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The FW de Klerk Foundation notes with deep concern the criticism raised by Mr. Butana Komphela, chairman of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Sport and Recreation, on the South Africanness of our team that recently competed in the Commonwealth Games in India. In terms of to his analysis race - and not citizenship - should be the main consideration in determining whether a team is ‘South African' or not. 

According to press reports Komphela told the committee on Tuesday that the South African High Commissioner to India, Mr. Harris Mbulelo Majeke, had said "that team is too white, make them come from South Africa. The team looked like it came from Europe." And: "To London (2012 Olympics) send an SA team. The Samoan team looked more South African; ours looked like it's from the queen."

If the High Commissioner's remarks have been correctly reported, they are particularly offensive. He is supposed to be the representative of all South African citizens in India and should uphold the letter and spirit of our Constitution in all his statements and actions. His reported remarks that only black people should be regarded as South Africans are in direct conflict with the foundational values of non-racism, equality and human dignity.

Remarks such as these are both archaic and racist and are deeply hurtful to the young men and women who competed with dedication, patriotism and distinction in our national team. They are just as offensive as remarks would be if anyone were to call the US track and field team ‘un-American' - or the French soccer team ‘un-French'- simply because they include more blacks than whites and are therefore not demographically representative of their respective nations.
 
We should all support efforts to ensure that all South Africans - regardless of race or origin - should have an equal opportunity to realise their full potential in the sport of their choice. However, national teams should be chosen solely on merit and should enjoy the full and enthusiastic support of all South Africans, regardless of their race - just as all South Africans, regardless of their race, unreservedly supported Bafana Bafana during the recent FIFA World Cup. Komphela should be using his office to create opportunities for disadvantaged communities to excel at their chosen sport, rather than launching attacks on our excellent sportsmen and sportswomen simply because of their race.

The FW de Klerk Foundation intends to write to both the Department of International Relations and Co-operation and to Mr. Komphela to seek clarification of Mr. Komphela's remarks and those of our High Commissioner to India.