Dylan Bettencourt
Racism in South African cricket is all too familiar for black players with the most recent incident breaking from the Cricket SA hearings.
Fast bowler Sinethemba Mjekula said that Pierre Joubert called him by the ‘K-word’ during a four-day domestic cricket series back in 2007.
Former Warriors bowler Mjekula did not report the incident at the time. But he felt this was the right time during the Cricket South Africa for Social Justice (SJN) hearings.
Joubert denied the allegations. “I have never ever called anyone by that word,” he told Sport24.
In one of the many incidents that involve racism in South African cricket, Sonnyboy Letshela said he suffered severe racial abuse and discrimination that led him to a failed suicide attempt.
Letshela was just 17 years old when South Africa toured India. Following a net-session at the Wanderers Stadium on the return leg, Letshela was accused of stealing Sachin Teldulkar’s cricket bat.
Legendary South African cricketer Jonty Rhodes said racism is an issue black cricketers face due to unequal racial dynamics in the nation as a whole. Unfortunately, Rhodes said the quota system plays a major role in the racism players face.
“That (quota) has been the bone of contention for a lot of ex-players. No matter how good they were, it was always considered as a quota selection. That affected them emotionally and mentally in playing for a team in which they felt nobody else trusted them or supported them.”
Former Proteas spinner Paul Adams accused current SA cricket coach Mark Boucher of using racial slurs against him during his testimony at the hearings. For a large part of his career, Adams was the only black player in the South African side.
These allegations are “hurtful and factually incorrect” Boucher said but he will cooperate with the hearings.
These hearings are an attempt by Cricket SA to transform the organisation, which has been troubled by racial inequality and financial issues.
Image source: @TheNewIndianExpress
