Row over 'Waterkloof 4' player
2008-03-13 09:11
Johannesburg - A row has erupted over the inclusion of a convicted former Waterkloof High School pupil in Mpumalanga's provincial rugby team.
Defending the selection of Gert van Schalkwyk, Mpumalanga Rugby Union (MRU) Hein Mentz said on Wednesday the player was being given a fair chance to continue his rugby career.
He said Van Schalkwyk - part of the Waterkloof Four - had appealed against his conviction and sentence for murder and assault charges and the case remained sub judice.
Van Schalkwyk, Christoff Bekker, Frikkie du Preez, and Reinach Tiedt - four whites - were found guilty of the murder of an unidentified black man and of assaulting another.
They were sentenced to 12 years in prison each but are currently out on bail pending the outcome of their appeal, which will be heard on April 29 2008.
"The MRU has always stood for fairness and reason. It is against this background that Mr Van Schalkwyk was given a fair opportunity to continue his rugby career in Mpumalanga," Mentz said.
He said while the Mpumalanga Rugby Union was "strongly opposed to crime and criminal activities/deeds of any nature", it objected to the media's "condemnation and crucification" of Van Schalkwyk.
"For all practical purposes, the case against Mr Van Schalkwyk is still sub judice, and he should therefore not be judged or censured."
Another of the four, Christoff Becker, hit the headlines last year when he landed a role in a South African television commercial.
He was studying drama at the Act Studios in Cape Town, where he was selected for the advertisement.
- SAPA