Statement released by the Minsitry of Sport and Recreation :
According to the statement which suggests that Mtawarira is still ineligible to play for the Boks.
The full statement from the Ministry of Sport and Recreation:
“SUBJECT: MINISTRY OF SPORT & RECREATION COMMENT ON TENDAI MTAWARIRA’s INCLUSION IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN RUGBY TEAM
“1. SA Rugby has requested the Minister of Sport & Recreation SA, Rev Dr Makhenkesi Stofile to intervene in securing South African citizenship for Tendai “The Beast” Mtawarira, a Zimbabwean national, who plays professional rugby in South Africa.
“2. This request to have the Minister use his position to have the process of securing permanent residence and subsequently, citizenship expedited ahead of the year end tour in Europe, has exposed our Sport administrators’ clear disrespect or lack of understanding of our laws.
“3. Talented as he is, Tendai, like all foreign nationals plying their trade in South Africa, is bound by the laws of this country. The migration laws of our country are clear on issues relating to permanent residence and citizenship. We expect our sport administrators to understand and respect legislation that regulate their business. None of the athletes, sport codes, or Federations can be bigger than the country.
“4. While Tendai is a live wire on the field of play, the question is whether it is, in the first place, justifiable to say he has scarce skills – the rationale that would have enabled him to obtain the current work permit. If we go the route our Rugby administrators are requesting us to take, and facilitate the fast-racking of Tendai’s citizenship, what would this say to all rugby players in our country? We cannot as a Government Department responsible for sport and recreation in this country, afford to insult our players like this.
“5. The principle here is clear: Only citizens of our country can play for our National team, irrespective of the sport code. Therefore, no foreign national can play for any of our national teams, no matter how outstanding they may be. If any player in any code is to become a South African citizen, this has to be done within the legal framework of our country.
“6. Federations, Provinces and clubs, are more than welcome to approach us for advice on similar issues, instead of trying to slip a player through the legal framework.
“Issued by: Sport and Recreation SA.”
Saru, on Thursday, declined to comment, saying that they stand by their original statement.
“Saru has noted the statement by the Sports Ministry regarding Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira,” the statement said.
“Saru has no further comment on the matter and wish to refer media to our attached statement issued on Saturday, 7 November 2009.”
Dom Janne !!!!!! Blerrie hel
Wonner of al die Bafana Bafana Spelers Suid Afrikaners is?
So, based on this just how good or bad is the relationship between a Stofile (take your pick) and Hoskins, do you reckon?
#2 Tripples,
Hey, los my sokkerspelers uit. Hans Vonk speel lankal nie meer vi Bafana nie. 😉
2@ Tripples – Mmmmm, wat van onse Bafana Bafana coach…. maar nee, hy sal toegelaat word.
Hoe flokken dom kan die Minister van Sport wees???
Simpel ding!
Al wat ek kan se is fuctup pkeks die priester hom by kerk hou
Why are this coming out 2 days before a very important test match.
Now our chances are looking real shit.
Last time such a storm broke was before we lost to the selfsame French after Jake White wanted his contract extended.
My money will be on the frogs.
#5 GBS
Agh no man, GBS….what about Eddie Jones, Bob Woolmer, etc. Surely we can have overseas coaches.
And this has got nothing to do with “dom”, unless its “dom-astrant”. The relationship between the Sofile’s and Hoskins has gone south.
Solomon said in Proverbs that God allows a little bit of power/fame to test the heart. Sadly, its a test not many pass…..
8@ Kitaartjie – It’s not just domastrant, it clearly exhibits a lack of pampoenpitte in the space between the ears…
What is the difference between a player and a coach’s positions in a Team perspective and from a Labour perspective…. ZILCHHHHHHHHHHHHH, nada, fokoli, boggeroll !!
‘Pampoenpitte’ – ? Sounds like a tasty bread!
10@ Carol – Pampoenpitte = Pumpkin seeds
GBS Your language can be so lyrical!! Hahahahhah 🙂
So, as Beast nie kan speel nie, dan kom Wian in as loskop, en Januarie word oorgevlieg om op die bank te sit ?
12@ Carol – Maybe his Pampoenpitte has shrivveled up…
14 – GBS I see the Bulls kicking coach is over with Morne, that is why Percy is kicking his heels in Cape Town still!!
OK work to do…..catch you later!!
15@ Carol – Percy asked to be excused from this Tour to go to the USA with his wife….
#9 GBS
Pride does not discriminate – it makes a fool of us all. What power does is it dupes you into believing you can get away with your foolish pride.
