Sports Minister Makhenkesi Stofile has defended national rugby coach Jake White from accusations by African National Congress MPs that he is obstructing transformation in the Springboks.
"The selection of a team in South Africa, especially rugby, is very emotive and not the most objective thing," said Stofile after his budget vote in the National Assembly, during which ruling party MPs again attacked the Springbok coach.
ANC MP Mgolodi Dikgacwi launched an offensive against the South African Rugby Union and White, accusing them of not using the black stars that came out of the Craven Week school rugby tournament.
"They seem to disappear into thin air," he said, accusing Saru of not caring where they disappeared to.
"But we as the ANC will close ranks and intensify the manner and approach with which we deal with the challenges and responses to the federations who continue to vilify our government and the successes of our democratic state used as a port by minority groups to disqualify what's just and fair. Federations need to transform," Dikgacwi warned.
During the sport and recreation portfolio committee meeting on Monday, Saru president Oregan Hoskins and his provincial presidents also came under fire from Dikgacwi and other ANC MPs for giving White too much power. They did not agree with him having the freedom to choose the national team.
But Stofile said on Wednesday that it was Hoskins' prerogative to do so even if he (Stofile) himself would not have been so accommodating.
"White has done his bit even if he is not perfect, but then again nobody is perfect this side of the grave," he said. He believed White had the recipe to enrich the game of rugby by using the country's diversity.
"Hoskins has confidence in his men and is prepared to put his head on the block," he said.