believe the Lions is home for many talented Black players that have come through our systems like Jonty Rampulana, Cody Yusuf, Isaac Dikgale, Lesego Senokwane, Muhammed Mayet, Johannes Diseko and more. As CGL and NW, we feel proud, blessed and privileged to have played a part in these young lives, but we accept that there has to be a lot more that comes through our pipeline from previously disadvantaged communities, who succeed at the highest level.

We celebrate our ladies like Masabata Klaas (NW), Tumi Sekukhune (NW) and Ayabonga Kaka (CGL), who recently represented the Proteas in Australia at the ICC Women’s World Cup and made our nation so proud. Exciting talent like Evodia Yekile (NW), Raisibe Ntozakhe (CGL) and Palesa Mapoo (CGL) must also be mentioned, and we look forward to seeing their growth in the seasons to come. Our ladies play a vital role within our system and we see this area of the game as a wonderful growth opportunity for Lions cricket.

We are fortunate within the CGL, NW and Lions squads to have many talented and experienced Black players who make up our teams with their White talented and experienced friends, and as we say in the Lions family, together they #JoinTheCharge.

Recently, Wandile Makwetu was awarded the CSA 2020 Domestic Newcomer of the Year, and will no doubt top the scoreboard in the seasons to come. Even though both are playing for other Franchises, Wandile and Tony de Zorzi are CGL products. They are both incredible leaders, having both captained the CGL U19 teams and SA u19 teams, and are both born and bred in this Province. We need to get better at retaining special black talent like them.

The above is by no means a list of all that we can be proud of and we still have some way to go. However, the extensive list of Black coaches, players and administrators at our Union goes a long way in showing how Black lives genuinely do matter to all of us at Central Gauteng Lions, North West and the Imperial Lions.

You see, Black Lives Matter isn’t a campaign, it’s a movement: a changing of mindsets that requires a paradigm shift. Human empowerment is key at CGL, NW and Lions: we want to give those thirsty for education a platform to be brave and stand for what is fundamentally right for all. We are honoured to be partnered with many high schools and higher learning institutions such as Richfield College, University of Johannesburg, North West University and Wits University, who have committed to walking this journey with us.

We are particularly pleased to see Rassie van der Dussen and Dwaine Pretorius coming out in support of Black Lives Matter and their Proteas teammate Lungi Ngidi. Lungi, Dwaine, Rassie as well as all other players who have supported each other and held hands during this, you make us proud.

I am so pleased that the Board of Lions Cricket, Central Gauteng Lions and NW Cricket have fully supported and endorsed my letter. I am proud to work next to and for these Boards and all Stakeholders within the Lions extended cricketing family who understand and support the call for equality and inclusivity of all.

We still have a long way to go and we do make mistakes and do have gaps, but I adamantly and genuinely believe that at Central Gauteng, North West and Lions, Black lives do matter, not only in our systems, but in our daily lives. It is our duty to continue the growth of the game, whilst empowering our systems for the youth, through skill development and education. We will steadfastly continue the creation of programmes promoting growth, fair opportunity and empowerment of Black lives, because in order to be the best we can be, we must do so together. We by no way claim to have all the answers, but what we do know is that we, as the Lions Family, stand firmly against Gender Based Violence, racism, abuse and inequality. It absolutely has not, and will not ever be tolerated in our system.

As I said in my recent social media post, I am a proud white South African. I love my country and I love the people of the Rainbow Nation, and not for a second do I claim to have a thorough understanding of the struggles that have gone before me, but I do recognise and acknowledge them and will continue to face our challenges head-on. It’s all-important to me that my son and daughter grow up in an inclusive South Africa and in order to achieve that, Black lives need to matter to us all. They do matter to me and do matter to the greater Lions family: Black lives simply must matter in order for equality and inclusivity to ever be achieved properly and by understanding this doesn’t mean you believe other lives don’t matter, and that’s the truth in my opinion.

Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika – let’s hold hands, let’s unite and let’s move this country forward together.

Sending love and strength to you all, as we build a bright and beautiful South Africa, side by side.
 
Former South Africa Bowler Makhaya Ntini Opens Up About Being Lonely in the Team

Former South Africa Bowler Makhaya Ntini Opens Up About Being Lonely in the Team

Ntini said he used to avoid travelling in the team bus and preferred running to the stadium to deal with the isolation.

PTI |July 17, 2020, 6:48 PM IST

Former South Africa pacer Makhaya Ntini on Friday recalled being "forever lonely" during his time in the national team as he opened up about the racism he faced, accusing his then teammates of making him feel isolated.

The 43-year-old former speedster, who claimed 390 Test and 266 ODI wickets and played alongside stalwarts such as Shaun Pollock, Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher and Lance Klusener among others, spoke about his experience in the wake of the 'Black Lives Matter' movement which gathered momentum following the death of African-American George Floyd.

"I was forever lonely at the time," Ntini, among the 30 former South Africa cricketers to come out in support of the BLM movement, said in an interview with South African Broadcasting Corporation.

"Nobody knocked on my door to go for dinner. Teammates used to make plans right in front of me, skipping me out. When walking into the breakfast room, nobody came to sit with me.

"We wear the same uniform and sing the same national anthem, but I had to overcome (the isolation)," he added.

Ntini said he used to avoid travelling in the team bus and preferred running to the stadium to deal with the isolation.

"I used to see the driver of the team bus, give him my bag, and then I would run to the cricket ground. I did the same thing on the way back, I just ran back instead," he said.

"People never understood why I did that, I never told them what I was trying to avoid. It became my best thing, I didn't have to face any of it.

"I was running away from the loneliness. If I was sitting at the back of the bus, they would go and sit at the front. Whenever we won, it was joyful but I was the first to be blamed whenever we lost."

Ntini said his son Thando too has faced racism.

"My son Thando has also experienced this, he was almost stopped from going on an U19 camp (on false pretenses)," he said.

On Tuesday, Ntini, along with 30 former cricketers, signed a statement in support of the BLM movement, saying racism remains part of the game in the country.

In the statement, the former cricketers also threw their weight behind current South Africa pacer Lungi Ngidi, who was recently criticised by ex-Proteas like Pat Symcox and Boeta Dippenar for supporting the BLM campaign.

Former South Africa captain and star batsman Faf du Plessis on Friday expressed his solidarity with the fight against racism that has gripped the world, saying "All lives don't matter until black lives matter."

Former cricketer Ashwell Prince, who also led South Africa in a few matches, had earlier called the country's system "broken".

South African Cricketers' Association and Cricket South Africa have also come out with statements in favour of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Link: https://www.news18.com/cricketnext/...p-about-being-lonely-in-the-team-2721133.html
 
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CRICKET BOLAND STATEMENT ON BLACK LIVES MATTER

Saturday, 18 July 2020

"The Members Council of Cricket Boland, its highest authority, acting on the recommendation of the

Board, stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement.

The BLM resonates with our founding and deeply ingrained values of non-racialism and non-sexism.

Our organisation’s entire program, from the modified cricket program with over 10,000 participants

to our flagship T20 events, are infused with the values of equity and transformation.

We further recognise that our principles, values, and actions seek to transform a deeply fractured

society and that much work must still be done to heal the past injustices. We further recognise that

our non-racial character enjoins us to make this public declaration. Moreover, we recognise that our history demands of us to build consensus around our program.

We therefore call on all our member clubs and associate organisations to join us in this cause.

#BlackLivesMatter! For now, and in this context, it is as simple as that."
 
Free State Cricket Union in Solidarity with Black Lives Matter

In the true spirit of Mandela Day, it is befitting that we reinforce the diversity and togetherness of the rainbow nation.

Free State Cricket Union’s core values have always supported the drive against racism and gender-based discrimination.

President of Free State Cricket Union Ms Zola Thamae comments: “From a perspective of being the first Black Female President, I encore the views that black lives matter as I have experienced tremendous support in a male dominated sport. Today we honour our Legend Tata Madiba Mandela and it is befitting to make awareness to the world that “No matter how big the nation is, it is not stronger that its weakest people”. Together we are stronger.

We as a union are extremely proud of all our achievements and will always be led by the adopted transformation charter and enhance it as much as we can.

“Sport has the power to change the world,” Mandela said. “It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than government in breaking down racial barriers.”

May our beloved sport Cricket follow in these word of wisdom from Madiba and prosper.
 
The Cricket South Africa (CSA) Board of Directors has noted the latest developments in the country, with the Black Lives Matter (#BLM) campaign lead taken by Proteas fast bowler Lungisani Ngidi. This triggered many allegations of racial discrimination in cricket from former Cricket Players like Makhaya Ntini and others.

The national outcry by cricket fans, the greater South African public and broad stakeholder groups could not be ignored. The Transformation Committee of the Board developed a sustainable response strategy, under its Project: Cricket for Social Justice and Nation Building (SJN).

It will address the following:

The establishment the Office of the Transformation Ombudsman, whose core function will include the management of the independent complaints system, convene a National SJN Imbizo and provide assurance regarding the extent to which transformation programmes are impactful on society, amongst others.

Engage in the healing, restoration and uniting process of cricket players, fans, and the nation, starting with the disgruntled former players.

Formation of The Restoration Fund – to deal with opportunity cost due to discrimination

Promote and intensify Diversity, Belonging and Inclusivity (DIBS) program implementation

On the 22nd of this month the CSA Board wrote to both the Minister of Sport and the Portfolio Committee Chair about the Board response Strategy. The plan is that the Ombudsman will be appointed by the end of August 2020. Independent Director and Transformation Chair, Dr Eugenia Kula-Ameyaw, will lead the process of ensuring that the SJN process maintains integrity.

