I wrote this article in light of the debate around this famous but yet insignificant debate. Print, read at pleasure and comment, please. Springboks vs All Blacks Introduction This debate has taken centre stage with all en sundry entering it with personal and political agenda. It is important and significant to take cognisance of where this huge support for the All Blacks and Springboks come from - equally the hatred for the Springboks as a national team of South Africa. Background The Springbok as a national symbol was first mooted by the South Africans in 1906. The first captain of the all-white South African team, Paul Roos remarked that the Springboks represent the best South Africa could deliver - this against the background of exclusionist policies of the Apartheid regime. South Africa was divided into racial groups, in the main, White, Indian, Coloured and African. Societal structures were also created into these racial groupings with the Whites recognised as the superior groupings and the rest as minor players in society. Sport and society Sport forms an integral part of society and plays an important part of nation building. Nation building according to many writers must have the following elements present to qualify as a nation; 1. Language 2. Culture 3. Religion 4. Identity 5. Ethics 6. Etc. As society developed, the yearning for national identity also developed. South Africa, before 1994 was a divided society and no single national identity could be found. Equally amongst various national groups, division was ever present. In the then Bantustans, groupings such as Venda’s, Xhosas, Sotho’s existed. Whites had their own between English and Afrikaners in the main and then some were split into foreign nationals (Mokabi teams). Indians and coloureds had their own struggles with identity. Some still exist today, but the strife for a singular national continuous. Therefore, the constitution of the country prefaces with the words,” We, the people of South Africa, Recognise the injustices of our past; Honour those who suffered for justice and freedom in our land; Respect those who have worked to build and develop our country; and Believe that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, united in our diversity”. This signifies the intention of the drafters to achieve such an outcome. Many attempts have been made to arrive at such an outcome. This is an important phase in the healing process. During the dark days of Apartheid, many people, both black and white suffered at the hands of Apartheid. To heal, we need to know what went wrong, what separated us and who played what role in the separation process. Apartheid South Africa The fight between the Afrikaner and the English continued to dominate South African society. The election of Verwoerd in 1958 to lead white South Africa and the passing of the Population Registration Act of 1950 meant that the bastardisation of Apartheid was legitimised and societal formations followed. It meant that the white minority dictated the systemic structures of the country. And this included sport. The Freedom Charter drafted in 1950 stipulates that South Africa belongs to all who live in it. This document was drafted by democrats during a period where and when Apartheid and its International partners campaigning for the isolation of anti-Apartheid forces. The fight for a South African identity intensified - both in the democratic forces and anti-forces. Sport as a microcosm of society was caught in the middle. Banning of organisations In the aftermath of Sharpeville where 69 demonstrators were killed, white Apartheid forces banned several organisations including the African National Congress and South African Communist Party. 1976 saw the re-emergence of the youth militancy and the subsequent banning of more democratic formations and newspapers in 1977. Black October and the killing one of the rising stars in the name of Steve Biko did not assist the revolution in South Africa. The proverbial battle lines were drawn. And sport as a metaphor for war, was caught in the middle. South African society was split between those who support the struggle (or as internationally known – revolution) and those against. Sport structures were formed along the lines of those whom the Apartheid regime recognised and funded and those who were against it. Inevitably, those whom the Apartheid regime supported were white with a sprinkling of blacks (all shades of black) and those not supported were black. This is also reflected in those who support Apartheid and those against. The Apartheid regime was militarily strong. They had one of the strongest armies in the world and was supplying armoury to major countries despite the arms ban. During the period that the South African regimes army became the leader on the continent of Africa, the military wing of both the African National Congress (ANC) - MK and the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) – Poqo became strong but with limited firing power. Therefore whenever, MK or Poqo strike a target, jubilation and hysteria was experienced in our communities. Celebrations took many forms and any news was welcomed - especially original messages from the leaders in