The investigation into racism in the Springbok squad has been postponed until next year to allow players to concentrate on the World Cup.
The inquiry, which will now be expanded to investigate racism at all levels of rugby, was halted following an admission by coach Rudolf Straeuli and manager Gideon Sam that they may have erred in their handling of accusations of racism against Springbok lock Geo Cronje.
SARFU president Silas Nkanunu told a media conference that the governing body "views the matter in an extremely serious light", but added that "SARFU will allow the team management to continue".
Nkanunu declined to confirm whether disciplinary action had or would be taken against Sam and Straeuli.
"SARFU does ... acknowledge that elements of racism and prejudice continue to beset our organisation as it does other social institutions in South Africa," Nkanunu said.
"Accordingly, SARFU has resolved to widen the scope of the King committee's brief, and to involve other stakeholders to investigate this matter to its entirety.
"To allow all of us to concentrate on the World Cup we have decided to postpone the sitting of the ... committee. It is anticipated the committee will reconvene early in the new year."
The World Cup begins in Australia on October 10th.
Cronje, who is white, was expelled from a Springbok training camp two weeks ago after it was alleged that he had refused to share a room with Quinton Davids, a black player.
Subsequently Cronje was cleared of wrong doing by SARFU, but allegations of other incidents of bigotry in the Springbok squad led to an independent investigation headed by retired judge Edwin King.
Cronje, who like Davids failed to make the squad for the World Cup, was banished from the camp only after the issue was brought to the attention of the Rian Oberholzer, the managing director of South African rugby's professional arm SA Rugby.
Nkanunu said that Straeuli and Sam had written a letter to Oberholzer admitting to a possible "error of judgement" in dealing with the Cronje affair.