Luyt must shoulder the blame

Those who so joyfully welcomed and celebrated the return to the international sporting fold of South Africa and the introduction of democracy to that country have again been plunged into something approaching despair. Promises made have been ignored or broken and the spectre of another boycott of South African sport has reared its head. Many of the problems which have arisen in recent months can be traced back to a man who has been the bane of South African sport for years - one Louis Luyt, who is the most influential member of the South African Rugby Union (SARFU). For many years, he has fought bitterly against any movement towards non-racial rugby and for the preservation of the apartheid system. He is, nonetheless, one of the most powerful men in South African sport.

At present, he is fighting a rearguard battle against the National Sports Council (NSC), a government-sponsored body somewhat similar to our own Sports Council, which has called for the resignation of Luyt and his entire SARFU 13-man executive, which includes Luyt's son-in-law, Rian Oberholzer, who is the union's chief executive.

The saddest thing about all of this is that in 1995, the SARFU presided over a wonderful World Cup tournament which culminated in a victory for South Africa. This writer was privileged to be present when the South African President, Nelson Mandela, spoke movingly at the opening match of the tournament to a packed stadium in Cape Town where people of all races and colours mingled in friendship, harmony and sportsmanship.

Around the ground for hours before the match and afterwards, thousands of people celebrated in a most joyous and colourful way the fact that South Africa was back in the forefront of world rugby, in particular, and sport in general. This had been brought about to a large extent by the extraordinary devotion of Nelson Mandela and he proudly wore a green and gold rugby shirt emblazoned with the Springbok, when he was presented to the teams before the final between South Africa and New Zealand some weeks later.

Now the NSC can see that the heady days of 1995 have passed and SARFU has drifted back into its bullying, racist ways. The government decision to set up a commission of inquiry into the sport was resisted by SARFU, who even went so far as to demand the appearance of President Mandela at a court hearing, where he was subjected to more than five hours of cross-examination. After the collapse of apartheid, it was hoped that sports such as rugby, which had been white-dominated, would open their ranks to all South African citizens and that efforts would be made to promote games like rugby and cricket in the black areas of the country.

Many sincere people went about doing this, but SARFU remained less than enthusiastic and a series of isolated but significant incidents revealed that little had changed at the top. For a start the charismatic captain of the victorious 1995 team, Francois Pienar, was dropped in what was interpreted as a political move. Earlier a player, Henry Tromp, who had been convicted of the manslaughter of a black worker in a racist-related killing was selected to play for South Africa.

The appearance of apartheid flags at international matches was practically ignored by SARFU and one of the Springbok coaches was forced to resign in disgrace after making vicious racist remarks. Behind all of this has been the overwhelming presence of Louis Luyt, who likes to point out that he is only one man and that he is there because he has been elected. Hopes arise, however, that Luyt may be losing some of his overwhelming power. The decision of the NSC to call for an inquiry is seen as a first shot in what could be a bitter war. Pressure on SARFU to toe the line seems to be coming from pretty powerful sources - namely television and sponsors like M-Net, Vodacom and the sportswear manufacturer, Nike, who have expressed concern.

Failure to do so would almost certainly be followed by a ban on South African tours to and from the two other major rugby nations, New Zealand and Australia, who have already indicated their disquiet. European teams would also be drawn into the controversy and South Africa could well find itself back in the international sporting dog-house.

SARFU have until April 11th to announce the resignation of its executive and a willingness to take part in the commission's inquiry, but the stubborn behaviour of Luyt is legendary and if he remains determined to defy the NSC and by extension the South African government, international rugby could be back in turmoil.