THE SPRINGBOKS BELONG TO SOUTH AFRICAN CITIZENS!!!

SA Rugby has made it no secret that it is exploring new streams of income, with its CEO, Jurie Roux, confirming that they "are in discussions with private equity companies". This could lead to a direct investment in the governing body's biggest commercial property, the Springboks! This would mean that a foreign private company would have a stake in South Africa’s national rugby team, and would be able to influence the selection of players - as though that were not politicised enough currently. The Springboks would no longer be ours, as South Africans.

The Boks are South Africa's pride and joy. The team has had the effect of bringing fellow South Africans from different backgrounds together. It belongs to the people of South Africa! As highlighted by former Springbok lock Schalk Burger Snr, the national team's identity is a "sovereign and unique" property that should be "owned by the people".

Burger further says:

"How on earth would something like that work? The Springbok brand is noble, it comprises the whole of South Africa - the players, fans and the country. There's no way you can compile a prospectus based on that. Privatising a national team is a thought that just doesn't sit right. That shareholder can easily start dictating how the Springboks should be represented as a commercial entity and in what competitions the teams should be playing in. Would a profit motive still translate [into] the game's best interests being taken to heart?"

It is alleged that CVC Capital Partners is going to invest as the private equity partner. CVC is not even a South African entity. This is not okay. We as South Africans can invest into the shares through public enlisting. This is a better alternative because it means the people of South Africa are the ones that have ownership of our own team.

Let us stand together and call on SA Rugby to reconsider their approach to seeking private equity funding from an international company, and rather publicly list it for the South Africans public to own it.