In the forthcoming days, engagements will commence with the major stakeholders, starting with the former players.

CSA Board Chair Mr Chris Nenzani commented: “We are sorry that our cricket players had to endure the emotional hardships that they did; subjugated by their peers along racial lines under our new democracy that enjoined us to embrace reconciliation and inclusivity. SJN is the first-of-its-kind project meant to rid cricket of apartheid racial discrimination. This is the very important project that all stakeholders must make sure it succeeds for the future sustainability of cricket.”

He went on to say, “the fortunes of cricket, its players, stakeholders, and fans are not going to be held to ransom by the wayward few who definitely have no place within our ranks. We are determined to pull out all stops to ensure that healing takes place for those who have been wronged, and that perpetrators are exposed, sanctioned, and isolated.”

Dr Eugenia Kula-Ameyaw added her voice and said: “Transformation needs to happen in our lifetime and as the Board we need to fully deliver on that mandate. Having heard what our ex-players shared, my focus as the Transformation Chair was to come up with a solution, hence the Cricket SJN concept. I am grateful that the Board supports this initiative. The office of the Transformation Ombudsman is a solid brick that we can use as a foundation to deal with racism and discrimination in Cricket.”

CSA Acting CEO Dr Jacques Faul added: “It has been a very challenging time for Cricket South Africa, and we have to acknowledge that what we have heard was not easy to digest. However, I am also encouraged by our plan to address this. We will need the buy-in from all our stakeholders to ensure a racism free future at Cricket South Africa.

“We commit that never again shall we be found wanting and will consolidate our efforts to assure an inclusive cricket environment, free of any discrimination, racism or any other ill that negate the gains of the democracy that we fought so hard for,” he concluded.
 
CSA BOARD AND EX-PLAYERS JOINT MEDIA STATEMENT


Wednesday, 29 July 2020

Cricket South Africa’s Board of Directors (CSA Board), led by its President Mr Chris Nenzani, held a virtual meeting on Sunday 26 July with 40 black former Proteas cricketers and senior coaches (players). This was in response to the much publicised ‘Statement by former South African Cricketers and senior coaches’ on 14 July 2020 and the ensuing revelations by the players about their personal experiences of racial discrimination in cricket since unity.

The important objective of this meeting was to hear first-hand from the group of players about their experiences and opinions on how CSA should proceed in its efforts to address the substantive shortcomings in the cricket system. Firstly, CSA unambiguously sympathises with and supports the players in expressing their views and seeking redress. Secondly, the meeting afforded the CSA Board an opportunity to appraise the players of CSA’s strategy to resolve the matters raised by the players.

The CSA Board shared its new Cricket for Social Justice and Nation Building (SJN) Concept with the players. Included in this strategy is the establishment of the Office of the Independent Transformation Ombudsman whose core function will include the independent management of the complaints system, convening a National SJN Imbizo and providing a success measurement instrument on the extent of the success of the CSA transformation programmes.

CSA stressed that the national outcry regarding the treatment of black players and the support of the #BLM movement has presented an opportunity for the cricket community to urgently respond to transformation with an informed and integrated Transformation Strategy. CSA, therefore, aims to use the current developments to have frank and robust engagements with all stakeholders in the cricket sector. Some of the former players and senior coaches in attendance were able to share their personal and collective accounts of how they were affected by racism and discrimination during and after their playing days.

The frank engagement led to a joint resolution that certain wrongs were committed and that a process to correct them was necessary and urgent. The consensus was that collectively CSA and the players will drive this process. This process will hopefully open the way for more effective promotion of diversity, inclusion and belonging to the sport of cricket.

The CSA Board acknowledged existing gaps in its oversight of the sport and apologised to the group. CSA will further seek to foster healing, restoration of player dignity and a sense of belonging and unity amongst cricket players, fans and the nation. CSA’s renewal, restoration and transformation process will be led by the Chairperson of the Transformation Committee, Dr Eugenia Kula-Ameyaw.

The President stressed that this is a deliberate effort to continue the difficult conversations with all stakeholders with the goal of ultimately achieving a broad consensus. When players asked about the guarantee of success of SJN Dr Kula-Ameyaw stated: “the critical success factor of the SJN project is for the players and stakeholders to hold the CSA Board accountable for delivery.”

The participants agreed that the meeting was constructive and that a joint statement be issued. The group of players and coaches in attendance said: “We would like to thank CSA for hearing our cry, reaching out and have an initial engagement.” However, they cautioned that this was only a first step in the process. Noting that they had not been included in the planning for the SJN framework, the group acknowledged CSA’s suggested road map but added: “We don’t feel any new projects should be unilaterally embarked upon until honest and thorough robust conversations have taken place.’.

The group also expressed their disappointment that some of CSA’s operational staff especially the Director of Cricket, the Cricket Manager and senior coaches, who would eventually be responsible for the implementation of the ‘’New Way’’, were not part of the discussion. They requested that these individuals form part of all future engagements so that clarity and broad agreement would be ensured on future strategies, driven by value and culture.

Finally, while recognising that the discussion was introductory and exploratory, the group felt that some robust discussions needed to take place before implementing the plan of action. To ensure that pertinent questions and concerns were addressed, the group of players needed to be fully involved and not sidelined from being part of the solution.

Mr Nenzani assured the players that the CSA Management team and all structures within the CSA hierarchy is committed to this broad inclusive process. He concluded: ‘’This process going forward will draft in representatives from the former players, such that it is an inclusive and result-orientated process. When we embarked on this journey, we knew it was an emotive process and that it would elicit a difficult conversation.’’

He assured the participants that the meeting was the beginning of an extensive and very constructive engagement
 
https://www.newframe.com/the-roots-of-racism-run-deep-in-sa-cricket/

The roots of racism run deep in SA cricket

By: Daniel Gallan

On 27 October 2019, Soweto Pioneers Cricket Club abandoned its match against Khosa Cricket Club at the Stan Friedman Oval in Krugersdorp, west of Johannesburg. Pioneers captain Linda Ndlovu and coach Marumo Morena were found guilty of breaching the Central Gauteng Lions Cricket Board’s (CGLCB) code of conduct and handed a four-match ban each. The league points were awarded to Khosa as the non-defaulting team.

These are the facts as presented in the CGLCB five-member disciplinary panel’s report, which New Frame has seen. In 100 years’ time, if anyone cares to look, this impartial recording of history will convey a simple narrative.

But here is a different account of that same event.

A group of black men from South Africa’s largest township travelled to the majority white, Afrikaans town on their northwestern border for a game of cricket. The Pioneers only came into existence in 2016, after the merger of Soweto Cricket Club and Dobsonville Cricket Club, two proud institutions that could no longer stand on their own. Khosa has thrived since its inception in 1917, the same year Ernest Oppenheimer founded multinational mining company Anglo American.

None of this mattered as Pioneers opener Levert Manje skimmed across the surface of history in his knock of 109 that helped set a score of 269/7. It was a defendable target and memories of inequality and oppression were stowed away as thoughts turned to the procurement of 10 wickets.

After 10 overs of Khosa’s reply, a white police officer in full uniform walked on to the field and brought play to a halt. A phone belonging to a Khosa player had gone missing and fingers were being pointed at the 18-year-old in Soweto colours. Insults were exchanged. The atmosphere grew hostile.

According to Morena’s testimony, the Pioneers were “mentally not in the correct frame of mind” to continue the match as they felt “intimidated by the presence of a police officer in Krugersdorp”. The CGLCB found that there was no just cause for the game to end as they said no player was “intimidated or victimised”.

The term “victim mentality” is all too familiar in the discourse around racial equality in South Africa. It is an insidious phrase that delegitimises pain and denies individuals their place in the sweeping narrative of the country. What the disciplinary panel saw as an innocuous intervention by a police officer was an extremely painful reminder of a shared trauma for those involved.

Ngidi’s comments and the skeletons it let out

This has been a watershed month for South African cricket. It began with Proteas fastbowler Lungisani Ngidi vocalising his support for the global Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement. That evoked a knee-jerk reaction from a small group of retired white players who cried that “all lives matter” and dismissed the desire for an egalitarian society as “Marxist” ideology.

In turn, 36 black players, coaches and administrators signed an open letter throwing their weight behind Ngidi and BLM. Several active players, including Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen and former captain Faf du Plessis, have also stood with Ngidi.

On 18 July, Nelson Mandela’s birthday, everyone inside SuperSport Park took a knee and raised their fist ahead of Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) three-team fundraising event, the Solidarity Cup. This is merely the start, though, and it remains to be seen if these overdue conversations and heartening gestures lead to meaningful change. Either way, it is significant that those in the upper echelons of the sport have adjusted their sails to the changing winds.

But what is the lay of the land further down the pyramid? Is everything green down at the grassroots?

“I still see racism and racial biases happening in youth cricket, and I’m not positive that things will change any time soon,” says Ntsongo Sibiya, the chairperson of Gauteng-based key interest group Black African Cricket Clubs.

“I regularly get reports from coaches and parents that at area trials and provincial weeks, young black children don’t get the opportunity to prove their talent. That selectors assume excellence upon white kids, but black kids have to prove them wrong. The sad thing is this biased mindset comes from both black and white coaches.”

This is partly owing to the cognitive hangover from apartheid. But it is also a matter of resources and cricket’s reliance on access to wealth. It is no coincidence that since readmission, 65% of the 119 players who have represented South Africa at a men’s World Cup attended an elite school for boys.

