The ministry of sport's claims not only lay bare their ignorance of South African law they claim to uphold, but they also reveal their racism and xenophobia. Laws allowing immigration based on exceptional skill do not mean that the skill is non-existent in the country, but are meant to augment the existing skills base.
Snide remarks about Mtawarira's skills not being scarce, smack of envy and jealousy.
Also, claims that "only citizens of a country can represent that country" are ignorant. The various international sports codes follow different standards when it come to allowing athletes to represent countries other than the one they were born in. The strictest is Fifa.
Under Fifa rules, once you represent one country, you cannot subsequently represent any other country for the rest of your career. For example, Lewin Nyatanga cannot ever represent Zimbabwe at any level in soccer because he featured for the Welsh under-21 team. Bruce Grobbelaar, the famous Zimbabwe and Liverpool goalkeeper, was born in Durban. But he played for Rhodesia as an 18-year-old and after that, he could not represent any other country apart from Zimbabwe. Despite gaining British citizenship based on ancestry, and being arguably the best goalkeeper of his time, he could not play for England.
In short, even the very strict Fifa standards do not amount to "only citizens of a country can represent that country". They simply say once you have represented country X at any level, you cannot represent any other country - but do not impose any restrictions based on citizenship.
Most other sports, including rugby union, allow players to switch nationality during their careers. As such, there is absolutely nothing that prevents Mtawarira from representing South Africa, except maybe the sports ministry's prejudice. Liezel Huber, a Durban-born woman, who started her tennis career in South Africa, now plays as an American. She and her Zimbabwean partner, Cara Black, are currently the top- ranked women's doubles tennis players.
South Africa should be jumping at the opportunity to have another skilful player at their disposal instead of throwing insults at him. Most other countries would. Public figures should arm themselves with thoroughly researched facts before rushing to flight adverts and make statements that are not based on fact. If they don't, they risk exposing their lack of thoroughness and application in performing their duties.
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