A contract is a contract so no difference there, but that’s not really the argument, is it? I mean we’re happy with seeing Eddie work with the Boks and even felt that he deserved a Bok blazer, but seeing Giteau or any other blue Ozzie run on the field for the Boks and sing Nkosi is mos ‘n anne storie, of hoe?
18@ Kitaartjie – You miss the point… International Rugby Regulations state that once a player has played for his Country’s International senior team, he is not allowed to play for another Country…
In Beast’s case, he never played for Zim’s senior team, so is eligible to play for SA…
But this Article and Stofkop the mopkop’s stance, does not reflect this reality, it deals with Citizenship and it’s influence to play for or be employed in SA. He’s talking about exceptional skills (which another South African does not possess)… this is a purely Labour-oriented consideration, with International flavour added to it…. and in this vein the Soccer Coach should be judged along exactly the same lines of reasoning.
Do not try and convince me about the merits of this Government or about what’s right or wrong in your perception, this is not a political blog or discussion… end of story.
It is about stupidity of an important Office Bearer, about someone who selectively wants to meddle in Rugby’s matters, therefore has relevance to rugby.
Whether it be Eddie Jones or the Soccer Coach or Beast or whatever other sportsman… they are being treated with discrimination, which they’ll never justify in my eyes.
Of the 2 million Zimbabweans that invaded SA to work on Farms , how many will pass Stofiles criteria? And how many bought their SA citizenship at Home Affairs.
This is just a power struggle between Stofile and Hoskins. Why so late mr Stofile, when we had that xenophobia attacks i thought this swear will burst , not now 2 years after Matawarira played his 1st test.
News24 readers reaction
Met Uysh!
11/12/2009 4:07 PM
“The protocol revolved around clause 6(3) of the National Sport and Recreation Amendment Act of 2007, which requires an explanation to the Minister of Sport for the selection of non-South African nationals.” Did they have to explain it to him AGAIN?!
Andre
11/12/2009 4:06 PM
You all miss the point. It became an issue because of the British-Zimbabwe’s relationship. Britian does not issue a visa to all Zimbabweans.
Rugga
11/12/2009 4:03 PM
Do I detect a kind of zenephobia on the side of our minister?
21@ SuperBul – There are more Zimbabweans in the rest of the world, specially SA, than there are in Zimbabwe itself.
If the Beast has been too slapgat or unwilling to take out SA Citizenship then fluck him, let him sit at home until he pulls his finger out of his arse and goes to Home Affairs and get the passport.
Eddie Van Der Jones and the Brazilian are coaches, not players. They coach a team, not represent a country. I am sure that Dingo Deans and Gert O’Smal travel their origional passports.
Why is this still going on? Thought that Beast had citizenship last year. Must have been wrong then. Most countries always allow a player to play for them after they have lived in that country for 3 years and if they are sportsmen then then after 3 years they get citizenship.
Get Beast a passport now for goodness sake SARU. This a whole load of bull.
Ek stem saam met Loosehead. As Beast vir die Bokke wil speel, kon hy ten minste moeite gedoen het om ‘n SA paspoort te kry en om die res van sy papiere n orde te kry. Maar net so skuldig is SARU en die Bok bestuur dat hulle nou, na 17 toetse, agterkom die ou se pampiere is nie reg nie! En daai f@kken lot politieke fosiele!!! Hoekom nou eers, na 15toetse, begin moan oor Beast? As Luke “swart” genoeg was, dan is Beast se SuidAfrikaans genoeg?
Beast has played 19 tests for the Boks already. What are the other countries that allowed him in to play there think now? We are sure looking rather daft here.
Saru send someone to home affairs pronto. Sort it out.
25 – KingPaul,
Hello boet, Also Beast bought his parents a house in Durban to live. They live here now. Beast pays tax here to on the earnings he has made.
They are sure looking daft our Sport Minister. Need to sort it out very quick.
Only in South Africa hey!!!! We can expect all this nonsense.
Another statement by Sports Ministry
Tendai ‘Beast’’Mtawarira has been cleared to tour with the Springbok squad following productive discussions between the South African Rugby Union (SARU) and the Sports Ministry.
SARU was alerted to clauses in the National Sport & Recreation Amendment Act, 2007, which needed to be completed before Zimbabwean-born Mtawarira’s place in the end-of-year tour squad could be confirmed.
“We are delighted with the news after discovering this problem during the week,” said Mr Oregan Hoskins, president of SARU. “The government has been very helpful in expediting the completion of the necessary protocols and we’re all relieved that Beast will be available for selection for the Springboks against France in Toulouse on Friday.”
The protocol revolved around clause 6(3) of the National Sport and Recreation Amendment Act of 2007, which requires an explanation to the Minister of Sport for the selection of non-South African nationals.
20 – Super. Exactly.
Only in Africa?
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