While these schools are slowly transforming to more accurately reflect the demographics of the country, they largely remain bastions of white identity with deep roots in a colonial heritage encapsulated by the Victorian ethos of muscular Christianity. Children outside of these privileged hubs have little chance of becoming a Protea.

“It is crucial we harness our cricket diversity and to do this, we need to provide opportunities for talented players living in townships,” says Gary Kirsten, the former Proteas opening batter and coach whose foundation provides assistance with training and investment in facilities in disadvantaged areas.

“This can only be achieved by building the necessary infrastructure and then setting up programmes at schools. It is essential that township schools can compete and beat traditional elite schools. I believe that with adequate facilities and coaching this is completely feasible,” he says.

What the CSA is doing to address the imbalance

The CSA is in agreement and has poured almost R135 million into rural and township cricket in the past three years. This war chest has helped fund travel and equipment, programme operational costs, coaches’ salaries, and often school fees and feeding schemes.

For CSA youth and tertiary cricket manager Niels Momberg, organic transformation is akin to an oil tanker. “It takes a long time to turn,” he says. “We know we have a huge problem with facilities and we’ve tried to rectify that.

“But we can’t put a high-class turf pitch in Alexandra and expect the next Temba Bavuma to emerge in five years. These guys will always be competing against schools that have, in some cases, a century’s worth of ingrained excellence and high standards. It’s a psychological battle as much as it is one of resources.”

It may be several generations before a school in Langa can consistently mix it with the top all-boys schools in Cape Town. This is why the CSA has recently turned its attention to what Momberg terms “focus schools”. These are former model C schools outside of the elite bubble but with an existing framework that could yield fruit if adequately nurtured.

Momberg identifies Queens High School in east Johannesburg as a prime example of this medium-term approach. Its student body is 98% black African. It has four grass wickets with manicured outfields, multiple nets and a functioning clubhouse.

“Queens girls cricket dominates their competition in Johannesburg and we’re already seeing a few boys graduate to the Lions academy,” says Momberg.

Investing in a school like Queens makes sense on a number of fronts. It offers a more immediate return on the CSA’s investment compared with schools in townships. This could accelerate organic transformation, which would satisfy politicians and fans who remain frustrated by the largely white national teams. It also offers an alternative avenue to the top for a young black child without having to traverse the unfamiliar landscape of an elite all-boys school.

“It can be really tough for children when they are plucked from their home community and placed in an environment which is totally unfamiliar and out of context,” Kirsten says of the psychological challenges involved when a gifted youngster like Ngidi or Bavuma is given the chance to flourish among affluence.

“Everything is new and many battle with language barriers and integration into a new culture and social environment. Added to this, there is often a demand on their performance, academically and on the sports field, and even more pressure to set the example of what is possible for the communities they come from.”

There are numerous accounts from black cricketers, particularly batters, describing the extra pressure they feel by virtue of their skin colour. “I realise that every time I step out there I am carrying the hopes of many people,” Bavuma told British newspaper The Telegraph in December.

The burden of being a black Protea

This added burden at any level is a hindrance to performance. When that is compounded by prejudice – real or perceived – the chances of registering a hundred or claiming a five-wicket haul is greatly diminished.

“I always had to work harder than my white teammates,” says Ahmed Omar, the former Gauteng wicketkeeper. He also donned the gloves for the South African Under-19 tour of England in 1995, in a team that included Mark Boucher, Ashwell Prince, Makhaya Ntini with Neil McKenzie as the skipper. “I was constantly fighting against the system.”

Omar’s curiosity got the better of him one day and he opened an envelope containing the payslip of a white provincial teammate. He couldn’t believe what he saw. Omar was earning a monthly wage of R800 a month while his contemporary was taking home R3 000.

“I don’t begrudge any white player who has done well,” Omar says. “Boucher, for example, took his chances as a keeper and became a legend. But he got the chance. I was always one knock away from getting a chance and when you consider how little I was being paid, that tells you everything you need to know about the system. The sad thing is, I never spoke about this at the time because I was afraid of being labelled a troublemaker. A lot of us suffered in silence.”

Some vocal critics on social media, such as former national selector Hussein Manack, have called for an equivalent of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South African sport. Sibiya adds that such a committed act of introspection and interrogation would have to include accounts from the lower levels of the game.

Great strides have been made in recent years as a consequence of intervention by the government and the CSA, as well as the natural transformation of the middle class and elite schools. Many critics may bemoan selection targets, but there is little doubt that these have given players opportunities they would otherwise not have received.

It is worth noting that since the CSA implemented a policy of “targets within targets” – whereby each age-group representative side has had to include two black Africans in their top six since the start of the 2017-2018 season – the number of runs scored and balls faced by black Africans per match has increased dramatically in every province. Significantly, this has not been to the detriment of other races.

But this fails to address the need for a nationwide psychological recalibration. The CGLCB may boast of a transformed board and 85% black coaching staff throughout the organisation, but it still failed to acknowledge the trauma experienced by the Soweto Pioneers players.

“Moving forward, black lives must also matter to black people,” Sibiya says in response to the point that most of the people with power in South African cricket are not white. “Maybe it’s a generational thing. The great triumph of apartheid was making both black and white people believe in white supremacy.”

How to fix this problem

This story has yet to run its course. The anecdotes shared for this piece alone could fill a novel on the subject. No one interviewed denied that there is a problem of racism woven into the fabric of South African cricket at all levels.

“It is impossible for me as an ex-Protea player and coach to be a contributor to a better solution for black cricketers in this country without acknowledging my own naivety and poor awareness,” concludes Kirsten in a rare moment of integrity and honesty from a white athlete in his 50s.

“Very few can deny the subconscious bias that may have been fuelling the fire of racial divide in South African cricket over the past years. Personally, I apologise for the hurt I have caused others. I am acutely aware that for me to make a contribution to a new and transformed cricket environment in our country will require many hours of listening to the numerous stories of pain and hurt prevalent for many black players.”

While we’re listening, let us not forget to turn our ear to those still gazing up at their future in this sport. Cricket’s survival in South Africa depends on it.

This article was first published by New Frame.
 
Cricket SA defends integrity of 2015 match-fixing investigation after Thami Tsolekile claims

A number of players, including Thami Tsolekile and Gulam Bodi, were heavily implicated in fixing related to the 2015 RAM SLAM domestic T20 competition and banned after an investigation.

Bodi was identified as the mastermind behind the operation while other players including Jean Symes, Ethy Mbhalati and Pumelela Matshikwe were also banned.

This week, in an interview with Robert Marawa on Marawa Sports Worldwide, Tsolekile brought the case into the spotlight once more by suggesting that certain white players had escaped investigation despite also being involved in the scandal.

According to Tsolekile, who was given a 12-year ban, Vaughn van Jaarsveld and Robbie Frylinck had also been approached by Bodi in 2015 without reporting it to authorities.

“For the last five years, my financial earnings have been cut. Vaughn, for the last five years, has been earning a salary,” Tsolekile said on Marawa’s show.

“Frylinck was also involved in this. He did a game in the Champions League Twenty20, according to Bodi. But Frylinck, as an ex-Proteas player, he is still playing and I am not.”

On Friday morning, CSA released a statement defending the integrity of its investigation into the scandal.

“Cricket South Africa (CSA) has noted with concern some of the unfounded allegations in the media by certain of the players banned for their part in the match fixing scandal arising from the 2015 Ram Slam competition.” the statement read.

“Contrary to the allegation that SACA (South African Cricketers’ Association) carried out the investigation, the investigation was carried out by CSA’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) under the guidance and authority of retired Judge Bernard Ngoepe, former Judge President of North Gauteng and South Gauteng.”

“On the allegation made by Tsolekile that he was not presented with any evidence and did not receive any charges, Judge Ngoepe said: ‘This is not the truth. Tsolekile received a formal charge sheet as is required under the Code. He was also presented with extensive evidence in the presence of his lawyer.’ As regards the accusations relating to alleged discrimination, Judge Ngoepe said: ‘The allegation that the investigation deliberately targeted black players must also be rejected. Both white and black players were investigated and charged, based on the evidence that was collected and presented.’” added CSA.

https://www.news24.com/sport/cricke...igation-after-thami-tsolekile-claims-20200807
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">My side of the story <a href="https://t.co/8xEhfA7m7h">pic.twitter.com/8xEhfA7m7h</a></p>— Graeme Smith (@GraemeSmith49) <a href="https://twitter.com/GraemeSmith49/status/1293928349354598402?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 13, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Jonty Rhodes strongly believes that the long-standing administrative crisis in South African cricket is responsible for the national team’s inconsistency and acknowledged that “racial inequality” remains a part of the country’s ecosystem.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) is facing financial troubles and allegations of racial discrimination from its players. President Chris Nenzani resigned last month after a seven-year reign marred by corruption allegations.

Amid the dark times, there is hope in the form of South Africa’s most successful captain Graeme Smith, who is currently the director of cricket at CSA.

“Graeme Smith has got a lot of criticism of late but he was the captain of the team that had the first ever team culture camp and came up with the ‘Protea Fire’,” Rhodes told PTI, referring to the 2014 campaign which focussed on humility, resilience, adaptability, unity and respect in the team as an ambassador of the nation.

In the wake of racism allegations by 30 former South Africa players including Ashwell Prince and Makhaya Ntini, an extended national squad of 32 had a “culture camp” last month.

Rhodes, who is in Dubai as fielding coach of Kings XI Punjab ahead of the IPL, feels not much will change in South African cricket till the administrative chaos ends.

