The Quadrennial debate on the transformation in Rugby

We can say one thing for sure; the debate on this topic has at least progressed over the last four years. Some inconspicuous political party calling themselves the Agency for a New Agenda (ANA(L)) party, has taken the extraordinary step to challenge the justification of the current World Cup squad representing South Africa at this year’s instalment of the tournament, and thus to stop them from participating. Surprisingly, they did get a hear-in from the sitting judge in the matter, who agreed that transformation in sport and other sectors of South African Society has taken on a snail’s pace over the 21 years of democracy. Well done to the ANA(l) party; pity they decided to leave it at that and not pursue it further. It may have turned out to be a box office hit comedy, or someone may have taken them seriously. But that’s where the current situation will stay for the next four years.

Over the years, this debate has become more farcical than pretentious. The Rugby Fraternity at SARU are probably laughing their arses off at the latest miserable attempts at the protests of the makeup of the squad for this year’s tournament. They are well aware that once the tournament is over, everything returns to normal again, and the Minister of Sport, Fikile (Razmataz) Mbalula, carries on his day job by tweeting away about everything except the progression and transformation of sport (in this case rugby) for all South Africans of different persuasions. The fact that he looks at the situation through a pair of racehorse blinkers, does not give South Africans any warm feeling that much will be done, specifically at the highest level of the sport, in the next four years, or beyond.

To make this quadrennial debate a fun experience, maybe a public debate should be formulated every four years, with this topic as the agenda.  All political parties or other organs of society of sound and reasonable mind are barred from the debate. Only groups like the ANA, FF+, the ANC Youth League and the EFF(ing) party stooges will be eligible to participate. The group that comes up with the most (in their little minds) thoughtful analysis and suggestions for transformation in rugby, will be crowned the winners and their leader should be made the Minister of Sport for four years until the next Rugby World Cup, or specifically the next transformation debate. The current Minister has lost his lustre and therefore we need a new clown to light up our lives in situations like these!