South Africa’s dreams of hosting the 2023 Rugby World Cup were dealt a crushing blow yesterday when sports minister Fikile Mbalula withdrew government’s support following the release of the Eminent Persons’ Group’s (EPG’s) transformation report.
SA Rugby, plus major sports federations Athletics South Africa (ASA), Netball SA and Cricket South Africa (CSA) were barred by the minister from hosting international events in the country after failing to meet their transformation targets.
It was Mbalula’s boldest announcement since instituting the Judge Nicholson inquiry into the bonuses affair of CSA in 2011 that led to its former CEO Gerald Majola’s axing.
The ban does not apply to existing international tournament obligations such as international franchise tournament Super Rugby, the Rugby Championship and the HSBC Cape Town Sevens.
This will also not affect New Zealand and Sri Lanka’s cricket tours to South Africa later this year or the Africa Senior Athletics Championships that begin in Durban on June 22.
Last year the sports ministry and Sascoc signed memorandums of agreement with various sports federations committing them towards transformation at all levels of their organisations.
Rugby was adjudged to have fallen short of those targets.
“There is no federation in this country that can host any mega event without government,” said Mbalula.
“They cannot organise anything and it is the absolute law and our right. Revoking government support for hosting international events is one of the punitive measures we can implement against federations that don’t transform.
“Federations that have not complied in the year under review will not be in a position to host or bid for any international competition, big or small,” said Mbalula.
Last year Mbalula supported Saru’s expression of interest to global rugby governing body World Rugby to host the 2023 World Cup, but publicly warned them he would rescind his support if they failed to transform.
Yesterday the minister came good on that threat by withdrawing government support.
South Africa, along with other interested countries Ireland, France and Italy have until the end of June to submit their tender documentation to host the sport’s biggest showpiece. The country last hosted the World Cup in 1995.
Saru said in a statement they “planned to engage” the minister regarding their hopes to host the 2023 World Cup.
ASA president Aleck Skhosana said: “We are going to take stock of what has been reported and come back to the minister, with whom we’ve agreed to meet this Thursday to deal with the critical issues.
“From the board’s side, we are disappointed because some of the statistics that we see here are not a true reflection of what we are doing out there.”
CSA media manager Altaaf Kazi said they would study the EPG report before responding. He added the report would wait for president Chris Nenzani and CEO Haroon Lorgat, who arrived yesterday from Dubai, to peruse.
The ruling will come as a slap in the face for CSA, particularly after their drastic transformation targets set at franchise level.
In the recently completed domestic season, franchises were obliged to field at least three black African and that half of the team be black.
The South African Football Association (Safa) passed the transformation test but were rapped over the knuckles by Mbalula for failing to apply themselves into taking the game into former “Model C” and private schools.
SA sports rapped for perceived lack of transformation
SA Rugby, plus major sports federations Athletics South Africa (ASA), Netball SA and Cricket South Africa (CSA) were barred by the minister from hosting international events in the country after failing to meet their transformation targets.
It was Mbalula’s boldest announcement since instituting the Judge Nicholson inquiry into the bonuses affair of CSA in 2011 that led to its former CEO Gerald Majola’s axing.
The ban does not apply to existing international tournament obligations such as international franchise tournament Super Rugby, the Rugby Championship and the HSBC Cape Town Sevens.
This will also not affect New Zealand and Sri Lanka’s cricket tours to South Africa later this year or the Africa Senior Athletics Championships that begin in Durban on June 22.
Last year the sports ministry and Sascoc signed memorandums of agreement with various sports federations committing them towards transformation at all levels of their organisations.
Rugby was adjudged to have fallen short of those targets.
“There is no federation in this country that can host any mega event without government,” said Mbalula.
“They cannot organise anything and it is the absolute law and our right. Revoking government support for hosting international events is one of the punitive measures we can implement against federations that don’t transform.
“Federations that have not complied in the year under review will not be in a position to host or bid for any international competition, big or small,” said Mbalula.
Last year Mbalula supported Saru’s expression of interest to global rugby governing body World Rugby to host the 2023 World Cup, but publicly warned them he would rescind his support if they failed to transform.
Yesterday the minister came good on that threat by withdrawing government support.
South Africa, along with other interested countries Ireland, France and Italy have until the end of June to submit their tender documentation to host the sport’s biggest showpiece. The country last hosted the World Cup in 1995.
Saru said in a statement they “planned to engage” the minister regarding their hopes to host the 2023 World Cup.
ASA president Aleck Skhosana said: “We are going to take stock of what has been reported and come back to the minister, with whom we’ve agreed to meet this Thursday to deal with the critical issues.
“From the board’s side, we are disappointed because some of the statistics that we see here are not a true reflection of what we are doing out there.”
CSA media manager Altaaf Kazi said they would study the EPG report before responding. He added the report would wait for president Chris Nenzani and CEO Haroon Lorgat, who arrived yesterday from Dubai, to peruse.
The ruling will come as a slap in the face for CSA, particularly after their drastic transformation targets set at franchise level.
In the recently completed domestic season, franchises were obliged to field at least three black African and that half of the team be black.
The South African Football Association (Safa) passed the transformation test but were rapped over the knuckles by Mbalula for failing to apply themselves into taking the game into former “Model C” and private schools.
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