Sports Minister Mbalula gives SA Rugby Union 5 years to transform

06 November 2015 - 02:29 By Neo Goba and Sbu Mjikeliso

Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula has given the SA Rugby Union five years to get its house in order when it comes to transformation. In a briefing at the SA Sports and Olympic Committee House in Johannesburg yesterday, Mbalula promised he would not go easy on Saru, after a year that saw some - including critics from Cosatu and political party Agency for New Agenda in a court bid to try to stop the Springboks from going to the Rugby World Cup - threaten to boycott the team."We refuse to be dragged onto rooftops to shut down our national teams, while we are constructively engaging with the national federations and holding them accountable to the voluntary agreements we have entered into with them."Razzmatazz, as he is popularly known, said he acknowledged concern about transformation in South Africa's sporting codes.Mbalula dissociated himself and the ANC from suggestions they wanted coach Heyneke Meyer to be retained. Meyer said last weekend the ANC was on his side despite pressure for him to quit .Saru's general council will decide on December 4 whether to retain Meyer or not - speculation is rife he has already secured a four-year extension."I congratulated the coach and the team in the dressing room," Mbalula said."I was with them before they left. That is what I do."I will never agree that a black player must be selected ahead of a talented white player because he is black. That is what has happened in this country: talented black players are not being selected and it is said they are quota players."Siya Kolisi plays in his team [the Stormers] week in and week out; is he not selected on merit? It is merit. The challenges that face us are not in changing the faces but in transforming the system."..

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