Rugby reflects trends in racism

Published Sep 9, 2008

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There is periodically an event which crystallises for all to see what blacks have always known: that racism is both virulent and commonplace, and that millions of blacks continue to suffer because of it.

The racial abuse of Ziningi Shibambo by three Afrikaans-speaking men is such a case.

Shibambo was called a k****r by the men during halftime of the game between the Springboks and Australia. They accused her of taking over what was the only exclusively white sport in South Africa.

The history of race relations in sport mirrors the progression of relations between black and white South Africans generally. These historical stages range from exploitation to exclusion of blacks from participation in white-controlled sports such as rugby.

There are two types of racism: old-fashioned racism of the past, and a new, more subtle form of racism. Shibambo was the victim of old-fashioned racism.

It is a pity the majority of white South Africans believe the country has reached a point of overall equality, where blacks have equal opportunity, equal access to education and equality in the workplace.

The perception that racism no longer exists is wrong.

Many whites don't mind equality in the abstract, but do in practice. Blacks regularly face racism.

Rugby reflects the historical racial trends in the larger South Africa, characterised by discrimination and efforts by the black people to overcome racism.

While white resistance to the integration of blacks into all the major sports continued after initial desegregation efforts began in 1994, nowhere was this resistance more complete than in rugby, where the maintenance of a system of overt and institutional racism prevailed.

So one is tempted to ask: How big a problem is racism in our sporting codes, including rugby, soccer, cricket and others?

Sports mirror the larger society. The presence of a few black players in rugby and cricket and a few white players in soccer may give one the impression that racism is a dying monster. But it is not.

The monster changes form but does not die. Racism will not die in sport until it dies in the nation.

Among all our sporting codes, rugby has been the most controversial. Reports of racism have dogged SA rugby in recent years.

Overt incidents

Let us recap with a few overt incidents. A few years ago, former Springbok lock Geo Cronje, who once played for the Blue Bulls, was kicked out of the Springbok camp after it was alleged he had refused to share a room or bathroom with a black team-mate, Quinton Davids, from Western Province, at a training camp.

It was reported that Cronje had swapped rooms after discovering he had been paired with Davids. Cronje was told by coach Rudolf Strauli to move back in with Davids, which he did.

The pair shared a room for the next five days without any incident. A subsequent investigation by Sarfu, however, found lack of evidence to prove the racism claims and Cronje was cleared.

In his biography, former Springbok wing Chester Williams wrote that his former team-mate, winger James Small, once referred to him as a "kaffir".

When Springbok team media liaison officer Mark Keohane resigned a few years ago, he said he did not want to be part of a squad in which prejudice is tolerated.

"My decision to resign is a moral one, as I can no longer be part of a squad in which prejudice is tolerated, wished away and excused," Keohane said.

Of course, who can't forget Springbok coach Andre Maakgraaf was forced to resign after making racist remarks.

Racism in sport is not unique to us. It rears its head in the so-called first or developed and sports-mad countries, the US, Canada, Britain, France, Australia, New Zealand and many of the so-called "civilised" nations.

Globally we have seen incidents of prejudice in cricket, with an in-depth look from India; soccer across Europe, a look into rugby and race in our rainbow nation and also in the US, which has perhaps more successfully than any other nation managed to integrate race into sports like baseball, American Football and golf.

The great Portuguese footballer Eusebio once said: "Black or white, we all have football under our skin." Say what you like about the game, Eusebio may be referring to any sport, including rugby.

After all, international soccer is no stranger to racism. Black players are often pelted with bananas and subjected to monkey noises, gestures and other racial slurs.

To ward off racist sentiments, soccer's world controlling body, Fifa, has instituted regulations and match-by-match campaigns, including the deduction of game points from teams exhibiting on-field racist behaviour. Rugby should follow suit.

So, all the sporting codes are not immune from discrimination, harassment and abuse; rather it often provides an environment which can lend itself to conduct not only inappropriate, but also unlawful.

People might say it is only one or two isolated incidents such as the Shibambo one. Rather than going into denial, it is something everyone should be working towards eradicating.

Rather than ignore reality, all sporting organisations must have policies in place to protect their members from discrimination, harassment, abuse and other inappropriate conduct.

So, what can we do as a nation?

New strategies are necessary and tough laws help, but the attitudes that give rise to racist behaviour at sporting events do not seem to have shifted a great deal.

With many people looking to sports stars as role models, high-profile sportsmen can help show racism the red card.

Sports stars such as Percy Montgomery, John Smit, Bryan Habana and others should urge everyone to back an anti-racism campaign in the same way they support rugby teams.

Unique power

Rugby has unique power that must be used to educate future generations of the scourge that is racism.

All rugby teams, associations should strengthen their anti-racism campaigns and embark on initiatives such as a special Kick Out Racism wristband, to be available in each of the clubs' colours.

There should be talks held at schools about the devastating effects of racism. Schoolchildren should be invited to submit entries for a poetry competition.

Children with a flair for art should be encouraged to design entries for an antiracism and anti-prejudice poster competition.

Also a school poetry competition is an excellent way to get children to think about racism.

The winning poetry and artwork should feature in club rugby programmes.

Decent supporters appalled by racist chanting in any sporting event should identify the culprits to police and stewards.

Where there is mass chanting, they should note the area of the ground and, if possible, seat numbers. They should then write to the club with the information, and the culprits should be identified and prosecuted.

Sport can play an important role in creating social capital to help bind a diverse nation together.

Our sporting organisations need to ensure that their policies and programmes are focused on making sport inclusive and fulfilling to those who take part.

There should be no room whatsoever in sport for racism.

The players should be aware of that, the crowd needs to be aware of that and enjoy the game for what it is.

Whether it's Brazil, Nigeria, Iran, America or Scotland, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa or England, sport is an ideal tool with which to combat the menace of racism.

- Rich Mkhondo, a writer, author and former editor and foreign correspondent, is an independent marketing communications and public relations strategist.

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