“The sad thing for me is that even though top 30 players in the country want to work together for the game, the administration is in such chaos that unfortunately it does have an impact on things (on the field),” Rhodes said.

CSA has had interim CEOs and coaches in the recent past and that can’t help, feels Rhodes.

“Someone like me who is not part of the system, we are reading about issues in South Africa cricket week in and week out and it has not been resolved.

“The same mistakes are being made and there is not much accountability. It saddens me...it does impact on field performance. Even though we have some great players, we have been lacking consistency in performance because of inconsistency off the field.”

Such is the state of affairs that Smith received “death threats” for supporting the global Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement.

Current pacer Lungi Ngidi was criticised by former players like Pat Symcox and Boeta Dippenaar for supporting BLM. They argued that “all lives matter“.

Rhodes prefers the term “racial inequality” to racism and said it is rampant even 26 years after South Africa became a democracy.

“It is interesting because that is what a democracy is all about. You are entitled to your opinion and interesting thing is your opinion is different to somebody else but you are still part of the same system,” he said when asked about black and white players criticising each other.

“In India, there is such real difference from state to state but it is considered as one race but in South Africa even though we all are South Africans, because of the apartheid regime, there is social and economic inequality.

“This white privilege still extends and carries on generation after generation, it is difficult for young black children coming up in a disadvantaged community to have a better life than their parents just because of lack of facilities. There is so much corruption,” he explained.

Rhodes said the COVID-19 pandemic has deepened the fault lines.

“COVID-19 has highlighted all these differences but they have been there for the last 26 years.”

Quota system has been institutionalised in South Africa, including cricket, which requires the national team to field an average of six players of colour over the course of a season.

Is Rhodes for the quota system? He conceded that the issue is a complicated one even for those who have benefitted from the system.

“That (quota) has been the bone contention for a lot of ex-players...no matter how good they were, it was always considered as a quota selection. That affected them emotionally and mentally in playing for a team in which they felt nobody else trusted them or supported them.

“People keep asking me about white privilege and I keep saying that I grew up in a regime that was totally designed to ensure I had the best opportunity. So, there is racial inequality, some people call that racism, and there has to be a level playing field,” he added.

https://sportstar.thehindu.com/cric...ministration-graeme-smith/article32560522.ece
 
So Bavuma named as South Africa LOI captain means significant progress has been made in the race related aspect of the game?
 
This is why the quota system is still needed in South African cricket. Great on them to make Bavuma the captain.

Just the second POC test captain in South Africa's history, behind the great Hashim Amla.
 
So apparently Paul Adams has brought forward some truly shocking revelations about his time in the South African team and the rampant racism he was forced to encounter.

He said that Boucher and other South African players nicknamed him 'brown s***' when he was playing and they even incorporated the nickname into a song that they would all sing.

Besides him, Roger Telemachus told last week about a well-known South African coach, who works on the circuit today, painting a black player's face white as punishment for having dirty boots. Among other things he also said there was a clique of senior South African players who allowed this racist behavior to continue.

These revelations have laid bare the shocking level of racism that was clearly prevalent within South African cricket long after re-admission. In particular I have lost all respect for Boucher who it seems was and likely still is, a shameful racist. And I am certain there are many other players in that side who I once idolized who are likely shameful racists.

If he has any shame he will step down as South Africa coach. Because I doubt it will be long before CSA sack him.
 
The following makes for grim reading:

https://www.news24.com/sport/cricket/proteas/ex-protea-paul-adams-explosive-testimony-alleged-racism-in-sa-cricket-ray-jennings-and-mark-boucher-respond-20210723

During an emotionally charged session on Thursday, former Proteas spinner Paul Adams told Cricket South Africa's Social Justice and Nation-building (SJN) hearings about three incidents of alleged racism he experienced in South African cricket.

Testifying under oath at the transformation hearings, chaired by advocate Dumisa Ntsebeza, he claimed:

"I was called 'brown s***' and it often used to be a song after we won a game and it would be sung in fines meetings. They would sing: 'Brown s*** in the ring tra-la-la-la,'" he alleged.

He said it didn't occur to him at the time that the song was racist and added that his wife was the one who brought it to his attention.

"When you are playing for your country, you're in that victory [moment]. You don't make sense of it. You just go along with it [and] brush it off, but it's actually blatant racism.

"They wouldn't call another player 'white s***', or anything close to that. They'd always use 'brown s***'.

"When I thought about it and my wife kept telling me, I then realised that it wasn't right and you could never know what was happening in the team environment, and people think it is OK to call people that. It should never happen."

Adams didn't mention Boucher by name initially.

However, the name was mentioned when advocate Fumisa Ngqele asked Adams if he addressed Boucher when he called him "brown s***".

Adams responded: "I never addressed him personally. Mark was one of the guys and I only really started to think about these things afterwards because I was caught up in the whole fun of being in the team and not wanting to ruffle feathers."

"Maybe he should come and say sorry. Maybe that's all that needs to happen."

Sport24 sent an emailed query to the Proteas media management in Ireland, who replied with Boucher's response to the comments made about him at the hearings.

"Due to my commitments as Proteas head coach, and the fact that I have been out of the country throughout the SJN hearings, I have not been able to follow the testimonies that have been made and am, therefore, not in a position to comment on issues that have been raised," Boucher said.

"At the moment, my full focus and energy is concentrated on the Proteas and the final match of their tour of Ireland tomorrow (Saturday).

"Once I have returned to South Africa, I will address any issues that concern me appropriately after I have had the opportunity to get a detailed account of them.

"Until such time, I will be making no comment on the matter."

Ray Jennings used white paint to paint a black player's face

Adams alleged that white crease paint was used to paint Mpho Sekhoto's face as punishment for having dirty cricket boots.

The incident was also mentioned by Adams' former Western Province and Proteas teammate Roger Telemachus, who was also at the game, but he didn't go into as much detail as Adams.

Adams and Telemachus played for Western Province at the time of the alleged incident.

Adams, who'll be coaching Border in the rejigged domestic system from this coming season, said the incident upset him.

"It was a humiliating incident where his face was painted with white paint and he felt that he had to reprimand him for having dirty shoes by painting his face white," Adams testified.

"I was so upset because you can't do that to young players. It will break their hearts and their spirit.

"He may have thought that it was going to make him harder and more determined, but you don't do that.

"You don't paint people's faces white, because you have to go back in history to see what was going on.

"We asked Mpho to go and clean his face because he was so scared and that has stayed with me," he added.

Sport24 established, however, that Sekhoto - a promising young player for Easterns in 2002 - was, in fact, doused in sunscreen by Jennings, his coach, for arriving late for a pre-season game against Western Province in Benoni.

When Sport24 sought comment on Thursday, Jennings refused to talk about the incident.

"I don't want to get involved in all of that. It is irrelevant," he said.

Sekhoto confirmed that the incident took place, but did not want to delve into the matter.

"What happened, happened at the time and that was that to be honest," Sekhoto said.

Jennings was Easterns' coach when the team won the 2002/03 SuperSport Series, beating a star-studded Western Province side by 273 runs at the end of that season. He went on to coach the Proteas in 2004 and 2005, and mentored the South African Under-19 side, captained by Aiden Markram, to take the 2014 Under-19 World Cup title.

Allegedly racist WhatsApp remark

Adams, who played 45 Tests ad 24 ODIs, also testified that former Cape Cobras and Proteas pacer Johann Louw made a racist remark in a WhatsApp group last year that included former Proteas captain and current CSA director of cricket, Graeme Smith.

He said this occurred after South Africa lost to Zimbabwe by 31 runs in a quadrangular game before the 2020 Under-19 Cricket World Cup.

"On 7 January 2020 during the Under-19 World Cup (warm-up match) … SA lost to Zimbabwe and everyone was posting," Adams said.

"All of a sudden, a message from Johann Louw came up that said: 'Hoe lank gaan die aap daar hou? (How long are they going to keep that monkey there?)

"As soon that the message came up, Smith, to his credit, said: 'This comment is extremely inappropriate and compromises everyone on this group.'

"That message was referring to Lawrence Mahatlane, who was the SA Under-19 coach at the time."

Sport24 contacted Louw, who played three ODIs and two T20s for the Proteas in 2008 and 2009, for comment.

"If it came across that way or if he's referring to something like that, it was definitely not meant to come across like that," Louw said.

"We were having a chat and we were talking about coaches and I never mentioned anything like that.

"I don't recall any incident like that and if it was taken up like that, and I never mentioned any names and if they felt that it was something that was pointing to the coach, then I'm sorry about that.

"I never intended to say anything like that and I would never say that."

Adams said he hoped his testimony, while painful for him, would also prevent a recurrence.

"They would say it is unconscious bias, but that is why we are here; to change those perceptions and change how we think and see people," Adams said.

"These things only really came to me after my playing days. They've been sitting in my head. I haven't had a platform to air them and I've only spoken to my close friends and I share the sentiments of my fellow black cricketers who have spoken here.

"We're here to build the country and we're part of that generation. I hope the incidents I spoke about are part of a way of taking things forward and not a witch hunt.

"The language that was used and the incidents we saw must not happen again. We need to find a better way."
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Last Monetarist said:
The following makes for grim reading:

https://www.news24.com/sport/cricket/proteas/ex-protea-paul-adams-explosive-testimony-alleged-racism-in-sa-cricket-ray-jennings-and-mark-boucher-respond-20210723
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Grim is putting it lightly. I had a feeling racism existed heavily in South African cricket after readmission and even now, but not to this extent.