exile. Sport as a means to an end The decolonisation of Africa in the early 1960’s brought about the emergence of an African Renaissance - Africa for Africans. Leaders like Amil Gabral, Julius Nyerere, Kenneth Kuanda, etc. brought new life to an already suffering Continent. The Colonialist ran out of Africa and Africa had to fend for themselves. This resulted in Africans forming organisations to suit Africa. One such was the Supreme Council for Sport in Africa (SCSA) and the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA). Internationally ANOCA tackled and eventually got it right to have South Africa expelled from all major sporting organisation in the world. However, in some sport, example rugby and athletics to a certain extent still enjoyed international participation. Rugby is mostly played by countries that form part of the Commonwealth and have traditionally been the sponsors of Apartheid South Africa. This therefore resulted in regular tours to and from South Africa. As Apartheid South Africa applied the regulations of the country religiously, sport organisations funded by the regime had to follow it. No deviation was allowed. The English traditionally had no black players, likewise the Australians and Argentinians. France was expected to follow the rules of the country as well. New Zealand rugby New Zealand rugby was a problem for the Apartheid regime. Rugby is New Zealand’s number one sport and is used to bring about healing in their country. Rugby is also used to get young people out of crime, poverty, unemployment and also develops their national identity. Whenever, any team toured Apartheid South Africa in the days of the struggle, we all knew the result. However, when New Zealand toured, the result was not obvious and therefore ignited an interest, second to none. The Comrades (those who actively supported the struggle) and black South Africans just wanted to take out their revenge on the South African white rugby team, the Springboks. New Zealand was the only foreign team who could beat the Springbok team. As the Springboks were regarded by Apartheid South Africa as their ultimate supremacy over all nations, a victory over them would mean a victory over Apartheid. And the All Blacks was the only team who could do that. To crown it all, the All Blacks had Islanders in the team and, they were not WHITE. This made the contest between the Springboks and the All Blacks and contest between white and black South Africans - a test between those who supported the struggle and those against it - those who supported the Apartheid regime and those against it - those who supported the revolutionary movement and those against it. This was regarded as the ultimate contest and the country was divided accordingly. The All Backs saga Sport has mass appeal in both white and black communities. Traditionally, white South Africans supported the Springboks and blacks the All Blacks. Come the new South Africa in 1994, allegiances changed. A national identity is built and enshrined in the constitution and founding documents. A policy of social cohesion is adopted and driven from the Presidency. So serious are the drafters and architects of the new South Africa that it found the need for a new and collective to be embedded in the DNA of South Africa. It can therefore be safely argued that a national identity is not a given but work need to be done to achieve it. To change the support patterns amongst South Africans will not be an easy task, but it will be huge. The achievement of those outcomes will be a collective responsibility of all role players and the shouting and insults from the rooftops to the All Blacks and Springbok supporters will not help the cause. To change behavioural patterns, you need something better and appealing. Currently, the rugby administrators and national government and SASCOC, does nothing that is appealing to those die hard All Black supporters. The Springbok team remain more that 90 percent white while the All Blacks continue with their Islanders. The contest remains the same. Thus, there is nothing appealing. The type of rugby being played at the exclusion of blacks to the Springbok team is nothing better than the second class citizenship offered by the Apartheid regime during its dark days. The elevation of young white players and the return of old/ injured white players and the exclusion of fit and young black players, cement the opinion, that whites are superior and blacks are mediocre. The conditions and the contest remains the same. Conclusion The collective as stipulated in the constitution of the country and as envisaged in the Freedom Charter, must be embraced by all, including, National Government, SASCOC and SARU. No one can cry foul without attempting to heal our injured nation. The 80 minute nationalist does not help the cause as they equally contribute to dividing the nation. Healing is not an 80 minute exercise, but a full time one. We cannot raise the next generation to believe that the united South Africa we fought for and many people died for, is a pipedream. We owe it to them and future generations. God bless Africa.
Posted on: Sat, 13 Dec 2014 20:32:16 +0000
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