Rugby racists not yet IDed

2008-09-02 15:34

Johannesburg - The SA Rugby Union (Saru) has had no response to a R10 000 reward offered for information on the perpetrators of a racist attack at Saturday's Tri-Nations match, a spokesperson said on Tuesday.

"We've had a number of calls in support of our stance but nobody providing information, unfortunately," said Saru spokesperson Andy Colquhoun.

"But our offer still stands," he added.

Ziningi Shibambo, 30, who was part of a group of colleagues who attended the match between the Springboks and the Wallabies at Coca-Cola Park in Johannesburg, said three men hurled racial insults at her during half-time.

"[One of them] said: 'You bloody kaffir, what are you doing here? Your people have taken over the country and now you want to take over the only white sport left," Shibambo was quoted by The Star newspaper as saying.

'Stolen forefather's land'

"He then started swearing and pushing his finger onto my forehead, telling me that we had taken over the country and had stolen his forefather's land," she added.

The SA Rugby Union on Monday offered R10 000 to anyone who could identify the perpetrators.

"There were 54 000 people in the stadium enjoying a thrilling Springbok victory, but it takes the racist actions of a tiny handful to sour the occasion," Saru president Oregan Hoskins said.

"This was a despicable action by three men which every Springbok on the field that day would have roundly condemned."

The opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) condemned the incident, saying it was an attack on "our attempts to build a non-racial society".

"The actions of a tiny minority should not be allowed to infringe on the right of all South Africans to join in on the enjoyment of major sporting events," said DA spokesperson Donald Lee in a statement.

- SAPA