The number of individuals that have been outed as shameful racists is also remarkable. Everyone from Boucher, Keaton Jennings' dad Ray Jennings (who funnily enough called Kohli a loner once) and an obscure South African domestic pacer Johann Louw. And I'm certain there are many well-known names that haven't even come to light yet.
 
The part about Ray Jennings (Keaton Jennings dad and former South Africa and RCB coach) painting a black player's face white with crease paint though has to be the most shocking thing I have read in along time.

I can only imagine how dehumanizing that experience must have been for Mpho Sekhoto. No human being, let alone a cricketer should ever have to encounter something so dehumanizing. The shameful racist Ray Jennings must be held accountable.
 
RedwoodOriginal said:
So apparently Paul Adams has brought forward some truly shocking revelations about his time in the South African team and the rampant racism he was forced to encounter.

He said that Boucher and other South African players nicknamed him 'brown s***' when he was playing and they even incorporated the nickname into a song that they would all sing.

Besides him, Roger Telemachus told last week about a well-known South African coach, who works on the circuit today, painting a black player's face white as punishment for having dirty boots. Among other things he also said there was a clique of senior South African players who allowed this racist behavior to continue.

These revelations have laid bare the shocking level of racism that was clearly prevalent within South African cricket long after re-admission. In particular I have lost all respect for Boucher who it seems was and likely still is, a shameful racist. And I am certain there are many other players in that side who I once idolized who are likely shameful racists.

If he has any shame he will step down as South Africa coach. Because I doubt it will be long before CSA sack him.
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White South Africans are some of the most racist white people you'll come across, they're not as attuned to modern western values, coupled with the fact that they're a minority surrounded by POC who they once ruled over for centuries, that has led to them developing a siege mentality. They're stuck in their ways and don't want to change, the worst part is when they try to bring that to the west then they're woken up with a rude surprise - they come to realize their whiteness doesn't give them any right over claiming American/British achievements.
 
RedwoodOriginal said:
The part about Ray Jennings (Keaton Jennings dad and former South Africa and RCB coach) painting a black player's face white with crease paint though has to be the most shocking thing I have read in along time.

I can only imagine how dehumanizing that experience must have been for Mpho Sekhoto. No human being, let alone a cricketer should ever have to encounter something so dehumanizing. The shameful racist Ray Jennings must be held accountable.
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The fact that he declined to comment on the situation pretty much confirms his guilt, shocking and sad really.
 
Giannis said:
White South Africans are some of the most racist white people you'll come across, they're not as attuned to modern western values, coupled with the fact that they're a minority surrounded by POC who they once ruled over for centuries, that has led to them developing a siege mentality. They're stuck in their ways and don't want to change, the worst part is when they try to bring that to the west then they're woken up with a rude surprise - they come to realize their whiteness doesn't give them any right over claiming American/British achievements.
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I agree completely and additionally I would say that because virtually all of them held onto the wealth and sources of wealth (Diamond mines et all) that their forefathers stole from the native Blacks they couldn't be bothered to change their ways. Most of them enjoy the same social status that they did during apartheid, they have their own rich kid schools and most are just as racist as their forefathers.

Every now and then they will make some noise about white farmers but that's the extent of it.
 
RedwoodOriginal said:
The part about Ray Jennings (Keaton Jennings dad and former South Africa and RCB coach) painting a black player's face white with crease paint though has to be the most shocking thing I have read in along time.

I can only imagine how dehumanizing that experience must have been for Mpho Sekhoto. No human being, let alone a cricketer should ever have to encounter something so dehumanizing. The shameful racist Ray Jennings must be held accountable.
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Have these recent revelations made you change your views on quota system in South african cricket?
 
street cricketer said:
Have these recent revelations made you change your views on quota system in South african cricket?
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I'm glad you asked this question because as a matter of fact they have. Like many others, I had no idea that this was the extent to which racism was engrained in their cricketing culture. But these revelations have definitely changed my complete perspective on South African cricket.
 
RedwoodOriginal said:
I'm glad you asked this question because as a matter of fact they have. Like many others, I had no idea that this was the extent to which racism was engrained in their cricketing culture. But these revelations have definitely changed my complete perspective on South African cricket.
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I'm glad it's changed, it's never too late to change and it takes guts to accept one's views may not have been right in the past. It is very hard for Indians and Pakistanis to understand the cricketing system in South Africa. Us desis generally don't get the concept of affirmative action and how it's used to reverse the detrimental changes of a discriminatory system followed over many years resulting in an unequal society. Indians generally tend to have heavy contempt for the reservation system in their country anyway and deride it as something of a freebie given to undeserving candidates who don't have merit while I'm not sure Pakistanis get the concept either. Our societies are not designed in a way to empower the oppressed classes and if it indeed has laws to do so, our people find a way to ridicule the system calling it as awarding people without merit.

But South Africa's situation is a different issue altogether. Usually a minority community tends to be sidelined in a country and deprived of opportunities, but in the case of South Africa, during the apartheid, the majority community was actually oppressed by a minority community with privilege. And so cricket developed as a colonial sport in South Africa and managed to keep the trend even after its re admission to cricket while Indians and Pakistanis started to play the sport themselves after independence. Imagine if the Indian and Pakistani teams were filled with full of white Britishers with the odd coloured desi guy, how ridiculous it would be. That was and is largely the situation of cricket in South Africa and only recently CSA has started taking action to bring the black population into the game. Of course, this might have short term adverse effects but ultimately, I'm pretty sure this is going to be beneficial for south african cricket in the longer run. It's always better to have more people playing the game rather than having just 20-25% of your population playing the game.
 
street cricketer said:
I'm glad it's changed, it's never too late to change and it takes guts to accept one's views may not have been right in the past. It is very hard for Indians and Pakistanis to understand the cricketing system in South Africa. Us desis generally don't get the concept of affirmative action and how it's used to reverse the detrimental changes of a discriminatory system followed over many years resulting in an unequal society. Indians generally tend to have heavy contempt for the reservation system in their country anyway and deride it as something of a freebie given to undeserving candidates who don't have merit while I'm not sure Pakistanis get the concept either. Our societies are not designed in a way to empower the oppressed classes and if it indeed has laws to do so, our people find a way to ridicule the system calling it as awarding people without merit.

But South Africa's situation is a different issue altogether. Usually a minority community tends to be sidelined in a country and deprived of opportunities, but in the case of South Africa, during the apartheid, the majority community was actually oppressed by a minority community with privilege. And so cricket developed as a colonial sport in South Africa and managed to keep the trend even after its re admission to cricket while Indians and Pakistanis started to play the sport themselves after independence. Imagine if the Indian and Pakistani teams were filled with full of white Britishers with the odd coloured desi guy, how ridiculous it would be. That was and is largely the situation of cricket in South Africa and only recently CSA has started taking action to bring the black population into the game. Of course, this might have short term adverse effects but ultimately, I'm pretty sure this is going to be beneficial for south african cricket in the longer run. It's always better to have more people playing the game rather than having just 20-25% of your population playing the game.
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I would say I was fairly well-versed and aware of the history of apartheid, and how to this day, it is the single biggest reason why South Africa is arguably the most unequal country in the world. I mean that infamous Time magazine cover that showed a picture of Jo'burg divided by slums on one side and a gated community on the other summed up the situation better than anything.

That said, my biggest blindspot was that I thought that the end of apartheid somehow brought a paradigm shift to race-relations in South Africa and that cricket was largely unrelated to this.

Over time though I have come to realize that this was an absolutely foolish notion to have. Because when you think about it, the centuries of racial oppression extends to all walks of life in South Africa. And all that has really changed is that now the whites can blame South Africa's problems on the blacks. They still have their own schools, their diamond mines, their wealth and most remain unaffected by South Africa's economic situation. Because most are either wealthy, affluent or well-to-do, even as South Africa continues to have some of the world's largest slum populations, rampant poverty and crime--all of which is a direct by-product of centuries of oppression, segregation and dehumanization.

While I will slightly disagree with your analogy regarding Indian and Pakistani teams being full of white Britishers with the odd coloured desi guy, because at the end of the day the whites are also South Africans. And its not like all of them are racist, and certainly those that aren't should not pay for the sins of their fathers. However, I do see your point and I completely understand where CSA is coming from by trying to integrate the majority black population into the game.

The emergence of Ntini was a watershed moment in this regard for South Africa, and guys like Rabada, Ngidi have added to that. I'm sure overtime more world-class black players will emerge from South Africa. It might take time but I hope CSA continue to chart this path.
 
RedwoodOriginal said:
While I will slightly disagree with your analogy regarding Indian and Pakistani teams being full of white Britishers with the odd coloured desi guy, because at the end of the day the whites are also South Africans. And its not like all of them are racist, and certainly those that aren't should not pay for the sins of their fathers. However, I do see your point and I completely understand where CSA is coming from by trying to integrate the majority black population into the game.

The emergence of Ntini was a watershed moment in this regard for South Africa, and guys like Rabada, Ngidi have added to that. I'm sure overtime more world-class black players will emerge from South Africa. It might take time but I hope CSA continue to chart this path.
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I actually meant that in a scenario where some of the Britishers had not left India and Pakistan after their independence. I forgot to add the point, I can see why it may have come across weird because white Saffers are South Africans at the end of the day too.

