Cosatu has accused certain Springboks of playing poorly aspris to make their new coach look bad.
The trade union body also wants national matches to be broadcast on SABC channels, calling for an end to M-Net’s “domination” of airing important rugby games.
Cosatu’s secretary general Tony Ehrenreich says they have been made aware of “white players” who underperform deliberately because they wanted to see coach Allister Coetzee fail.
In a statement, he says: “Members of the Springboks who had previously approached Cosatu to look into the lack of transformation have signalled that there is a group of white players who want to see this integrated team and coach fail.
“This may be behind the bad performance of some of the players in the last two Tests (against Ireland). These players who sabotage the performance of the Springboks must be investigated and removed from the Springbok set-up.”
Cosatu did not reveal the names of the under-performers.
Ehrenreich said Cosatu welcomed the recent transformation in rugby, and called on people to support Coetzee as he works toward a more integrated team and new style of rugby to make sure the Bokke are not outplayed by superior teams.
He called on Coetzee to stand firm and not panic when players of colour don’t immediately perform.
“The days of reserving some positions for some white players must be gone forever and we must also not include foreign players any longer.
“Cosatu will continue to champion the interests of black players who were excluded for white players who were promised positions from their fathers and the Stellenbosch mafia.”
Ehrenreich also called for matches to be made available to the entire public, not just those who can afford DStv.
“...matches should be shifted to the SABC channels or shown during open time on M-Net...”
He also called for more black commentators, and for “the old white commentators to be replaced by younger white commentators, as these old commentators still demonstrate apartheid prejudices.”
Neither SA Rugby nor the SA Rugby Players Association responded to Daily Voice queries.