SAFI says it will ‘take action’ over SA Rugby’s ‘shameful’ withdrawal of invitation to team from Israel

The South African Friends of Israel (SAFI) says it will take action against the South African Rugby Union (SARU) for bowing to political interference by withdrawing their Mzanzi Challenge invitation to international qualifying team, the Tel Aviv Heats — simply because they reside in Israel.

“SARU have shamelessly succumbed to the political pressure of the BDS crowd, and are amending fixtures for the sporting competition as such. This is in direct violation of Section 5.3 of the SARU constitution, which clearly states a mandate to pursue “policies and programmes, at national and all other levels, aimed at redressing imbalances of the past and creating a genuinely non-racial, non-sexist, non-political and democratic dispensation for rugby in South Africa”, says SAFI in a press release.

South Africa Rugby announced on Friday that it had withdrawn an invitation to Israeli club Tel Aviv Heat to compete in a second-tier competition from March 24.

On Thursday, a press release from the national body said Heat plus teams from Spain, Kenya, Namibia and Zimbabwe and six South African sides would take part.

However, SA Rugby informed Tel Aviv 24 hours later that the invitation for them to take part had been withdrawn. A Mexican side could replace the Israelis.

SA Rugby president Mark Alexander said the decision had been taken after “we listened to the opinions of important stakeholder groups”, without giving further details.

“We have taken this decision to avoid the likelihood of the competition becoming a source of division, notwithstanding the fact that Israel is a full member of World Rugby and the IOC,” Alexander said.

“It is saddening to see that SARU have allowed ANC politics and a BDS agenda to define who is welcome to participate in sporting events in our beautiful country,” says SAFI spokesperson Pamela Ngubane.

“This is particularly devastating when Israel has consistently shown itself to be a valuable partner for sustainable development in its relations with all other African nations. As a matter of fact, Israeli technology and innovation have provided a stable water supply to over half a million people living in rural communities In South Africa. And yet, we will not invite them over for a rugby match.

“It is sad to see that Israel, as the only democracy in the Middle East, is being treated in this manner by SA sporting structures. Israel is home to a multicultural society where the rights of all religions, minorities, ethnicities and beliefs are protected and promoted,” she says.

SAFI says it will communicate its action steps against SARU in due course.

The ANC government has taken a hardline stance against Israel and staunchly supports the Palestinians. It announced in 2019 that it was downgrading its embassy in Tel Aviv and pulled out its ambassador. Its interference in SARU’s match scheduling is reminiscent of its bullying of 2021 Miss SA Lalela Mswane to boycott the Miss Universe contest in Israel. Lalela did not give in to the pressure and intimidation of the government and anti-Israel activists.

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