But yes, I agree that more black stars need to emerge for the black population of South Africa to relate to the game. I remember Philander once talked about how him playing the game served as an inspiration to the people from where he came from, who were all downtrodden during commentary in an ODI match. Need more such stars.
 
street cricketer said:
I actually meant that in a scenario where some of the Britishers had not left India and Pakistan after their independence. I forgot to add the point, I can see why it may have come across weird because white Saffers are South Africans at the end of the day too.

But yes, I agree that more black stars need to emerge for the black population of South Africa to relate to the game. I remember Philander once talked about how him playing the game served as an inspiration to the people from where he came from, who were all downtrodden during commentary in an ODI match. Need more such stars.
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Ah. That makes much more sense.

I heard a similar story from Bavuma too. And I can imagine how inspiring that must be for people who live in abject poverty. Or live in marginalized communities, if not abject poverty.
 
[MENTION=2501]Savak[/MENTION]

Please see this thread.
 
More unsavoury revelations.

https://www.news24.com/sport/cricket/proteas/cricket-sa-hearings-ex-selector-claims-ab-de-villiers-fought-khaya-zondos-2015-proteas-selection-he-wasnt-happy-20210805

Former Proteas batter and captain AB de Villiers' role in preventing Khaya Zondo from playing for South Africa in India in 2015 was thrust back into the spotlight during Hussein Manack's testimony at the Social Justice and Nation-building (SJN) hearings on Thursday.

Manack, a former Gauteng and Easterns all-rounder, was a national selector at the time under then-chief selector Linda Zondi's leadership.

In his testimony on Thursday, Manack alleged under oath that De Villiers, who was the limited-overs captain, was not happy with Zondo's possible inclusion for the fifth ODI in Mumbai.

The five-match series was tied at 2-2 with David Miller's form - he had scored 13, 0, 33 and 6 in the first four ODIs - had seen his place in the match-day XI for the decider come under pressure.

Manack said Dean Elgar's inclusion in the squad and subsequent appearance in the 214-run series clincher was based on replacing the injured JP Duminy, while Miller's place was under scrutiny to a point where he was pushed up to open in the third ODI in Rajkot, which South Africa won by 18 runs.

Manack said he didn't have an issue with Elgar replacing Duminy, but added that De Villiers' firm diffidence in not having Zondo in the team for the deciding ODI led to a meeting with Cricket South Africa's CEO Haroon Lorgat.

"I felt David Miller needed to be dropped, and if Khaya was the backup batter, we needed to play him. The coach and captain were not happy with me," Manack said.

"We had a discussion, and I got back to the selectors and said 'do we play Khaya or not?'

"There was some disagreement, but the majority of the decision was that Khaya should play.

"I got back to the captain, told him I discussed with the selectors and Khaya should play. The captain was not happy.

"An hour or two later, I got a call from the CEO, and he said he just received a call from the captain who said he is not happy with the team.

"I went to the CEO's room, and I got the distinct impression that the captain was very unhappy to the extent that, reading between the lines, that I thought there was going to be some sort of fall out if he didn't get his team.

"I got a distinct impression that the captain wanted his team. I thought he was going to pull out of the team, threatening not to play. The words were not said, but that's the impression I got."

Sport24 reached out to De Villiers’ representative Ed Griffiths for the former Proteas skippers’ response, who hadn’t replied to messages by the time of publication.

When this publication first reported De Villiers’ role in keeping Zondo out of the team in India, De Villiers admitted to speaking to Lorgat but denied threatening to pulling himself out of the team if the Dolphins man was picked ahead of Miller.

"That is not exactly true," De Villiers told Sport24 through Griffiths last year.

"I did speak to Haroon, who had just arrived in India, and I did tell him I felt we should be backing experience in this game. Emotions were running high, and I remember later being told that one administrator had said they thought I may not be in the right frame of mind to play.

"That may be the origin of that story. In my mind, there was never any question that I would play in the game. Few people have the opportunity to represent their country on the cricket field, and I have always cherished that privilege."

Manack also highlighted another moment ahead of the third Test against England at the Wanderers in 2016, where he says De Villers and the coach at the time suggested Kagiso Rabada be dropped for the game for Hardus Viljoen or Kyle Abbott.

At the time, Rabada's Test career was three matches old, and in the previous Test at Newlands, he'd taken 3/175 on a flat surface where England scored 629/6 declared.

Despite South Africa losing the third Test by seven wickets after collapsing to 83 all out in the second innings, Rabada collected his first five-wicket haul in Test matches.

Abbott didn't play in the Test, while Viljoen, who took a wicket with his first ball when he dismissed Alastair Cook, never played a Test again.

"The decision had to be made between Abbott and Viljoen. One of them we had to pick because Chris Morris was injured. Discussion at practice took place, and they said I think we must drop KG (Rabada). I said on what basis," Manack said.

"Having seen him at the Lions, where he was coming through, I had seen a lot of him. He had a good enough reputation.

"There was a cricketing explanation that maybe the ball wasn't coming out of his hand right. I said, if the ball is not coming out of his hand right, I've been watching him for the last two hours, and he is swinging the ball, and I am comfortable, but if you feel strongly, let me take it back to the rest of panel.

"Everybody on the selection panel was unanimous that Rabada has to play. I got back to the coach. I said here is our decision that Rabada must play.

"They weren't happy with the fact that we had stood our ground. In that Test match, KG got his first five-wicket haul. The next Test match, KG got 13 wickets and SA ended up winning largely because of that."

Manack said that recently retired Test captain Faf du Plessis and De Villiers were chalk and cheese when it came to selectorial matters.

"Faf du Plessis was very good. He was prepared to listen. He never came to a selection meeting demanding his team, and if you gave him a view, he would take it on board and go back and consider," Manack said.

"Other captains, like AB, wanted their team at all cost, and that would create a lot of conflict.

Captains have friends, close buddies, that they go and eat with, and that meant they're not always in the best positions to make objective decisions."
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About time colored South Africans are getting some respect, Rabada is the best South African at the moment. Can't believe AB didn't want this young talent, if he was a white boy named John then maybe would have taken him with eyes closed.
 
A lot of mediocre colored cricketers like Phangiso, Tshabalala, Zondo, and the likes who were not fit to be in B or C grade sides are now playing this racism card and speaking as if they were some legends in the making who didn't get a chance to play more often.

I also find this very strange that the reservation is for Colored players, so here the discrimination is clearly against White players who even though are talented should not be in the side more than the quota allowed. Yet it is the colored one who are saying they are being discriminated against.

This is just ridiculous. I don't know how the world is even taking this.
 
sam_ahm said:
A lot of mediocre colored cricketers like Phangiso, Tshabalala, Zondo, and the likes who were not fit to be in B or C grade sides are now playing this racism card and speaking as if they were some legends in the making who didn't get a chance to play more often.

I also find this very strange that the reservation is for Colored players, so here the discrimination is clearly against White players who even though are talented should not be in the side more than the quota allowed. Yet it is the colored one who are saying they are being discriminated against.

This is just ridiculous. I don't know how the world is even taking this.
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The hearings are not related to the merits of the quota system, but around the dressing room culture where white players made non-whites appear inferior and bullied them. Now whether those allegations are true or not is up for debate. It does seem though that there was a lack of buy-in from established white cricketers like Mark Boucher and AB de Villiers to give coloured cricketers an equal chance to succeed.
 
Last Monetarist said:
The hearings are not related to the merits of the quota system, but around the dressing room culture where white players made non-whites appear inferior and bullied them. Now whether those allegations are true or not is up for debate. It does seem though that there was a lack of buy-in from established white cricketers like Mark Boucher and AB de Villiers to give coloured cricketers an equal chance to succeed.
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But mate most of them have been talking about not getting the chance to play like Phangiso in 2015 WC, why will he play when Immi (also colored) was clearly the first choice spinner and in Australia you don't generally play 2 spinners.

Zondo talking about the crucial 5th ODI against India when AB demolished us. It was a crucial decising ODI.

Tshabalala and Tsolekile I think are serving bans for match fixing, yet are speaking about not getting opportunities. What credibility do these match fixers have?

Well established colored players like Hashim Amla, Imran Tahir, Vernon Philander, JP Duminy, Tabraiz Shamsi, havent spoken anything like this, it's mainly the unknown ones who were never good enough that are complaining now.

I know Makhaya Ntini and Ashwell Price are the two established players who have also spoken on this and I respect that. It is possible that they were bullied it isolated which absolutely is not on and should be dealt strictly, but mediocre players complaining about chances to play for South Africa is just not acceptable.
 
Racism and discrimination should not be tolerated, this is 2021 but it's quite sad that it exists even today.
 
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This is cricket's equivalent of the #MeToo movement.
 
Based on these allegations, it is quite apparent that there was a lot going on in the South African setup around 2015 and 2016 and while these differences of opinion were there but if you think from the point of view of both sides, they were just doing their job.

As a captain or coach, you would want your best players to be in the XI because ultimately you want to win matches.

de Villiers has responded to this allegation by Manack that at no point, he wanted Rabada not to be part of the XI. Clearly, he had a fall with South African team management and he is a too sensitive guy to take it on the chin and keep continuing. So, it must have got something to do with his retirement across all formats in 2018.

No player in the history of the game, as much of a mercenary he maybe, will ever retire one year before the World Cup just for playing the IPL, knowing well before making the decision that he would be criticised all round the world for this decision at that point.
 
sam_ahm said:
But mate most of them have been talking about not getting the chance to play like Phangiso in 2015 WC, why will he play when Immi (also colored) was clearly the first choice spinner and in Australia you don't generally play 2 spinners.

Zondo talking about the crucial 5th ODI against India when AB demolished us. It was a crucial decising ODI.

