Johannesburg - Former Springbok player Andre Venter on Sunday criticised civil rights group AfriForum for launching the “Stop Absa Quotas” campaign.
In an interview with Rapport newspaper, Venter said transformation was a reality and although he did not support racial quotas in sport, it was necessary to develop all players.
“AfriForum is placing unnecessary emphasis on some issues. They are worse than the ANC Youth League. They think the only way to handle these things is to create controversy, but it can backfire,” said Venter.
“What would AfriForum had done if the sponsor was SAB – would everyone then have stopped drinking beer?”
AfriForum launched the campaign against Springbok sponsor Absa after the banking group’s deputy chief executive Louis von Zeuner sent an SMS to SA Rugby Union boss Oregan Hoskins stating: “Regan, I think you should write to the major unions on black players - judging from today's games Lions 2, Bulls 1, Cheetahs 2 - they are not respecting the spirit and goals of transformation. Louis.”
