Fikile Mbalula roasted after criticising racial make up of Proteas

ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula, who beforehand served as South Africa’s sports activities minister, has questioned the shortage of ‘fair representation’ within the Proteas’ newest squad.

It comes after Proteas limited-overs coach Rob Walter unveiled the Proteas squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup final month.

With former captain Temba Bavuma and Lungi Ngidi not included in the principle 15-man group, it meant Kagiso Rabada was additionally the one black African participant representing South Africa. The undeniable fact that solely six gamers of color have been included – the bottom quantity in a Proteas squad for an ICC occasion since 2016 – has additionally raised some eyebrows.

On Monday, Mbalula took to X (previously Twitter) to voice his opinion, calling the choice a “reversal of the gains of transformation”.

“Only 1 African player selected in the Proteas Team for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 Team,” Tweeted Mbalula, whose final job in authorities was as minister of transport, and presently serves because the Secretary-General of the ANC.

“Definitely a reversal of the gains of transformation and doesn’t reflect fair representation of all South Africans in the national cricket team.”

Responding to Mbalula’s remark, although, his feedback part was stuffed with a widespread backlash, with many suggesting he ought to depart politics out of sport.

Despite the variability of opinions, the racial make-up of the squad was nonetheless flagged as a ‘concern’ that has been acknowledged by CSA CEO Pholetsi Moseki.

“If there aren’t enough black players raising their hands at domestic level, there won’t be enough to get through to the national team,” he advised News24.

“It’s a priority that we’re taking a crew to the World Cup with just one black African participant and at the side of the director of cricket [Enoch Nkwe], there have been cricket causes.

“The Proteas’ [transformation] targets aren’t based on the numbers they send to tournaments, but the numbers are based on how they average over a season.”

Squad not seen to be racially ‘representative’ of South Africa

Meanwhile, the coach himself addressed this subject on the crew’s press convention final month.

“My number one imperative is to create a winning Proteas team,” Walter commented when requested to clarify the racial make-up of the squad.

“In order to try this I’ve to choose the perfect crew that has the perfect likelihood of doing that…

“The system needs to really up the ante so that in six months, 12 months or in two years’ time, in particular when we reach the 2027 World Cup at home, the demographics and representation in our team starts to look a bit different,” he added.

“Outside of the World Cup, we will continue… to grow our base of players to create international opportunities for players to pit their skills at a higher level and make sure we have bought in on delivering a process that is going to change what our team looks like going forward.”