Mike Stofile lost his position as deputy president of the South African Rugby Union (Saru) in his fight for transformation because he was too honest.
This was the message conveyed by Department of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture Minister Fikile Mbalula at Stofile’s funeral held at Ngqele village near Alice on Saturday.
Mbalula lambasted Saru leadership for the slow pace of rugby transformation at national level, saying Stofile had been an advocate for rugby transformation.
“I knew him back when I was still in the ANC Youth League. He was very honest; he stood for what was right. They booted him out because of this. We used to work with him a lot on issues of rugby transformation. I feel privileged to be here today to say goodbye to this great man,” Mbalula said.
He said his department had put measures in place to accelerate rugby transformation.
“If transformation does not happen, there will be consequences. If people do not want transformation, that will be punishable. They know what they need to do and they know what is expected of them.”
Mbalula was delivering a message of support to the Stofile family on behalf of the government.
The small village of Ngqele was overwhelmed with dignitaries descending upon it, including South African ambassador to Germany Makhenkesi Stofile, Eastern Cape premier Phumulo Masualle, Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas, and Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and her husband, Charles Nqakula.
Stofile’s long-time friend and colleague in rugby development Mbulelo Xhape described him as a person who despised “liars and cowards”.
“He was a community builder. He gave back to his community because he knew where he came from.”
Speaking on behalf of Saru, Monde Tabata said Stofile used to say he would continue fighting for rugby transformation until “men with clan names were included in the squad”.
“He was unflinching in demanding to see the transformation of rugby to include black players and the transformation of rugby administration.
“His cause for the advancement of black players was not a blind pursuit and it was not to the detriment of other talented players,” Tabata said.
Giving a vote of thanks, his brother Makhenkesi Stofile jokingly said: “He died on the day the Springboks were beaten by Japan. I see he was disgusted and he decided to go.”
In the early 90s, Stofile was a member of the Development Committee of Border Rugby and an executive member of Border Rugby Union.
In 2003, he was elected as Saru vice-president and later as deputy president. — siphem@dispatch.co.za
Mbalula lambasts Saru at Stofile’s funeral
This was the message conveyed by Department of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture Minister Fikile Mbalula at Stofile’s funeral held at Ngqele village near Alice on Saturday.
Mbalula lambasted Saru leadership for the slow pace of rugby transformation at national level, saying Stofile had been an advocate for rugby transformation.
“I knew him back when I was still in the ANC Youth League. He was very honest; he stood for what was right. They booted him out because of this. We used to work with him a lot on issues of rugby transformation. I feel privileged to be here today to say goodbye to this great man,” Mbalula said.
He said his department had put measures in place to accelerate rugby transformation.
“If transformation does not happen, there will be consequences. If people do not want transformation, that will be punishable. They know what they need to do and they know what is expected of them.”
Mbalula was delivering a message of support to the Stofile family on behalf of the government.
The small village of Ngqele was overwhelmed with dignitaries descending upon it, including South African ambassador to Germany Makhenkesi Stofile, Eastern Cape premier Phumulo Masualle, Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas, and Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and her husband, Charles Nqakula.
Stofile’s long-time friend and colleague in rugby development Mbulelo Xhape described him as a person who despised “liars and cowards”.
“He was a community builder. He gave back to his community because he knew where he came from.”
Speaking on behalf of Saru, Monde Tabata said Stofile used to say he would continue fighting for rugby transformation until “men with clan names were included in the squad”.
“He was unflinching in demanding to see the transformation of rugby to include black players and the transformation of rugby administration.
“His cause for the advancement of black players was not a blind pursuit and it was not to the detriment of other talented players,” Tabata said.
Giving a vote of thanks, his brother Makhenkesi Stofile jokingly said: “He died on the day the Springboks were beaten by Japan. I see he was disgusted and he decided to go.”
In the early 90s, Stofile was a member of the Development Committee of Border Rugby and an executive member of Border Rugby Union.
In 2003, he was elected as Saru vice-president and later as deputy president. — siphem@dispatch.co.za
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