Proteas won’t take the knee at Newlands
|Published
Proteas players during the training session at the Six Gun Grill Newlands Stadium. Photograph :Phando Jikelo/African News Agency (ANA)
The Proteas said after “attentive consideration” they will not take the knee in support of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement.
The national cricket team will play their first T20I match against England at Newlands tomorrow night.
And in a statement released by the squad on Wednesday, the players said: “As a team, we have unanimously chosen not to take the knee at the upcoming matches, but to continue to work together in our personal, team and public spaces to dismantle racism.”
The statement added: “Together, we are exploring the development of Black Lives Matter in the sphere of sport, starting with the kneeling of American football quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, in the US. Together, we are unpacking the historical and political context in which BLM grew in the US. Together, we are exploring the significance of taking the knee and a raised fist in the air as symbols of protest, and how and why these have spread globally as well as their significance in the South African context.”
They say their decision does not mean they don’t care about fighting racism.
They add: “This decision was taken by the team collectively, after deep dialogue and attentive consideration. This is not a decision compelled on us by either our management or our coaches. Let us be clear, our team decision on not taking the knee does not indicate that we do not care about racism, racial equality, or justice. Now, more than ever, we are committed to this work.
“Our first job is to play cricket for the country but we are also citizens of this country.”
Instead, the manne will wear black armbands in support of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence.
The statement concluded: “On 11 November, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that South Africa would embark on five days of national mourning for the victims of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and COVID-19.
“The Proteas have taken the decision to answer the call by wearing black armbands during our next games, which fall during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence. This is an act of solidarity in response to a particular issue that the country is focussing its attention on during the next two weeks.”
In August eight South African rugby players, wearing “Rugby against Racism” t-shirts, remained standing ahead of their team Sale Sharks’ Premiership clash against Harlequins.
The lack of support for the BLM movement did not go down well with sports minister Nathi Mthethwa, who asked SA Rugby to investigate.