Tshabalala and Tsolekile I think are serving bans for match fixing, yet are speaking about not getting opportunities. What credibility do these match fixers have?

Well established colored players like Hashim Amla, Imran Tahir, Vernon Philander, JP Duminy, Tabraiz Shamsi, havent spoken anything like this, it's mainly the unknown ones who were never good enough that are complaining now.

I know Makhaya Ntini and Ashwell Price are the two established players who have also spoken on this and I respect that. It is possible that they were bullied it isolated which absolutely is not on and should be dealt strictly, but mediocre players complaining about chances to play for South Africa is just not acceptable.
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I am sure there are plenty of non-white players that have jumped on the bandwagon, but the accounts of Ashwell Prince and Paul Adams need to be taken very seriously. We can't assume that these were isolated incidents just because some of the other players haven't spoken up.
 
Anyone with any gripe, come forward and tell us. Absolute nonsense. Most of the guys complaining were barely FC players but are using racism as an excuse
 
If somebody is found guilty of discriminating, they should be punished severely. With that being said, sports should always be played on merit, not quota. Forcing non-white players who don't deserve to be in the team means the best team is not being played, which beats the entire point of professional competitive sport.

If South Africa wants black players to do well, they should promote cricket to black players at grassroot level and provide equal opportunity to get selected. But the main XI should always be chosen by merit. Letting undeserving players play is the quickest way to kill a sport.
 
sam_ahm said:
But mate most of them have been talking about not getting the chance to play like Phangiso in 2015 WC, why will he play when Immi (also colored) was clearly the first choice spinner and in Australia you don't generally play 2 spinners.

Zondo talking about the crucial 5th ODI against India when AB demolished us. It was a crucial decising ODI.

Tshabalala and Tsolekile I think are serving bans for match fixing, yet are speaking about not getting opportunities. What credibility do these match fixers have?

Well established colored players like Hashim Amla, Imran Tahir, Vernon Philander, JP Duminy, Tabraiz Shamsi, havent spoken anything like this, it's mainly the unknown ones who were never good enough that are complaining now.

I know Makhaya Ntini and Ashwell Price are the two established players who have also spoken on this and I respect that. It is possible that they were bullied it isolated which absolutely is not on and should be dealt strictly, but mediocre players complaining about chances to play for South Africa is just not acceptable.
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That's the issue for me too. I'm appalled at the likes of Boucher and Ray Jenninfs and their behaviour. But at the same time the likes of Khaya Zondo not being selected is hardly a crime. Average 32 Strike rate 76 in list A.

Still, I'm convinced that South African team had a toxiv environment for non whites considering the testimonies of Adams, Ntini and Ashwell Prince.
 
sam_ahm said:
A lot of mediocre colored cricketers like Phangiso, Tshabalala, Zondo, and the likes who were not fit to be in B or C grade sides are now playing this racism card and speaking as if they were some legends in the making who didn't get a chance to play more often.

I also find this very strange that the reservation is for Colored players, so here the discrimination is clearly against White players who even though are talented should not be in the side more than the quota allowed. Yet it is the colored one who are saying they are being discriminated against.

This is just ridiculous. I don't know how the world is even taking this.
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Mark Boucher has just admitted that he along with his white teammates (Smith, Kallis, de Villiers, Steyn, Donald etc) sang songs calling Adams a brown ****.

That you are bringing their perceived cricketing ability here to discredit the claims of cricketers who had to live and breathe in a hostile atmosphere speaks much about you as a person.
 
Bewal Express said:
Anyone with any gripe, come forward and tell us. Absolute nonsense. Most of the guys complaining were barely FC players but are using racism as an excuse
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So because they were poor first class players they deserve to suffer racist behavior? Are you hearing yourself right now?
 
AMSS said:
Mark Boucher has just admitted that he along with his white teammates (Smith, Kallis, de Villiers, Steyn, Donald etc) sang songs calling Adams a brown ****.

That you are bringing their perceived cricketing ability here to discredit the claims of cricketers who had to live and breathe in a hostile atmosphere speaks much about you as a person.
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People who defend racists are often enough racists themselves. It's unfortunate that people who've never been to South Africa are speaking of things they know nothing off. Ashwell Prince was a bloody good player, yet he was also abused. See where I'm getting with this?
 
(Reuters) - South Africa head coach Mark Boucher has apologised for singing offensive songs and using racist nicknames during his playing days in an affidavit submitted to Cricket South Africa’s (CSA) Social Justice and Nation-Building (SJN) committee on Monday.

Boucher was responding to allegations levelled against him by former spinner Paul Adams, who last month said at the SJN hearings that he was subjected to racial discrimination and name-calling during his time with the national team.

While Boucher denied giving Adams the racist moniker, he did “apologise unreservedly for any offensive conduct, real or perceived”.

“While at the time we thought it was playful banter within a team environment in which we all participated... I deeply regret and apologise for the part I played by joining in with my team mates in singing offensive songs or using offensive nicknames,” Boucher said in the 14-page affidavit.

“We, the team, coaching staff, selectors and CSA... should have been more sensitive and created an environment where all members of the team could raise and talk about these issues without allowing them to fester...” added the former wicket-keeper, who played 147 tests and 295 one-day internationals for the Proteas.

Skipper Temba Bavuma confirmed that Boucher had spoken to the team, providing “clarity and context” on the charges against him.

South Africa travel to Sri Lanka for three ODIs and three T20s next month, with the tour scheduled to kick off in Colombo on Sept. 2.


https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-...t-behaviour-during-playing-days-idUKKBN2FO1BU
 
sam_ahm said:
This is quite shameful and disgusting from Mark Boucher. Shame.
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It is par for the course for white cricketers in the country. Plenty of others have been named in the latest committee, I'm sure many more are hiding in the bushes or being covered up.
 
Cricket South Africa (CSA) has appointed well respected Senior Counsel Advocate Terry Motau (SC) as chairperson of the disciplinary hearing into allegations of misconduct against Proteas men’s coach, Mark Boucher. It is proposed that the parties will meet with Advocate on 26th January 2022 to determine a timetable for the proceedings.

This follows December’s Social Justice and Nation-Building (SJN) report, which made tentative findings regarding allegations of discrimination and racism against various persons, including Mr Boucher. Specifically, during the SJN process, allegations of racism were levelled against Mr Boucher by his former Proteas teammate, Paul Adams.

In releasing his report, the Ombudsman, Advocate Dumisa Ntsebeza SC, indicated that he was not in a position to make "definite findings" and recommended that a further process be undertaken in this regard. In keeping with this approach, the Board was obligated to institute further formal enquiries into CSA employees, suppliers or contractors who are implicated by the SJN report, and this is the first of these processes.

“The Board remains mindful of its duty to treat allegations of racism or discrimination with the utmost seriousness and in a manner that ensures fairness and due process in terms of South Africa’s Constitution and labour legislation. It is now up to the inquiry to determine to which extent the allegations are true and justify the need for further disciplinary steps,” explains CSA Board Chairperson, Lawson Naidoo.

CSA confirms that a charge sheet, containing both the disciplinary charges against Mr Boucher, as well as his rights, was provided to him on 17 January. The upcoming inquiry will also consider concerns and allegations that arose following the resignation of former assistant coach, Enoch Nkwe.

While Mr Boucher is being charged with gross misconduct, which could lead to his dismissal, CSA emphasises it is important that the independent inquiry first needs to test all allegations before any question of sanction can arise.

“CSA emphasises that any implicated party will be given a fair opportunity to be heard so that finality can be achieved,” says Naidoo.

Further steps and action by CSA to transform cricket and act on other applicable recommendations in the SJN report, aligned to the Board’s new strategic framework and pillars of access, inclusion and excellence, will be announced in due course.
 
I sympathise with Boucher. While his behaviour was awful, he was brought up in a racist society and conditioned to believe blacks/browns were inferior. That sort of behaviour cannot be changed and bias must be deeply ingrained in many white people who lived during apartheid and indeed their children.

I bet behind closed doors there is dinner table conversations about the good old days and a certain nostalgia amongst many.

These attitudes will take a long time to root out. If Boucher genuinely accepts responsibility and shows contrition he should be forgiven.
 
DeadlyVenom said:
I sympathise with Boucher. While his behaviour was awful, he was brought up in a racist society and conditioned to believe blacks/browns were inferior. That sort of behaviour cannot be changed and bias must be deeply ingrained in many white people who lived during apartheid and indeed their children.

I bet behind closed doors there is dinner table conversations about the good old days and a certain nostalgia amongst many.

These attitudes will take a long time to root out. If Boucher genuinely accepts responsibility and shows contrition he should be forgiven.
Click to expand...

I actually don't agree with this mentality. People should be held accountable for their actions. That the person in question is your supposing hero should not have any bearing whatsoever.
 
Just to play devil's advocate and I know this isn't the popular opinion.... but this Woke tattle tail culture only works in first world countries where virtue signalling and forgetting about it the next day is OK.

South Africa is a totally different can of worms with much more severe issues to worry about. Human beings change they evolve... sometimes it's a straight progression sometimes its a roller coaster. South Africa needs the Bouchers to keep evolving just as much as it needs to be inclusive of the Paul Adams to help the country.

I read the linguist John Mcwhorter's recent book and it changed my mind on this trend of picking discrete points in someone's life and holding them over the fire for it in the name of social justice. This type of stuff does not actually help improve things. South Africa doesn't need more reminders that apartheid existed.

