12/22/2005
Racism in Ozz
The latest news coming out of Australia is that South Africa's cricketers were racially abused and called "kaffirs" and "kaffir boeties" during the first Test in Perth. This kind of behaviour is completely unnacceptable and should be dealt with severely by Cricket Australia. The current punishment of simply ejecting offenders from the ground, is insufficient and a mere slap on the wrist.
Any person heard shouting things like that should be thrown out the ground and face a charge of crimen injuria (or whatever the Australian legal equivalent is). I remember in 2002 when the Australians toured South Africa a spectator spat at Steve Waugh as he left the field, that incident led to a charge of crimen injuria being laid. Using the K-word is the verbal equivalent of spitting in a persons face and should be treated just as seriously.
This stuff has got to stop and CA needs to be more forceful in hammering this racist element out of the game.
10:50 Posted in International | Permalink | Comments (5) | Email this | Tags: South Africa, South Africa, Cricket, Test, Kaffir
Comments
Sure, but wouldn't it be easier to deport the miscreants back to South Africa?
Posted by: hex | 12/23/2005
I agree wholeheartedly. Well done!
However, it's important that we put things into perspective (and that only). Let's do something about our own mentality first - only a few days ago I was called "Kaffir" twice in the space of 48 hours, whilst minding my own business walking back to my apartment in Cape Town after enjoying a morning walk by the beachfront. This was by twenty- or thirty-something white (Afrikaans) people. Situation normal. Refer to Thabo Mbeki's speech on Dec 16, covered extensively by the media. The thinking and culture in our own land needs to be cleaned up as well. The only difference between society here today and Australia's is that it is no longer politically acceptable for (racist) white people to come to say it loud.
A white female friend I was with (who is British and a stewardess with Virgin Atlantic) was insulted at Jo'burg International Airport by a group of white males - complete with Springbok outfits and going to represent South Africa overseas at some sport - I didn't care to ask what. Right now, we lack the moral authority to criticise Australia's racists.
Is it any wonder that, as people, we have a bad reputation overseas. Cut all this out at home, and then take on the Australia's bigots.
South African to the core
Posted by: Bernard | 12/30/2005
I think the Aus CA have now taken action, although this may be unrelated to the Perth incident you refer to.
It is so important that players set a good example in this respect, whatever strain their private life may be under.
We have stopped going to London cricket because racist comments in the crowd constantly spoilt the days play for us. I'm glad to say this unsavoury behaviour does not appear to have taken hold outside the capital.
Posted by: pal | 01/04/2006
To follow up on Hex's comment, what Australian bigots are you referring to. Australians don't know what a "kaffir" or "kaffir boeties" is, much less how to even pronounce it. The insults were obviously coming from expatriate South Africans. As Hex said, we should deport them, and let them face South African justice.
Posted by: Peter | 01/04/2006
Some interesting comments here. Sorry it’s taken me so long to respond but I've just got back to the real world after a great vac.
Bernard - I can fully sympathise with what you say. For sure we still have MANY bigots in this country of ours, but does this mean we have to put up with the same crap when our national representatives are abused in another country.
We don't tolerate it in our country so why should it be any different when we travel? Witness what happened to that cow at Old Mutual who just got her just desserts after using the K-word at work.
When you say we should "do something about our own mentality first", well I think taking a firm stance plays a big part of this, by showing our strong rejection and disgust with that kind of language we are moving in the right direction.
pal - Yeah CA has taken some action but still the sum total of punishment for people doing this is ejection from the ground, which is what happened to one spectator in Melbourne. Stillinsufficient in my books.
Peter - ah Peter, asleep in the back of the car you woke up a bit late and missed all the action maybe? What Australian bigots was Bernard referring to? Well maybe it was the ones in Perth. No Melbourne. No Sydney. Your laughable excuse that Australians don't know the K-word or how to pronounce it is ridiculous. All the South Africans who were abused were adamant their abusers were Australians, surely they would know the difference between a SA accent and one of the local variety? It was also reported that a racist banner addressing Lebanese people was confiscated at the ground, hardly a standard South African prejudice (see Cronulla Beach!)
A dedicated racist always finds a way to communicate in the language he knows best, these Australian racists were no different, I don’t doubt they got some help from their little clique of fellow minded bitter South African expats but lets be real here – they are ALL Australians now whether or not they came from SA originally.
You bought, it you fix it!!
Posted by: someamongus | 01/05/2006
The comments are closed.