BUILD One South Africa (Bosa) leader Mmusi Maimane has slammed Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema for his Springboks comments.
Malema told his supporters at the Standard Bank Arena, Doornfontein, Joburg on Sunday, 5 November, that the rugby world cup winners were an Afrikaner pride.
“We support rugby, but not this one for Afrikaners. You can’t say Rhodes must fall and say Springbok must not fall. The Springbok must fall. That national team, we will get it a new name, new colours and a new emblem which will represent our democracy,” he said.
He went on a rant and called for the Springboks to fall.
Maimane said Malema wanted the national rugby team to wear red and have a clenched fist holding a spear which is the colour and logo of the EFF.
“Our political and policy focus needs to be directed to teams like Bafana Bafana, who are not performing at the same level as rugby and cricket,” he said.
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He said the citizens need to hold the South African Football Association (Safa) and the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture accountable for failing to develop robust soccer programmes for primary and high schools.
He said they failed to support amateur soccer in townships and rural areas.
“We need to call for a change of leadership in Safa. Leave the Boks alone,” said Maimane.
Patriotic Alliance leader Gayton McKenzie echoed Maimane's sentiments that Mzansi loves the Springboks as it has moved on from any bad or racist connotation associated with it.
“This is not the time to listen to fools like Malema. Let’s celebrate our boys for a hard-won victory. The Springbok name is going nowhere, finish and klaar,” said McKenzie.