Boucher grew up in a time where a black person couldn't be within his presence without legal permit. He did not create that system ..within a few decades he is strategizing with a black national captain.. he is embracing the POC youth as they celebrate a series wins.

Were all of you born perfect? Have all of you been perfect your whole life?
 
I'm interested as to who had the time to even think opinions of average players like Symcox and Dippeanar even mattered. Average players with equally pathetic political views. Farm murders? Really? Have they even bothered to check the statistics on murders in the townships? As if criminals discriminate along political lines. So out of touch with reality.
 
DeadlyVenom said:
I sympathise with Boucher. While his behaviour was awful, he was brought up in a racist society and conditioned to believe blacks/browns were inferior. That sort of behaviour cannot be changed and bias must be deeply ingrained in many white people who lived during apartheid and indeed their children.

I bet behind closed doors there is dinner table conversations about the good old days and a certain nostalgia amongst many.

These attitudes will take a long time to root out. If Boucher genuinely accepts responsibility and shows contrition he should be forgiven.
Click to expand...

If someone grew up surrounded by violence ending up as a violent criminal himself, would you show the same empathy?
 
Any form of injustice, racism, hate, killing, etc should be condemned. However, these BLM and other political issues should be away from sports. I remember Moeen Ali got in trouble for trying to promote Save Gazza. Why should Ali not be able to promote what he feels is right and get punished for it while BLM gets a pass? Either let everyone show their political view on the field or tell everyone to do it in their own free time and not during a match. ICC should not get to choose which political view gets more limelight.
 
Dark Magician said:
I actually don't agree with this mentality. People should be held accountable for their actions. That the person in question is your supposing hero should not have any bearing whatsoever.
Click to expand...

Yes definitely held to account, especially if he is still influenced by those attitudes. But the path for forgiveness should always be there.
 
soso_killer said:
If someone grew up surrounded by violence ending up as a violent criminal himself, would you show the same empathy?
Click to expand...

Yes of course, there is always a degree of empathy when someone is a victim of circumstances.

Unfortunately human beings are a product of their environment. Boucher has probably been exposed to racist behaviour for a long period of time, indeed his ancestors may have helped to implement apartheid.

Its frightening to think apartheid ended less than 30 years ago. The first generations of whites to live post apartheid will still unfortunately be shaped by it.

Boucher could publicly show remorse and if he does, should be forgiven.

I suspect he won't though and if a person refuses to acknowledge they have done something wrong, then thats where the empathy towards them ends.
 
soso_killer said:
I'm interested as to who had the time to even think opinions of average players like Symcox and Dippeanar even mattered. Average players with equally pathetic political views. Farm murders? Really? Have they even bothered to check the statistics on murders in the townships? As if criminals discriminate along political lines. So out of touch with reality.
Click to expand...

Are White South African criminals going into townships and killing entire black families? So out of touch with reality. Eternal victims, ag shame.
 
On what planets do results matter more than racially insensitive behaviour? Those arguing Mark Boucher’s case on the basis of an upturn in results need to seriously examine their morals, writes RYAN VREDE.

To think, all Paul Adams wanted was an apology. The former Proteas spinner who, through his testimony at the Social Justice and Nation-Building (SNJ) hearings, implicated Boucher in what was at best racially insensitive behaviour directed towards him when they were teammates.

Boucher, Adams testified, was one of the leaders of a group who sang a change-room song that referred to Adams as a “brown s**t”.

Initially, Boucher denied any involvement, then, under immense scrutiny and public pressure released a statement that showed little self-awareness, arguing that he never gave Adams the nickname. Adams never accused him of doing so.

Adams said: “I’m just highlighting that it should never happen and if we take this forward in the right way, we will have a lot more respect for each other,” he explained. “Maybe he [Boucher] should come and say sorry.”

It would have taken a phone call from Boucher to avoid the legal and moral mess he is now at the centre of.

This is how that conversation should have gone: “Hi Paul, it’s Mark here. I listened to your testimony at the SJN and I wanted to say I’m sorry for contributing to your awful experience. At the time, I didn’t have the emotional intelligence to understand how that song would have been hurtful to you. But I’ve grown since, and I know now what I didn’t know then. I hope you can accept my apology, but if it’s too raw now, I’ll wait for as long as you need to heal.”

Yet, even that was too much to ask a man who seemingly has the emotional intelligence of a seven-year-old. It is safe to assume that, from an EQ perspective, Boucher hasn’t moved an inch from the place he was when he was leading that vile song. His disastrous handling of the kneeling issue recently supports my assertion.

In the wake of Adams’ testimony, Boucher came out fighting. This fight came in the form of his legal team sending two affidavits to the transformation ombudsman of the SJN hearings, Dumisa Ntsebeza, in mid-August 2021. In one affidavit, he apologises unreservedly for any offense and hurt he might have caused during his playing days while, in the other, he vehemently rejects the allegations Adams levelled against him.

The majority of the South African cricket media ran his version of the story as fact. They failed to scrutinise his offerings in any objective detail, and without the requisite empathy for Adams’ experience.

They were equally passive when Boucher’s win percentage hovered around 50 in both Tests and ODIs.

This coach, it appears, gets passes his predecessors would kill for.

The findings of the hearing were released just over a month ago, and it was bad for Boucher. The report strongly recommended that Cricket South Africa launch an investigation into the behaviour that left Adams feeling dehumanised.

CSA did that, and last week charged Boucher with gross misconduct.

Following that announcement, Boucher’s apologists took turns to argue his case. Former Sunday Times sports editor Colin Bryden summed up the intellectually bankrupt and privilege-laden sentiment with a series of tweets that left me stunned.

“Just when SA have a winning, seemingly united cricket team, @OfficialCSA announces that Mark Boucher faces charges of ‘gross misconduct’ which could result in his dismissal. This because of a silly song sung in the dressing room years ago,” he began.

I asked him what results had to do with the allegations against Boucher. I followed up by enquiring when a middle-aged, white man got to decide what was “silly” in this context.

He didn’t respond. He couldn’t, because there are no circumstances under which someone from his background should get to define Adams’ experience.

In a thread that defied belief, he added: “I get that ‘brown s**t’ can be interpreted as racially offensive and was indeed apparently regarded as such by Paul Adams – but only after he spoke to his girlfriend. The nature of fines meetings after sports events is such that good-natured insults are the norm.”

There were myriad factors Bryden wasn’t taking into account which could have resulted in Adams choosing to stay silent, not least of all the power dynamic that existed, one in which Adams could have compromised his career had he said anything.

This, remember, was a very different time. Speaking broadly, black athletes today have been empowered to speak up against any racially insensitive or downright racist behaviour they’re subjected to, without the fear of compromising their careers.

Bryden’s narrow worldview, and those whose views mirror his, doesn’t allow for the possibility that Adams’ experience was authentic and demanded further investigation.

Instead, a Test series victory over India and an excellent performance in the first ODI of the series were cited as being more important than getting justice for Adams. This narrative strengthened after the Proteas locked up the ODI series in Paarl.

I was disturbed to read comment upon comment lamenting the timing of CSA’s charge against Boucher. In essence, that argument prioritises present-day performance ahead of Adams’ humanity. This is deplorable.

Many argued that an organisation as dysfunctional as CSA shouldn’t be allowed to adjudicate Boucher’s behaviour. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve ripped CSA to ribbons for the depth of its dysfunction, but I fail to see how this affects it acting on the findings of an independent review.

Boucher will (rightly) have the opportunity to defend himself in the coming months. If the reporting in many Sunday papers is accurate, that defense will be led by the finest attorneys money can buy.

These papers report that a collection of wealthy businesspeople will bankroll Boucher’s defense. Boucher is benefiting from connections he made as a world-class player.

I’m not sure what Boucher’s endgame is. His defense team could blow CSA’s attorneys away on the technicalities of the case. Boucher may keep his job but will do so knowing he has severed the relationship with his employer. He may want to walk away but do so with the remaining time on his contract paid in full.

Yet, not even the world’s best defence team will get him vindication for the racially insensitive behaviour that is at the heart of this case. He has already eliminated that option by lying about his role in the song, then changing his tune under pressure.

Right now he is benefiting from something money can’t buy – the support of disconcertingly large numbers of people who have allowed their judgement to be compromised by a wave of positive results.

Performance should never trump people. And if it does for you, then you need a performance review of your heart and mind.

https://www.sacricketmag.com/performance-should-never-trump-people-boucher/
 
https://www.sacricketmag.com/boucher-csa-legal-teams-go-head-to-head-labour-lawyer-1za/

Mark Boucher’s labour lawyer, Mohammed Chavoos, says there’s “nothing unique” about the Proteas coach’s matter with Cricket South Africa.

Boucher has been charged with “gross misconduct” by CSA following allegations of racism made against him by former teammate Paul Adams during last year’s Social Justice and Nation-Building (SJN) hearings. Former assistant coach Enoch Nkwe’s resignation in August last year will also be addressed during Boucher’s disciplinary hearing.

On Wednesday, the two legal teams will meet with chairman Advocate Terry Motau SC to discuss the parameters and timelines of the disciplinary hearing.

Chavoos, a director at Norton Rose Fulbright, will go head to head with another heavyweight labour lawyer, Aadil Patel, from Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, who will be arguing CSA’s case.

“We’ve dealt with a number of these matters in the past and it’s an issue between an employer and an employee,” Chavoos told Sport24.

“There are allegations that need to be tested before an independent enquiry. It’s something I do and have been doing for the past 21 years.

“There’s nothing unique about the matter. It’s something that generally happens most of the time in most firms.”
 
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