Are quotas essential for South African sport?

This debate is now closed. A selection of your emails is below.

Quotas were scrapped four months ago, but Ngconde Balfour has urged the United Cricket Board (UCB) to read a report and re-assess its decision to scrap quotas in the first-class game.

In stark contrast Errol Tobias, the first non-white man to play for the South Africa rugby team, has called for the controversial quota system to be scrapped from the game.

Should quotas be an integral part of South African sport?

The most miserable feature of the sad affair is the basis upon which quotas are based; racial classification. In the ugly days of apartheid the government was deservedly lampooned for its 'pencil in the hair' test to determine who was and who was not 'white'.

Minister Balfour has fallen into the trap of similarly classifying people, in this case cricketers, by some dubious group membership. He is less honest than the apartheid ogres were in that he has not published the criteria he is using to classify people.
Bryan, South Africa

Which is worse? A team full of top cricketers resented by a black government minister or a team with a black player resented by the top cricketers. Any player selected in the South African cricket team based on race is in a no-win situation.
Peter Haslett, Australia

Catch 22 situation. The government must ensure a firm development from the grassroots which will take at the least 10 years. Then, the selectors will have a chance to see the players develop, pick up elite players black or blue for specialised training at the government's expense.

At the moment, South Africa needs the best 11 out there to do the job and if by a stroke of the pen the quota system is embraced, the 11 may not be the best in the business.

I had a chance of watching a white South African play in a predominantly black South African team at the just concluded Castle Lager Cup in Tanzania. Tony Coyle did not want to be referred as a white man but a South African. This is the spirit. Let's get the best 11 South Africans out there.
Eric Odanga, Kenya

Are quota systems fair? The simple answer is no. But the fact is they are a reality, especially in South Africa, like it or lump it.

After living in South Africa for five years I can understand not only the need for reform but also the importance of making it possible for the previously disadvantaged to gain an equal footing in all walks of life.

However, one must ask the question, are the politicians that advocate quota systems more concerned about the wellbeing of the people or their own political careers' longevity?

Right now in South Africa the ANC are in no danger of losing an election and while they have this vast power it is my opinion they are doing and will do everything to ensure this situation continues, as the saying goes, they are feathering their own nest.

Quota systems are a very marketable commodity to the majority of the population in South Africa.
Tom, UK/SA/Aus

Quotas are wrong and could harm South African cricket. If someone is not selected who is playing well simply because they are white and the quota must be met, this is surely damaging the team's chance of winning? Quotas should be scrapped - a player should be selected on form, not colour.
Vicki Causer, England

The race quota system has done what it set out to do, which is start the integration of sport in SA. Much still needs to be done, and slowly, more and more non-white players and coaches of international calibre will come through the system.

This process will take years, but I feel the time has come to scrap the quota system. If it continues, it will be detrimental to both the sport and the players in the long term.
Adam Cox, SA

The best players should be picked, and nobody else. If the government want more black players in the side, they should provide more funding at grass-roots level.
Colin Letford, England

I believe that Quotas disadvantage fair selection on merit, but at the same time are an effective way of showing that efforts are being made to formulate a side that is more representative of the South African demographic.

However, I think that this should only be in operation in domestic competition with the national side picked on merit alone. Having a weakened national side does nothing to promote the game.
Rory Dippenaar, UK

You are supposed to pick the best 11, regardless of colour. This would be a major step backwards for a nation that has come so far over recent years.
Robert Langdon, Australia

Transformation in South Africa has been quite an incredible achievement. The UCB have led the way in sport and have an incredible record. For the government to interfere with the process is completely wrong - in fact the government should take note of the process that the UCB have implemented and say "Well done!"

If South Africa are to win the World Cup next year they do not need outside interference - let the selectors and team get on with it.
Bob Woolmer, South Africa

Not only should quotas return, but they must increase the number of black players to be included. We are getting sick at the resistance and reluctance to include a previously oppressed and marginalized majority. Merit arguments are simple non-starters considering the history and economic distribution of the country.
Siyabonga Msomi, South Africa, Durban

Sport is not just about winning - it is about creating social models that work and that are examples. For a long, long time, South African cricket had quotas - whites got 100% of the selection chances.

The team is representing South Africa, and must include representatives of all South Africa - blacks included - until there is at least an equal base of black players from whom a national side can be picked. Let the quotas stay on.
Peter Wanyonyi, Kenya

There should never be a selection based on quotas. The right way to offset the damage caused by decades of repression is to encourage the sport among black people and provide them greater facilities. But selection should always be on merit.
Prashant Viswanathan, India

We have quotas in our rugby, cricket, hockey etc. Yet we play a football team consisting of 11 blacks, and we as white South Africans support them 100%. All we want is the best team out there - and any team picked on merit in rugby, cricket or hockey will include blacks - on merit!
RyanS, SA/UK

If the South African authorities introduce quotas they should be excluded from international sport. Can you imagine the outcry if a country tried to introduce quotas stipulating that four players had to be white!
Sean Kelly, Rossendale, England

The scrapping of the quota system appeared to be a consequence of the progress made in South Africa over the last ten years. Unless there is a threat to this continuing process, I see no need for their re-introduction. National pride (and continual beatings from the Aussies) should ensure that the best teams are picked for SA, regardless of colour.
Mike, England

Racial quotas are dangerous for the game full stop. Not only do you field a team which may not be your best side (where is the point in that?) but it also can create a lot of disruption in the team.

How can you expect a captain to go out and do his best to win a game when he knows he hasn't got the best team he could have?
Nick Byas, Zimbabwe

Whilst the idea is to get role models for young South Africans to look up to, having a player in the team due to their colour rather than their skill will defeat the plan.

Why look up to someone is may not be as good as the rest of the team? Or even some of the reserves? If they are good enough for the team - play them, forget about skin colour as that is racist. Either positive or negative discrimination is still discrimination.
Duncan, Scotland

Cricket has always been and continues to be a sport of the rich, white ruling classes. I admire the tough approach that Balfour is taking as it will hopefully revolutionize the nature of the game in South Africa. It's not "reverse racism," it's about giving players of colour equal opportunity - an opportunity that was denied them for so long.
Justin Izzo, USA

Is there anything more patronising to black South Africans than to give them their own quota? That is to imply that they are not good enough on their own and need to rely on a helping hand. Positive discrimination is still discrimination - period.

South Africa is one nation now, with every person enjoying the same rights - regardless of colour or creed. This is what the non-white population has been fighting for for many years; how ironic that today's Sports Minister is asking for a new form of segregation in the country.
Matt, UK

I cried for my country when I read Balfour's remark. The ANC and Balfour have shifted away from the principle of 'Non-Racialism' to a policy of 'Black Africanism'. There is no bigger example than in cricket, where originally it was how many non-whites there are in the team, now they ask how many blacks are in the team.

When will Balfour wake up and realise the world is a meritocracy? Black athletes (like any other) want to be recognised for their talent and not the colour of their skin!
Matthew Tattersall, South Africa

So-called 'positive discrimination' is just as bad as the original offence. Have these people never heard of 'two wrongs don't make a right?' Meritocracy is the only fair and equitable way forward.
Andrew, UK

There's no need for a quota system. Coloured players such as Ntini are automatic selections, regardless. (Doesn't Herschelle Gibbs count as coloured too?). With players like Ngam also likely to be picked (when fit), and Ontong waiting in the wings, I think that the system has clearly worked and can now be discarded due to the merit of these players.
Hunter Hearst Helmsley, UK

Racial quotas are inherently wrong in law and are themselves racist in application.
Michael Huntsman, Netherlands

I don't believe there is anything wrong with having quotas in the South African team. Part of the reason why black African players are not doing well now is because they were the underprivileged class.

The South African government has to think about the long-term issues and though there will be some setback initially, it will be South African cricket that will benefit from it eventually.

The idea is to create role models for millions of blacks which requires some tough decisions on the part of the South African government.
Vikas, USA

Sport is all about playing to win - and nothing should be done to compromise that objective. South Africa is currently ranked second on the ICC table, and it would give immense pleasure to other cricket teams (except Australia!) to defeat them in a Test match. Such a victory may seem hollow if the South Africans did not field their best 11 players in the match.
Vish, USA

Players should be in the teams on the basis of their ability, not their race. Positive action is needed to ensure equal opportunities, but positive discrimination will breed resentment amongst fringe players and devalue the positions of black players in the team. How would they know if they are playing due to their ability or the colour of their skin?
Tom Pringle, UK

To have quotas is to have selection based on skin colour. Which is racism. Simple.
Jason McIlvena, Samoa

The best players should be selected, irrespective of skin colour. The SA Government and Cricket Board should join to concentrate on promoting and coaching cricket to disadvantaged South Africans of all creeds who wish to play the game.
AML, UK/Italy